Well, dear readers, we had the “aha” moment at last night’s show. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, we had the “aha” moment at last night’s show. So, what was the “aha” moment at last night’s show? Well, it happened immediately and it never changed for the entirety of the show. Young Sami Staitman gave a perfect performance – every laugh, every emotion, every intention just right. We had a small but mighty audience who ate her up. But the real “aha” moment happened just as she was about to start singing The Dissection of the Frog. While I’m not going to give away the opening of our show, due to prying eyes and too many people who love to read things and steal them, I’ll just say that a cell phone went off just before she was to start the song, and without missing a beat she did the funniest cell phone going off thing EVER – she handled it better than any great improv comic would have. Again, I’m not going into detail (I wish I could, but the rip-offs have happened way too often), but she was stellar and the audience was HOWLING with laughter. What was more amazing about it is that The Dissection of the Frog involves bringing someone up from the audience. She had to leave that person standing there to do what she did, but he was howling, too. When she was done, she came back, looked at him and said, “Now, where was I?” and then continued. I cannot tell you how proud of her I was last night for that and for the perfect performance. She got a well-deserved standing ovation. I never stand – I find it unseemly – but last night I did. Best of all, she seemed to know how well everything had gone. There was only one thing she could have done better, and that was at the end of Annie – if she’d just stood and bathed herself in the ovation she got, it would have gone on longer than it did. That’s just seasoning, of course. But, boy, what a show.
After, my stage manager and I had a bite to eat – we both had Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches – most yummilicious. And then I came home and had even more “whipped cream” this time in the form of our mastered cast recording. Well, James Nelson did a great job of it and it sounds just wonderful, so I e-mailed him, approved it, and off it goes to the plant first thing tomorrow morning.
Prior to all that, I had gotten nine hours of blessed sleep, after which I did a few things on the computer, then went and had a turkey sandwich with no fries or onion rings. Then I picked up no packages, after which I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled 10 to Midnight. Why this film has that particular title I have no idea, unless I missed some reference to it, which I didn’t. Now, I will preface this by saying I’m an unabashed fan of Mr. Charles Bronson and will watch the most specious tripe that he’s in. And I always enjoy even the worst of his films, just because he’s one-of-a-kind and they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Now, at it’s heart, 10 to Midnight is a classic piece of Cannon Films steaming, smelly trash. It has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. It is horribly written, has some of the worst supporting performances ever committed to film, and a preposterous killer. And it’s all wildly enjoyable, thanks to Mr. Bronson. The director, J. Lee Thompson, who once gave the world such films as The Guns of Navarone and Cape Fear, by this point was just doing whatever came his way. And let me tell you, Cannon Films took down more than one talented director – that was the Golan and Globus way. But then came Bronson and he’s the one thing that Cannon could take to the bank in terms of quality. The psycho killer is played by an actor named Gene Davis, in what is a career-killing performance – partially because of the role, and partially because he’s just so weird in the film. He’s worked steadily, but never in leading roles. Now, one has to scratch one’s head at why this psycho killer feels he must murder only while completely naked. They don’t explain it, and it’s just so wacky that it’s just unintentionally funny. I mean, they can’t nail this guy when he’s leaving his footprints everywhere? And I didn’t see him wearing gloves either. But why look for logic? Lisa Eilbacher as Bronson’s daughter and a potential victim is excellent, too. Wilford Brimley has one of those roles where he’s just sort of there, and occasionally speaks – receiving what I’m sure was a nice paycheck for a few days’ work. Ditto Robert F. Lyons. Andrew Stevens is actually tolerable here – but the others? Oh, dear Lord. And of course, any time they can have female nudity they do it, no matter how silly it is. But this is one of the few films of that period where there is male nudity, too, although 99% of it is his butt. The transfer is exactly what it should be – a 1983 Cannon film. Actually, I can assure you that the release prints would have looked horrible, so this is a step up, really. If you’re a Bronson fan, or just a fan of Cannon trash, this is highly recommended by the likes of me.
Then I got ready and went to the theater.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. I’ll relax and then attend our matinee, after which I’m sure we’ll go grab a bite to eat somewhere. When I get home, I’ll choose the rest of the songs for the Kritzerland show.
Tomorrow, I have to finish casting the Kritzerland show and gather up all the music. Tuesday, we’re taping a radio show for Welcome to My World with Donald Feltham. The rest of the week is meetings and meals, we have a pick-up rehearsal on Thursday, then we do the third week of our run.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, attend a matinee, eat, and choose songs. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after having the “aha” moment.