Well, dear readers, I feel I must jump ahead a few paragraphs to tell you about the motion picture I watched yesterday on Blu and Ray. I must do so because the Blu and Ray is so extraordinary and so magical, well, it’s practically perfect, just like the titular character whose name is – Mary Poppins. I first saw Mary Poppins the week it opened (maybe even on opening day) at the Chinese Theater. I went back many times to enjoy what was one of the best Disney films I’d ever seen. Audiences loved it – they laughed, cheered and got emotional, and the film went on to become a huge hit, an award-winner and a crowning jewel in the Disney canon. Of course, there was no home video then, so it was several years before I saw it again, this time in reissue in 1973 (according to the Disney rerelease schedule – but I could have sworn in was in 1968 – maybe it was playing then on a double bill with something else or maybe it really was 1973) at the small Fox Theater in Van Nuys. This time I grew impatient with the film and wondered why it didn’t seem so magical and why it seemed interminable. Then I didn’t see it for many years, probably not until the laserdisc came out. And frankly, I couldn’t get through that, and I couldn’t get through any of the DVD releases, so I figured it was just an age thing.
But yesterday was like discovering the film anew. Because the transfer is so spectacular and gorgeous-looking, I felt like I was transported back to 1964 and I adored every frame of the film. All its magic had returned for me and I laughed and cheered and got emotional. It’s marvelously constructed, you care about the characters, and Julie Andrews’s performance of Mary Poppins is a wonder. Dick Van Dyke is adorable, despite the worst English accent ever. What really surprised me was how much I loved David Tomlinson this time around. I’ve always loved Glynis Johns and she’s adorable in the film. The animated sequence looks fantastic and is as wildly entertaining as ever. The choreography by Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood is energetic and way too much fun to watch. And it’s all really well directed by Robert Stevenson. But what gives the film its heart and soul is, of course, the score by the Sherman Brothers, Richard M. and Robert B. It’s tuneful, witty, and beautiful, and the orchestrations of Irwin Kostal make every tune shine like a diamond. The Blu-ray is a wonder – the color is perfect and gorgeous, the contrast couldn’t be better and the animation is amazingly beautiful. Best of all, the wires in the flying sequences have been painted out and those sequences now look as they always should have – magical. The sound is terrific, too, and it may well be the Blu-ray of the year or at least tied with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. And in an amazing bit of serendipity, the screener for Saving Mr. Banks arrived, so I can watch that today – perfect timing.
Prior to watching Mary Poppins, my day was practically perfect. I got eight-and-a-half hours of blessed sleep. For the first time in years, I left the heat on all night, and while I was congested when I arose, it was worth it to get up to a warm house. I answered e-mails, printed out a few orders, and then had a quesadilla for my meal o’ the day. After that, I picked up some packages then came back home. I did a little benefit work, then watched Mary Poppins. After that, it was time to mosey on over to the theater for our put-in rehearsal.
Jane Noseworthy’s cover is very talented but completely different – whole different vibe and energy, so I had to put Jane out of my head and let this gal play to her strengths. She does things a bit differently but it works fine and I think she’ll be terrific. I gave her a few bits of direction regarding song intentions and colors and levels, and we ran all the numbers she’s involved in. I think her fellow cast mates liked her a lot. So, she’ll be all ready for Thursday night.
That took about two hours, then I came back to the Valley, stopped at Gelson’s for some snacks, then came home and caught up with stuff on the computer.
Today, I shall arise, then do a Costco run with the helper, have some lunch, hopefully pick up some packages, do some benefit work, and then watch Saving Mr. Banks.
Tomorrow, we’re back into our performances, although we’ve canceled Friday’s show because we couldn’t find a sub for Lloyd Cooper. Then we’re back on Saturday and Sunday.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora and the Hokey Pokey, because today is the birthday of our very own beloved dear reader Ginny. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own beloved dear reader Ginny. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN BELOVED DEAR READER GINNY!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do benefit work, do a Costco run, eat, and watch Saving Mr. Banks. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall have some practically perfect dreams.