Well, dear readers, I have some chagrin right now – actually make that Chagrin – because as I type these here notes I am listening to the music of Francis Chagrin, a prolific film composer of films that had composing. He wrote excellent motion picture scores to such films as The Colditz Story, An Inspector Calls, and The Bridge. There was a nice CD from Chandos of his film music. But the other night, I was nosing around Amazon and found a really cheap Naxos budget-line CD of his two symphonies, so I got it because it sounded like it might be interesting. And I must say it is – and I’ve listened to both symphonies twice now – they’re very film music-like, which I like. So, that is why I currently have Chagrin.
Yesterday was a perfectly fine day with some fun bits. I got eight hours of sleep, arising at eleven – I really needed those eight hours of sleep. Once up, I answered e-mails and then finalized our final cast member and finish choosing the songs – it’s going to be a VERY eclectic show – some wacky stuff, some pretty stuff, some VERY wacky stuff, and some wacky stuff. We have an excellent cast with one newcomer, which I always enjoy. So, it’s actually coming up pretty quickly so I’ll get onto writing the commentary and doing the show order in the next couple of days.
Then I went and picked up some packages, including the hardcover of Thrill Ride I got from Amazon, which, funnily, arrived before the test hardcover from the publisher. I must say, it’s a very handsome hardcover and the dust jacket looks fantastic. I then did some work on the computer, had a few telephonic calls, printed out some orders (warning – we’re just about to sell out of Two for the Road), and I know there was other stuff I did but can’t remember now what it might have been.
Then Jenna Lea Rosen and mom came over and we went to the local Thai jernt and had some local jernt Thai food. Jenna and I shared the Thai salad (the BEST), cashew chicken (their portions are pretty small so we ended up getting a second order of that), shared some Pad Thai, and mom and her shared some fried rice and some other Pad thing. We talked of many things, but not of cabbages and kings. It was fun. Then I came home to a nice e-mail from Hayley Mills, who I was hoping to sup with, but her plans changed and she’s heading back to Merry Olde England. She’ll be back in a few months and we’ll sup then. I then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I checked out about half of the new Blu and Ray of Finian’s Rainbow, which looks absolutely stellar and sounds stellar, too. I like quite a lot of the film and have since I saw it on its opening day. I’ll say more when I finish it. I also watched the first half of the new Blu-ray of Blake Edwards’ S.O.B. It’s an odd movie with some very funny bits and performances, but also, as happened with Blake in this era, some very uneven bits and the whole thing just doesn’t know when to be over. The transfer is really lovely.
After that, I relaxed, had some crackers and carrots, and that was the day and evening of occasional fun bits.
Today, I’ll begin the commentary and do the show order, I’ll eat (at home – I’m feeling perhaps it’s a Wacky Noodles day), hopefully pick up some packages, and do work on both the musical and the Sherman Brothers musical. I’ll check up on Richard Sherman to make certain he’s okay, too.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals and going and doing and also doing and going, seeing a show or two, and I’m sure other stuff that will come up as it comes up.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example write commentary and do a show order, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and do other work. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of director Blake Edwards? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, hoping for another day of occasional or even more than occasional fun bits.