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November 14, 2013:

FIRE AND BRIMSTONE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, should we have a little fire and brimstone in these here notes?  I don’t know that we’ve ever had fire and brimstone in these here notes, although we may have had brimstone and fire.  In fact, I haven’t a clew as to what brimstone actually is.  According to this here Word document I’m typing on brimstone doesn’t even exist.  Could brimstone be a figure of someone’s imagination or even an imagination of someone’s figure?  The New Oxford Dictionary doesn’t have brimstone either – but it does direct you to “fire” and there is included the expression fire and brimstone.  So, given that brimstone isn’t actually a word, who in tarnation made it up or from where exactly did the expression fire and brimstone spring?  Okay, Webster’s Dictionary has brimstone and it has two meanings: sulfer and a virago; shrew.  So, if Shakespeare had known brimstone’s second meaning would have written Taming of the Brimstone?  So, are we really talking about fire and sulpher or fire and shrew?  I’m completely confused.  Of course, there are biblical references to fire and brimstone so it’s an old expression, not one from 1968.  Back in the 1800s, a man named Helmut Brimstone tried to take credit for the expression, but he was stoned – not on LSD or the Mary Jane cigarettes, but stoned with rocks by religious zealots who took exception to his claim of authorship.  What the HELL am I talking about?  Don’t I have notes to write?

Yesterday was a day without enough hours.  I was up by ten-thirty after eight and a half hours of blessed sleep.  Then I had a plethora of e-mails to answer, after which I went over to Talesai, a local Thai jernt, and met our very own Mr. Nick Redman and his ever-lovin’ Julie Kirgo.  We had a grand time and I got the two new Twilight Time releases, Jane Eyre and Oliver, and he got the three new Kritzerland releases.  We had cashew chicken, pad Thai, and I had a salad with peanut dressing and they had a spicy beef salad.  And all I can tell you is there was plenty of fire and brimstone at our table.  There was much merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.  Then I picked up no packages, did some banking, then came back home, buckled down, Winsocki, and wrote two-thirds of the second set of liner notes.  And then it was time to head over to the theater.  Yesterday’s twenty-five minute drive clocked in at an hour and five minutes.  I left an hour earlier than I’ve been leaving because I had to audition a cover for Jane Noseworthy, who’ll be missing some shows in December, although I’m praying not too many.  Anyway, the gal who auditioned is fine and she’ll be learning the material over the next two weeks.  Once again, we were sans one actor, still sick, but almost better.  And once again, we ran the show with me singing his songs.  The run-through was shockingly smooth and quite fun and everyone is settling into their songs and finding what works.  We still have a ways to go, but the show itself has a good, strong structure, is very tight, and it just moves right along.  We put in Sami’s new solo, Talk to the Animals, and I kind of half-staged as much as I could but can’t finish it until she’s off the paper, as she’s got two animal hand puppets.  I think it’s going to be a very cute number.  After that, I came back to the Valley and stopped at Gelson’s for a snack, since lunch was very light.  I got some super Chinese slaw, four teeny-tiny egg rolls, and some cucumber salad, all very tasty.

One other lovely thing that happened yesterday was being sent the love letter rave review for Sandy Bainum’s show, which I’m happy to share with you here – you can see it by clicking on the handy-dandy link right here.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Reviews-ActressSinger-Sandy-Bainum-Triumphantly-Debuts-at-Sterlings-20131113

Wasn’t that a lovelier than lovely review?  Sandy was over the moon about it.

Today, I shall be up by ten, I shall finish the second set of liner notes and get them on their merry way, I will prep our new release, I’ll eat, I’ll get singers their music and mp3s, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll begin the third set of liner notes, and then I’ll attend rehearsal with hopefully our complete cast.

Tomorrow is more liner notes and more rehearsing.  Then Saturday we have a rehearsal and I’m paper teching the show with our stage manager and lighting designer.  Then Sunday we start tech and it will be a very long day and may even go into the evening.  Monday we’re off, and then it’s straight ahead to our first performance on Thursday.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, finish liner notes, begin liner notes, prep our next release, get singers music, hopefully pick up some packages and rehearse.  Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite bromides or sayings?  Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall preach a little fire and brimstone.

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