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June 14, 2017:

BACK TO DIALING M

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, it was back to Dial ‘M’ for Murder last night and I was happy to see my cast – haven’t seen them in over a week. I was happy to see that the basic walls and doors of the set are up, because it makes it so much easier to see how things will work. Before we began I had to tape a little promotional interview. Then, we began at the top and ran the entire show, so I could see how it looked and where everyone was. While it was rough and while people aren’t quite off book yet, I could tell the blocking was very pleasing to me when the actors were committed to it. There was some laxity to some of it, but we’ll clean all that up tonight. I want all the moves in this show to have purpose and to be definite, with no wandering around aimlessly. I kind of choreographed everything very carefully so the actors just have to get used to it because that’s the way I want it to work – nothing arbitrary. Sometimes that’s hard for actors and if anyone has any real problems with anything they can come to me and we’ll try another way if it doesn’t hurt the design of what I’ve done. The performances are coming along just fine, and as soon as the books are out of their hands completely we can then do some detail work on the performances. We began at seven and finished the run around nine thirty with two ten-minute breaks. Some of it was way too slow so over the next few days we’re going to get the pace of the show just the way I want it. What I’m hoping for is about two hours and fifteen minutes all in, with the intermissions. If I can get it down tighter than that, I will.

After we wrapped, I stopped at Gelson’s and picked up a box of matzos just to have in the house. Prior to all that, I’d had a rough night – I think the donuts I ate were either stale or tainted because my tummy was in turmoil all night long. I slept only one hour and there were several close calls with throwing up, but I avoided it, thankfully. I finally fell asleep around nine and slept until twelve-fifteen, so I got about four hours of sleep, all told. Once up I definitely felt better. I did some work on the computer, answered e-mails, and relaxed a bit, then went and had a Chinese chicken salad and a bagel, after which I came right back home. I did more work on the computer and a bit of work at the piano, and then Kerry O’Malley arrived for her second rehearsal, along with Richard Allen, our musical director. We ran her three songs and she and Richard went on their merry way and I had to get ready for our rehearsal. On the way to the theater, I stopped and picked up a couple of packages.

Today, I’ll have to be up before nine for the sprinkler man. Then at eleven-thirty I’m having a haircut (finally) and then I’ll eat something somewhere, perhaps Hamburger Hamlet or perhaps somewhere else that’s light and fun. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then I can relax a bit before our evening rehearsal.

Tomorrow we have our second Kritzerland rehearsal followed immediately by our evening rehearsal. Friday we have an evening rehearsal, Saturday we rehearse from ten to two-thirty, then we have our stumble-through at four, after which I’m sure some of us will eat. No rehearsal on Sunday due to Father’s Day. Monday we have our sound check and then show and then it’s back to Dial ‘M’.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up early for the sprinkler man, have a haircut, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and rehearse. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be back dialing ‘M’ for Murder and Merriment.

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