Well, dear readers, the day after Abner was what I expected it to be – I’m already missing the show a lot and I’m sure that will continue for a while. I got up much earlier than I wanted to, around eight – just too many emotions to sleep. I stayed in bed until ten, then got up and immediately buckled down, Winsocki and finished the commentary. I’m sure I’ll be futzing and fixing it. Then I’d forgotten to send out my eBlast for the Kritzerland show, which should have gone out over a week ago, so I did that. Then I moseyed on over to Jerry’s Deli, where I ran into cousin Dee Dee and Alan. I had a chili, cheese and onion omelet and an English muffin, along with some tap tap tapioca pudding. Then I dropped some mail off at the local post office, after which I came home.
I did some catching up on e-mails, then sat on my couch like so much fish, where I immediately nodded off for over an hour. Then I watched the first motion picture on Blu and Ray that I’ve been able to watch in over two weeks – the divinely wacky Carry on Cleo. I first saw Carry on Cleo at a sneak preview at the Four Star Theater on Wilshire Blvd. near La Brea. Its humor immediately appealed to me, as I was already a huge fan of the Goon Show. The film had terrible puns and gags that were probably obvious in the 1920s, but it was all so foolish, and the actors seemed to be having so much fun, that I just laughed myself silly. I’ve only seen it once since, when the Carry On movies were all released in a big box set. It didn’t quite hold up for me, but yesterday I really kind of enjoyed it all over again. The transfer is very nice – the disc is from the UK.
Then I nodded off again, this time for about thirty minutes. After that, I watched another motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Rollerball, a film I’d somehow missed all these years. It’s a peculiar little movie, but I enjoyed it, especially Andre Previn’s adaptations of classical music. I always enjoy James Caan, although watching his performance in this particular film, he’s kind of the precursor to today’s mumbling actors. The transfer is really nice, and the film looks just as films of that era should look.
After that, it was time for the faux season ender of Mad Men, faux because AMC, in all its corporate greed, split up a season that was supposed to air all at the same time – why not? Keep everyone waiting unnecessarily for another year. It stinks. The episode was very good, and one thing concerning Don Draper is apparently at an end and I’m really happy about it because I was bored of it as it was just the same beat over and over again involving someone in his life. So, now we have to wait instead of just being able to continue right through to the end of the series.
Then I wrote some more Richard Sherman questions. I’m still getting requests from folks who want to attend, but we sold out four days ago. I’m putting people on a waiting list. I did hold back about twenty seats for students, but if they don’t get to me by mid-week, I’ll start releasing them to the waiting list. The rest of the evening was just relaxing.
Today, I shall write more questions, do some errands and whatnot, write some liner notes, and then we have our first Kritzerland rehearsal. After that, I’m sure some of us will go eat something. I’m on a diet for the next month and will only eat up to 1200 calories a day.
Tomorrow, I have to write a serious e-mail regarding the bad business of a few weeks ago – at that time I will talk about it right here in these here notes, because I’m sure some of you dear readers might just find it not only interesting but as appalling as I and others found it. The rest of the week is meetings and meals, our second Kritzerland rehearsal, the Richard Sherman event, our stumble-through, and then sound check and show.
Since I’m already missing Abner, here are some more photographs from our production. Here’s beautiful Maddy Claire Parks as Daisy Mae and Evan Harris as Abner.
And here’s Abner and cronies at the end of Druthers.
Here’s the end of Jubilation T. Cornpone
Here’s the end of Rag Offen the Bush.
Here’s our Available Jones, Stayton Danylowich, our Bullmoose, Barry Pearl, and our Appassionata von Climx, Riley Dandy.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write both questions and liner notes, do errands and whatnot, have a rehearsal and eat. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films starring James Caan? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a nice, relaxing day after.