Well, dear readers, on Wednesday, the day after Tuesday, we had a little replay of Monday, which, as you may recall, was, at times, annoying, and at times lovely. Yesterday was mostly annoying, with lovely not kicking in until the early evening. The annoyances began immediately, with another e-mail from the person who sent the annoying e-mail on Monday. I suppose he decided a day off would be good so he could store up as much annoyance as he possibly could. Once again, I remained calm, responded strongly but in an even-keeled manner and I told him that if I received one more attitude-laden e-mail it would be instantly deposited in the trash. I then had a long telephonic conversation with a nice gentleman about the annoying e-mails, and should they annoying part continue, the e-mailer will be conversing with the nice gentleman rather than me. Then we discovered a minor problem with the packaging on a release, a mistake by the printer, and a really silly one at that. Thankfully, it’s not a big deal at all and he is now reprinting that particular inlay card and the remaining boxes of CDs will be repackaged with the correct inlay. It didn’t really affect many shipped CDs and actually there isn’t really a problem with what WAS shipped – just one line that should have read differently. But that took up a lot of my time, trying to figure out exactly where the mistake happened in the food chain. All that malarkey just saps the energy right out of me and by the time I was finished dealing with all of it it was late afternoon. I completely forgot to go to the mail place to see if there were any packages.
Then the better part kicked in and I revised Juliana Hansen’s patter, just shortening things, clarifying things, and adding a bit of humor here and there. That took about two hours and then I sent it to her. After that it was time to get ready for the dinner meeting. After doing so, I moseyed on over to Mo’s in the Bank of Bur.
There I met our very own Miss Adryan Russ and my pal Kevin Bailey, who I’ve known since we did the cast album of Heartbeats, on which he appeared. We’ve been trying to get him to do a Kritzerland show for ages, and we finally did and he’ll be with us for the October show. So, only two gals left to cast and that will be that. Then the real purpose of the meeting happened, but I must remain mum on the topic, thanks to lots of little prying eyes who do love to take ideas and then beat others to the punch. It’s happened just a few too many times, so I’m remaining mum for the time being, but it could lead to something very exciting indeed. For my meal o’ the day, I had a teeny-tiny Caesar salad, filet of sole with grilled vegetables, and since none of that was really too caloric, I did splurge after the somewhat sour day and had their butterscotch bombshell, a trifle of a dessert that includes two scoops of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, slivered almonds, a piece of pecan pie, all larded with butterscotch sauce. I have to say it was the perfect antidote – Kevin had one bite, and Adryan had two bites, and I had about fifty bites, but still left a third of it behind. It was truly yummilicious and just what the doctor ordered. The doctor was next to me and, like the prying eyes here, just totally ripped off what I was eating. Then we all walked across the street to the Falcon Theatre to see a play.
Last night, I saw a play at the Falcon Theater entitled The Gronholm Method, which has garnered very good reviews. The play has been performed any number of times since it was written back in 2003, and has even been turned into a film in Spain. The translation transplants everything to the US as four people arrive in a waiting room, all of them up for the same position. To give away anything more would be to spoil the fun of the show. I think the idea in Americanizing it is to create a four-hander like God of Carnage, which perhaps can have a life on Broadway and then everywhere else. There are some very funny things, and the whole thing plays sans intermission in a very speedy ninety minutes, just like – God of Carnage. The production itself is excellent, with good direction by B.T. McNicholl, nice sets and lighting, and an excellent cast. I’d have to imagine that if they want to go to Broadway they will have to gather four stars, just like – God of Carnage. But this cast, for the most part, gets the job done and is excellent – they include Brit Jonathan Cake (you’d never know he was a Brit), Graham Hamilton (really good), Lesli Margherita (she was in the very first Kritzerland show), and the truly great Stephen Spinella who, for me, gave the evening’s best performance. They all play well together, but the play is not perfect (or at least this translation of it) and could use some touch-up work. Mike Nichols is involved to at least a small degree, and he was there last night and apparently said much the same to everyone. But nitpicks aside, it’s one of the best pieces of theater I’ve seen in LA in ages and it’s highly recommended by the likes of me. At times it plays like an episode of The Twilight Zone, at times it plays like – God of Carnage, and at times it’s just downright riveting and you never know quite where it’s going – and the ending is very satisfying.
After the play, we hung out a bit, talked to some people, then I came home. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall be up early, the helper will be coming by, then I have some writing to do, then Juliana will come over and we’ll get a bite to eat and she’ll read through the revised patter so I can hear it. After that, I shall hopefully pick up some packages, then I can relax and perhaps watch a motion picture or two.
Tomorrow, I may be seeing Andrea Marcovicci at the Gardenia – have to seen if I can get in at this late date, but that’s the plan. Saturday, I may be starting to comp vocals and finesse mixes, and then Saturday night I’m going to see some cabaret act. Sunday will be a quick work session with Juliana and then more mixing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, work with Juliana, hopefully pick up some packages, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite plays with two to four characters – they’re hard to pull off, but I must say that some of my all-time favorites are of that exact cast size. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall hopefully awake to no more annoyances and no more attitude.