Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle writing a treatise on the Franco-Prussian War. Does anyone still write treatises on the Franco-Prussian War? I haven’t read a good treatise on the Franco-Prussian War in a ‘coon’s age. In fact, I think the world can use a good treatise on the Franco-Prussian War, don’t you? Perhaps even a musical could be made out of such a historic subject. Think of all the good rhymes there are for Prussian – Russian, gushin’, shushin’, hushin’, brushin’, concussion – 1870 is a perfect year in which to set a musical, don’t you think? Mandy Patinkin would be a perfect Otto Von Bismarck. We could have some great big ensemble numbers like Things Are Bad in Baden and Let’s All Have a Napoleon. What the HELL am I talking about? Don’t I have some notes to write and isn’t it late as all get out, not that I really know if all get out is late. I’m not keeping tabs on all get out.
I was thrilled to get eight-and-a-half hours of blessed sleep – I awoke at ten-thirty. I did the usual morning ablutions and then met the Darling Daughter for some soup and a sandwich. That was fun, and then I picked up a couple of packages. After that, I put some gas in the motor car, then came home. I answered e-mails, had telephonic conversations and then it was finally time for our first Kritzerland rehearsal. First up was a very talented performer and I can’t tell you more than that, I’m afraid, for reasons that I’ll go into after the show is over. Next up was irrepressible Sami Staitman, who did her one number – the Shermanized Word Medley that I arranged some years ago. It’s very complicated but she’s almost got it down perfectly. Then came the lovely Jane Noseworthy who sang her two solos, a put-together of The Parent Trap and For Now, For Always, and then Feed the Birds. Then Damon Kirsche arrived and Jane and he did their duet, Are We Dancing. Then Damon ran his other two songs, a put-together of Chim Chim Cheree and A Man Has Dreams, and then ‘Bout Time. After that, it was wonderful Kim Huber, who sang Where Did the Good Times Go, a put-together of A Spoonful of Sugar and The Eyes of Love (the original song for that spot in Mary Poppins) and The Age of Not Believing. Then it was Jenna Lea Rosen, who did Ten Feet Off the Ground, which has a great tap section, then a put-together of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Hushabye Mountain, and finally Suddenly It Happens. We don’t have Brent Barrett till Friday and Susan Egan isn’t with us until show day.
After that, I immediately went to the Monica of Santa for our show rehearsal. Last night was just to run music with Lloyd Cooper, our wonderful musical director. Just drilling the songs as much as we could (without Jane Noseworthy, who had to miss). Slowly but surely everyone is learning and getting more confident. I must say, I took the 405 – got on at seven-forty and was at the theater by eight-ten, so it is possible to do the drive in thirty minutes – the traffic was fine save for two miles when I first got on the 405. I also took the 405 home, and that was really quick. Since I’d only had a tiny sandwich for lunch, I stopped at the Subway and got a Subway Club.
Today, I hope to arise after another good night’s beauty sleep, and then I have liner notes to write, a jog to do, food to eat and then a rehearsal. Tonight’s rehearsal will be interesting, as I begin assembling all the stuff we’ve been rehearsing into show order and seeing how it all feels and figuring out where I need musical transitions and whether I need to move things around. I’m looking forward to this part of the process.
Tomorrow is more of the same – I may or may not have a meeting – I simply can’t remember anything anymore, and then we have our second Kritzerland rehearsal after which I go directly to the show rehearsal, which will be another session of drilling music and running the group numbers with staging, until everyone gets the numbers in their bodies. Then we’re off for Halloween and back on Friday night. Friday day I have a brief rehearsal with our very own Brent Barrett. Saturday is our stumble-through and then a birthday dinner for Jenna Lea Rosen, Sunday is sound check, matinee and then evening show. The matinee is finally filling up – we’re around sixty right now, and I’m hoping that goes up another twenty.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, try to do a jog, hopefully pick up some packages, write liner notes, eat, and rehearse. Today’s topic of discussion: War is Hell and there have been plenty of hellish wars. What war has held the most interest for you historically – whether in life, books, film or whatever? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall begin writing my musical based on the Franco-Prussian War, which I’m calling 1870!