Well, dear readers, we kinda sorta had our first real run-through of Dial ‘M’ for Murder last night. Lots of fumfering and calling for lines, but I could see how well it’s going to work when the actors get the pace right. But the super duper news is that act one ran approximately forty-one minutes (with the fumfering), act two ran thirty-one (ditto), and act three ran thirty (ditto). That’s 103 minutes and that’s kind of already under the 105 I was shooting for – so I think when everyone is secure and we’ve got the pacing right, we’ll come in at about 100 minutes, so if they keep the intermissions to ten minutes we’ll be two hours exactly, in and out. And that’s what I want. These little theaters love to let their intermissions drag on but I’m going to ask them not to do it for this show – there’s no reason for it, really, in a 99-seat theater. The murder scene is getting better as our murderous thug gets more and more comfortable with the murderography. And the play is just wonderful. They don’t know how to write this stuff anymore – I tried really hard to capture this style in Deceit, and I think I did reasonably well, especially in the long monologue that comes at the end of act one. The plot is just so clever and the dialogue just sparkles throughout, especially in the cat and mouse scene with Tony and Captain Lesgate. Just wonderful stuff.
Prior to that kinda sorta run-through, I’d gotten seven-and-a-half hours of sleep. I did my morning stuff, and then our two gal singers arrived – we ran their duet, then each did their two solos – we made a couple adjustments and after an hour that was done. Then I went and had a side Caesar salad and a patty melt for my meal o’ the day. Then I picked up the previous day’s packages, then came home. I finished listening to the Kitajenko Prokofiev symphonies. They’re different to Weller’s, which seem more fleet-footed, but I really liked them quite a lot. And then I moved on to the third set, a conductor named Kosler. These are mastered at quite a low level, which I hate, but the performances are also very good and also completely different than the other sets. I think overall, thus far, the Weller gets my nod, but it’s fun to have the three. And then I kinda sorta dipped into a set of the complete Beethoven symphonies. I know I should love these guys – the Beethovens and the Mozarts, but I never have. It’s probably a failing on my part, but their musical language simply doesn’t “get” to me. But I decided to get this set because I’ve only ever heard snippets of Beethoven, not whole symphonies and it’s time for me to at least listen to the nine symphonies and the unfinished tenth. And after hearing the first symphony, which is quite short, it’s certainly nice music and I didn’t hate it – and this set is beautifully recorded and conducted by – Walter Weller. So, I’m sure this will be interesting as a listening experience, and who knows, I may even end up appreciating and liking Mr. Beethoven.
Then I moseyed on over to the theater. After rehearsal, I came right home, had a matzo for my snack and did some work on the computer, whilst beginning the long, long task of listening to a conductor set – Andre Cluytens – 65 discs. Just uploading them takes so much time, and some of the discs in this set have never been issued, so one has to type all the information in when you upload.
Today, we have a rehearsal from eleven to two. Then I’ll come right home and shave and shower and at four we have our stumble-through. I’ll give whatever notes I have and then I’m sure some of us will get a bite to eat. Then I’m just relaxing and maybe even sitting on my couch like so much fish for the first time in three weeks. Wouldn’t that be loverly.
Tomorrow is Father’s Day – I got a nice package of cherries from her already, so I’ll enjoy those. Other than eating, I’m just relaxing all day and all night. Monday I’ll relax until it’s time for sound check and then we do our show. And Tuesday we’re back with Dial ‘M’ and nightly run-throughs of the show until we open.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a morning rehearsal, have a stumble-through, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite murder scenes in motion pictures? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall hopefully not dream of muderography.