Well, dear readers, it is late and I must write these here notes in a hurry because it has been a VERY long day and evening and I, of course, must be up soon for another rehearsal day. So, let me start at the end and work backwards, just for the halibut.
The concert I attended with Mr. David Wechter was called Brian Wilson presents Pet Sounds. So, it wasn’t actually a Beach Boys concert at all, but the new Brian Wilson band. I haven’t been to that kind of concert in decades. It was originally one performance at the Pantages, but it sold out so quickly they added another. And it was indeed sold out. The attendees were a rather amusing batch – people my age and older trying to look like they did in the 60s, hipsters, kids of old people – well, you know. The show began with a perfect opener, California Girls. Then there were a couple more Beach Boys songs, the third of which caused two women in the row in front of us, four seats apart, to stand up and dance and wave their arms. It never occurred to these selfish oldsters trying to relive their youth that there were many rows behind them that now could see nothing happening on stage. I thought about telling her to sit the HELL down, but I just decided not to – a woman in back of me leaned forward and said, “You are a very kind soul.” That made me laugh.
Then other members of the band had their time in the sun – and because those weren’t Beach Boys songs no one got up or screamed or anything. After an hour, part one was over. Part two consisted of the entire Pet Sounds album and that was grand fun, and then they spent fifteen full minutes introducing the band members, after which there was about a twenty-minute encore of Beach Brothers hits. It was fun, but about a third of the way through the sound was just too much for me. It was so ridiculously loud with every instrument at maximum level – ear shattering, really. I wonder if people even remember what rock-and-roll concerts used to sound like in the 1960s – hint: not like this. There was the usual busy concert lighting – I don’t mind it in concerts, but now musicals are using this kind of lighting and there I absolutely hate it – with a passion.
Prior to the concert, I got to Hollywood at five-twenty, parked in the lot next to the Ricardo Montalban Theater on Vine, and walked down to Kabuki, a pretty okay Japanese place – I have the chicken teriyaki/tempura combo – very good. Then I walked over to Amoeba and looked around, then headed to the theater.
Prior to that we had a very good and productive rehearsal. Ran music, ran choreography, then ran the whole show – a really solid run-through and the actors are getting very comfortable in their roles and finding nice moments. Our note sessions are hilarious and fun and the cast actually looks forward to it – we all just have a great time and laugh and that’s the way to do a note session.
Prior to that I’d gotten about seven hours of sleep.
Today, it’s more of the same for the rehearsal. We’ll be missing a couple of key cast members, so we’ll probably just work stuff, then I’ll eat, and then, let me tell you, I’m coming home and relaxing and that’s all there is to it.
Tomorrow is more of the same, then I’ll come right home and relax. Monday is both my day off and a holiday. I will definitely finish choosing songs for our Kritzerland show and get everyone their music, otherwise the day is mine all mine and if anyone says boo about it I shall knock them in the head with a casaba melon. Then on Tuesday our co-author comes in to see what we’ve been up to. If he has notes, we’ll meet afterwards, see what they are, and being a collaborative effort hopefully we can and will come to the right solutions. While I have given the authors final say on the book revisions, all other final decisions should be mine, what with being the director and all. That’s the way it works in musical theater. We’ll be doing run-throughs every day right through Sunday. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I have night rehearsals, too, but at least I’ll have gotten one day of rest and relaxation.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, pick up mail, rehearse, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite songs of the Beach Boys? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have attended the Pet Sounds concert.