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March 23, 2013:

COMING HOME

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I must write these notes in a hurry so I can get some beauty sleep and then fly home to LA. I have enjoyed my stay but I am quite ready to come home, most especially to make sure the big boy computer gets up and running and working perfectly, with everything restored (if necessary – I still don’t know what they did) so I can rest easy. The computer was, in fact, ready for pick-up today and the helper knew that that was a distinct possibility and told me it was fine, but when I told her it was ready she was at her job and wouldn’t be off in time to get there and get it. That didn’t make me very happy, but she’ll get it first thing in the morning. Her instructions are to find out exactly what they did, have them turn the computer on and show her and talk her through the process, if they did indeed have to wipe everything. If they didn’t, then it should just turn on and be fine. But if they did, they’ll show her exactly what we need to do. Then she’ll bring it home, plug it in, and my plan is, if we have to restore from the Time Machine backup drive, to have her do it if she feels the instructions are simple and clear or to have her call Apple and have them walk her through it. What I would like is to get home and have it work perfectly. Otherwise I have to still use this silly laptop, which has its own irritating issue I have to deal with (dealing with the Mail program) and wait until Sunday morning, which I’d rather not do. Again, I really have no idea what they did or didn’t do, so the worrying may be for naught and I hope it is.

Yesterday was a good day and a nice work session. We played through most of the album stuff and I think it’s going to really be something special. Then we talked about schedules and stuff. Then we just blabbed and sometimes amazing things come out of blabbing. One of the songs we’re doing is a Dave Brubeck song. So, I was talking about Brubeck and my first time hearing his stuff, and that led to something else and that led to something else and that led to what I think is one of the best ideas I’ve ever had. It just evolved during the talk and it’s a project for Sandy that could actually transform her life in terms of career. We all love the idea and will start working on it later in the year.

After the work session we came back to the hotel, then an hour later Lanny and I got on the Metro and went into DC. The Metro here is very clean and runs very well. We got out a mere block from Ford’s Theatre, walked over there, got out tickets, and then looked for somewhere fun to eat. In the few blocks around the theater there’s actually nothing that interesting, so we ended up at McCormick’s and Schmick. I’d eaten at one in Pasadena once and really not liked it. But this branch turned out to be superb – from comfort to service to food. I started out with a shrimp cocktail, which was fantastically good, then had grilled salmon (blackened at the waiter’s suggestion – a good one) with lump crab on top, veggies, and a lemon butter sauce. It was out of this world good. I also ordered Lanny and I a side of creamed spinach – I only had a few bites, but it was certainly amongst the best creamed spinach I’ve ever eaten – if I was being bad I really would have finished it all. Then, because I haven’t really had dessert in three weeks, I felt I could do with one splurge so we ordered something called the chocolate bag – white chocolate mousse and berries inside a “bag” made of dark chocolate. Indescribably yummilicious. Lanny was quite taken with the “bag” and ate mostly that. I had a little “bag” and more white chocolate mousse but we left a fair amount so I’m hoping I didn’t do much, if any, damage. Then we moseyed on over to the theater and took our seats in the eighth row, thanks to Sandy’s procuring us house seats at the last minute.

Last night, I saw the production of Hello, Dolly at Ford’s Theater. First of all, the theater is spectacular and the history of it is palpable, since the infamous box has been left as it was and has flags around it. In the program, the show’s director informed us that he thinks Dolly is one of the great American musicals and that he wanted to do a stripped down version that got the show to its essence – the characters and the story. I pretty much knew what we were going to be in for right there. First off, the show’s title is Hello, Dolly! and the exclamation point is there for a reason. It’s a big, brassy musical comedy. Forget Gower Champion’s brilliant original staging and production – the SHOW is written as a big, brassy musical comedy. On stage (no curtain) was a train station – basically framed by two entrances and exits at either side (to the trains, presumably), a big set piece at the back (a window), and some luggage carts, with stacks of luggage at the back of the stage. So, one begins to think one is going to see a show about trains and luggage.

I knew there would be no overture, but imagine my surprise when the lights dimmed and the distinctive opening few bars of music didn’t happen – instead several persons onstage were lit by spots as chimes rang out. Then one of them began “Call on Dolly” rubato – slowly. Then he continued – it finally went into tempo, but the song was basically a solo for two people – not exactly a rousing start and not exactly setting the stage with enough energy to make Dolly’s entrance (on a luggage cart) work. I began to realize that this was going to be the brown version of Dolly – everything was brown or shades thereof. No color, no life, just brown. That’s a choice, obviously. And then the show unfolded in its stripped down, 17-person, eight-piece band version. I’m a big fan of Nancy Opel, who plays Dolly, but she has no room in this production to be larger than life – that’s a choice, but Dolly is a vehicle for someone who can take the stage, make it their own, and sell the comedy and the songs. Miss Opel is a very funny woman but not in this production. She’s more in the Shirley Booth mold, but almost none of the built-in and pretty foolproof laughs for Dolly really occur. The Cornelius and Barnaby look the same age and could be brothers – not good casting, in my opinion. Both were okay. The eight piece band sounded like an eight piece band. Everyone was tending to play “real” – that’s a choice, but the show is Hello, Dolly with an exclamation point – it’s not Ibsen or Chekov or Sondheim or an art musical. In the end, one has to honor the text as written and this show requires energy and life. It’s never going to be Passion or Light in the Piazza. The lighting is moody. The title song is performed by Dolly and four men. And on it goes.

But the thing of it is, I would even buy the “concept” of the set if the show happening within it was fun and the show called Hello, Dolly with an explanation point. I could stage a good Dolly on this set – but you’d have to use the set really cleverly – they kind of play at it, but it’s just so drab it never has a chance to sparkle. I could say more, but for me a distinct disappointment and I love Hello, Dolly! Maybe the Champion production is just too ingrained in my brain – it’s the only staging I’ve ever seen. I do think a fresh staging could work, but only one that brought the script to life and one that sparkled. I really wanted to love it, truly.

We took a taxi back to the hotel. I went and printed out my boarding pass and then came back to my room. 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 finish packing, hang out with Lanny and Sandy until two-fifteen or so, then I’ll take a taxi to the airport, and then fly home, so please send your absolutely strongest most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure, and on-time flight with good weather. I should be back in LA around seven and home by eight. Hopefully the big boy computer will be up and running by the time I arrive. If not, I’ll have to deal with it first thing in the morning.

Tomorrow, I have a noon lunch but nothing else planned except listening to Hofstetter auditions and relaxing and maybe doing a jog of some sort. This week will be liner notes, a work session with our musical director, meetings, and meals.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, finish packing, hang out, go to the airport, and fly home to LA. Today’s topic of discussion: What is your favorite production of Hello, Dolly? Who was its star? Which co-stars have you enjoyed most? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be coming home to LA. Do send those strong most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure, and on-time flight with good weather.

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