Well, dear readers, it is very late and therefore I must write these here notes in a hurry because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep. I have just finished a turkey sandwich on rye, which I picked up from Jerry’s Deli on my way home from seeing a show at the Fringe Festival in the Wood of Holly at one of those hole-in-the-wall theaters on Santa Monica Blvd. I hadn’t eaten since noon, when I had what is known as a quesadilla, so I was quite starving and a little light-headed. And then, just as I was starting to write these here notes I had a long telephonic call so now it is even later.
Yesterday was a very Monday-like Monday. In fact, yesterday reeked of Monday. I did manage to get a little over eight hours of sleep, so that was nice. Once up, I answered e-mails and had a few telephonic calls, then I went and had my quesadilla and was joined by the helper, who coincidentally was at Staples getting supplies when she spied my motor car and figured I was in Jerry’s Deli. Then we came back here and she got some invoices and some tapes to be returned to far off Switzerland.
Then it was time for the rehearsal with Sandy and Lanny. Sandy wanted to run through the album stuff, so I could hear everything. And so, she and Lanny ran through the fifteen songs and she’s going to be great on this album, and hearing what Lanny’s doing is really fun. I only had two little nitpicky arrangement things, otherwise I was very pleased with everything. This is just really fun for me, functioning always as the producer, but also getting to hear fifteen of my songs come to life, some for the first time ever in terms of recording. I was especially pleased with the two songs for which I wrote some adjusted lyrics – Falling Out of Love from Together Again, which was filled with then-topical lyrics – I had a great time updating it for today. And then the song No Letting Go from Stages, which was originally sung by a fellow in the show. Sandy felt a few of those lyrics didn’t work for a female and I agreed and made adjustments to about six lines and I think it cam out really well.
After we finished that, we ran the first third of the Ira Gershwin show – that’s in very good shape, although I’m going to add a few staging things for The Federal. Then they left, and a few moments later Sarah Staitman and her mom stopped by for a visit – Sarah was on her way to a graduation party for a friend, right near here. We all had a nice chat and then they left. I then relaxed until it was time to go see a show at the Fringe Festival.
The Hollywood Fringe Festival is a curious beast – something like 200 shows in four weeks, mostly all on Santa Monica Blvd. Some of the LACC Abner kids had shows in the festival – student directed one-acts that they raised the dough for to put them in the festival. I was there to see a show called He Wrote Good Songs, a one-man show telling the story of Anthony Newley. As most here know, I directed a quite lovely revue of Newley’s stuff at the Pacific Resident Theatre that had quite a nice run. This show last night was in one of those little hole-in-the-wall jernts – about forty seats. The actor involved is certainly talented and the music, of course, is great. But the show isn’t where it needs to be – doing a show about Newley is extremely tricky. He was a complicated person, but had great charm and an electric personality, and we’re not getting enough of that side of him. The show also needs to be a lot more theatrical, because that’s who Newley was – a showman. But I think this is the first time this is being done so I’m sure they’re learning as they go. But it’s really hard doing this kind of thing and they just have stuff to figure out. Musical direction was by Joshua Eli Kranz, who was the musical director of our And the World Goes Round recording.
Then I got my sandwich, ate it whilst catching up on things, and that was the Monday that reeked of Monday.
Today, I’m having a lunch with the other Staitman child, Sami, and her mom. After that, it’s another rehearsal – we’ll finish running the Gershwin show then run the album songs again. After that I should be able to relax and at some point I’ll pick up some packages.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals and rehearsals every day except Saturday. Then Sunday is sound check and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a lunch, hopefully pick up some packages, rehearse and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite biographical plays and movies? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall greet the new day with a smile and a laugh and a song – and I wonder if Tuesday will reek of Monday, too, or if it will reek of Tuesday. We shall see.