Haines Logo Text
Column Archive
October 19, 2015:

KRITZERLAND AT STERLING’S 62

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, sometimes the best antidote to a horrible and disastrous day, even if temporary, is to do a Kritzerland show in front of an amazing audience. And let me tell you, Kritzerland at Sterling’s 62 had one of the best audiences in our five year history. It ended up being pretty full, despite this one being a difficult sell for whatever reasons. People should know better than to be resistant to any theme we do, because after all this time you’d simply think they’d trust us, but several of our regulars just didn’t want to come to this one and that’s fine. And frankly if we’re ten less than usual it’s also fine, especially when they’re an audience like this one. As I’ve said before, I can always tell which way the patter will go from the first joke, which is always tagged onto my standard line, “For those of you who are new to us, I always have to explain that I am elderly and must read from the paper, because if I don’t read from the paper…” I then do some kind of humorous line. The one I’d written for last night wasn’t very good – after sixty-two shows I’ve kind of done every variation I can, but just before the show something came to me, I jotted it down and just took the chance and did it. I’ve been doing the opening patter by heart for the last five shows – I love doing that. So, this time after saying the line, I said, “because if I don’t read from the paper I’ll just start doing an oral history of the girdle.” That’s actually all I’d written, but I went on from there, asking how many people knew what a girdle was, and then asking how many had actually worn one, to which I raised my hand and then told the story of putting on my mother’s girdle and standing in front of the mirror miming to Elvis Presley records. Well, it got a huge laugh and it kept on going. I had so much fun because I knew I could be loose and improvise if things came to me, which they did all throughout the show. In fact, it may have been the most laugh-filled show in terms of the patter. It was just what I needed, I must say.

Our performers had not one fumfer in the entire show, save for me, which I’ll explain in a minute. They were all brilliant and on fire last night: William Martinez(people were swooning over that beautiful voice), Kerry O’Malley (just the best of the best – cannot say how much I adore her), Sami Staitman(we’re like a team, and so it was fun to do a duet and then she knocked home her politically incorrect solo, I Enjoy Being a Girl), Adrienne Visnic (I literally want to do every classic musical with her – NOW), and Shannon Warne (incredible performance, another one who can play anything), and then we had our surprise mystery guest, Barry Pearl – what looked like an impromptu bit of course wasn’t – Barry was in Bye Bye Birdie when he was eleven on Broadway – tonight he got to knock Kids out of the park and his co-hort, young Sam Herbert, did a great job as his second banana – and finally my dear friend Richard M. Sherman charming the pants off everyone, singing For Now, For Always from The Parent Trap. And all beautifully accompanied by James Lent. This was a personal show for me and you never know how that’s gonna go, but it was just a wonderful night any way you look at it. And I even got to do my Dueling Fools bit that I haven’t done since 1990 – Anthony Newley and Joel Grey singing What Kind of Fool Am I – so much fun to take that out of the mothballs. Here’s our merry troupe of players.

11227589_10207864603515069_6560821631281560905_o

Here’s Sami, Richard Sherman and little ol’ me.

11025866_10207864603915079_8022446056341150317_o

And here’s Sami and me.

12140143_10207864603555070_6720451595290704020_o

In attendance were my pal Grant Geissman, his ever-lovin’ Lydia, and his mom, we had producer Ed Gaynes with us, we had Bobby Brownell (aka Alan Roberts – he was in the original cast of Gypsy with Ethel Merman!), Shelly Markham, Li’l Abner musical director Wayne Moore, and so many others. Have I mentioned how great the audience was?

Prior to that I’d gotten nine hours of blessed sleep. I got up and did nothing until it was time to go to sound check. I did start some Chilean movie on Netflix, which I’ll finish this evening perhaps. Then we had sound check, I had an artichoke, and it was show time.

After the show, just a handful of us went to Little Toni’s for some food. One large cheese and tomato pizza of which I had one slice, and then I also had their chopped salad – which was HUGE – salami, chicken, tomatoes, cheese, red peppers – it was very good, but I left about a third of it. Then because I felt I needed to damn treat after the bad day and because we’d had a great show, I went and got two count them two donuts and I don’t care who knows it. I ate ‘em both up, too, and I don’t care who knows that either.

Today I’m going to try and have an actual damn day off. I am hoping I don’t have to deal with anything regarding the lousy day until Tuesday, but we’ll see about that. I just could really use a ME day, maybe do a spot of writing or work at the piano, eat something fun but light, and then just zone out.

The rest of the week, I’ll be casting the holiday show, trying to fix some stuff that absolutely must be fixed, some meetings and meals and then on Friday I think I’m going to the premiere of a new movie called Dancin’ – It’s On directed by David Winters. Haven’t seen David in ages, and I’ll know a lot of folks there.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a day off, relax, perhaps do some writing and/or work at the piano, eat, and hopefully pick up some packages. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Chilean movies? Kidding. What are your favorite kinds of chili – with beans, without, hot, mild, weird flavors – all things chili and even share recipes if you’re of a mind to. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that Kritzerland at Sterling’s 62 was terrific – it sure did feel good for something to go perfectly and I know it brought the people there enjoyment. I’d like to think that’s my purpose on Earth, but sometimes crap gets in the way and you just have to deal with it. But thanks to that audience, crap took a back seat, which is where crap should always be.

Search BK's Notes Archive:
 
© 2001 - 2024 by Bruce Kimmel. All Rights Reserved