Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because I must get a decent night’s beauty sleep as I have a long drive to do and must be alert and on point when I get to Coachella to do a tech cue-to-cue for Robert Yacko’s new cabaret show. They did a tech last night and wrote some cues, and I’ll probably be fine with those and probably add a few new ones to the mix. Also, Robert said because of the size of the stage he felt a bit static – I haven’t had him moving or sitting because I had no idea how small or large the space was. So, I’ll take a look today and if it doesn’t feel random or distracting we may have him sit for a ballad or two, and maybe put some walkography in a couple of numbers.
Yesterday, I got up after about six-and-a-half hours of sleep. I did the usual morning things and then had the cloven hoof telephonic call, which turned out to be surprisingly okay and easy to do – and that was a good thing, so thank you for your excellent vibes and xylophones because they worked. Actually, the first thing I did when I got up at nine-thirty was to go to the mail place and get the Freshly box. Thankfully the ice packs were fine and everything was cold – so into the refrigerator the six meals went. Then I did some work on the computer, after which I went to see Lydia Geissman for my haircut. She did a nice job of it, then I came back home. Once home, I made the first of the two Freshly meals – slow-cooked beef chili – only 390 calories, the lowest of any of the meals I’ve had. I liked it okay – there was some weird spice in it that I wasn’t crazy about, but a little dose of ketchup worked wonders. It was just the right size, too. I listened to more Duke Ellington – just loving these CDs – and the helper came by because we actually sold a combo pack of all the Welcome to My World stuff – the sheet music book, the CD, and the script, to a performing arts center that works with kids. Always enjoy when that happens. At some point, I sat on my couch like so much fish.
I watched the final two episodes of the Hitchcock Hour shows – the penultimate show I had to shut off after ten minutes – one of the worst. But the final episode was quite good – written by Robert Bloch, starring John Gavin and Tom Drake, and directed by a newcomer, someone named William Friedkin. It was very well done, but the story didn’t quite hold together and got silly. And that was the end of Alfred Hitchcock’s TV shows – he had a very long run – a decade, and it certainly made him a household name and his persona was firmly established for the hungry TV masses. After that, I checked out a few of the new Twilight Time Blu-rays – The Crimson Kimono, a Sam Fuller film I really like – great transfer. State Fair with Pat Boone, Ann-Margret, Alice Faye, and Tom Ewell – it looks pretty great and sounds great, but boy is it a stodgy film – Jose Ferrer was not my idea of a great film director and how he even got this film to direct is anyone’s guess. But the songs are fun, and the cast is fresh and fun, too – Bobby Darin and Pamela Tiffin also star. And there is a seriously weird production number with Ann-Margret and some mighty Jack Cole-like Nick Castle choreography. I also checked out a bit of You’ll Never Be Rich with Fred Astaire – it looks and sounds fantastic and best of all I’ve never seen it before.
After that, I made the second Freshly meal, Chicken Rustica – it was pretty good, I thought, after I put a little salt and pepper on it. I’d have it again. I gave the helper the two today meals since I won’t be around to eat them. Then I listened to more Duke, all enjoyable, and some of the best stereo sound I’ve ever heard. I especially enjoyed The Duke at Tanglewood – thirty minutes of live bliss with Ellington and Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. And Blues in Orbit is pretty amazing, as is Far East Suite. And Ellington’s cover of Mary Poppins is pretty interesting, too. I also went and put gas in the motor car.
Today I’ll be up by nine-thirty and I’ll shave and shower and be on the road by eleven-fifteen at the latest. Hoping there won’t be any traffic at that hour – really hoping. Hoping a lot. When I arrive, we’ll do our cue-to-cue tech and I’ll adjust whatever needs adjusting. I think Robert will then go relax, and Alby and I will go find somewhere to eat and have a nice meal. The show is at seven and I hope to be on the road home no later than nine and hopefully even a bit earlier.
Tomorrow I have tons of Kritzerland stuff to do – we’re all cast save for one gal and hopefully I’ll settle on that, choose the rest of the songs, and get everyone their music. They’ll still have two full weeks and we’ve found that no one really looks at anything before that anyway. At four I’m meeting composer Pete Anthony and he’ll sign the Betting on Zero booklets. Then I’ll just relax and eat my Saturday Freshly meals. Sunday there may be something happening – not sure yet. Then next week is the Kritzerland work session, doing a show order, writing the commentary, and lots of meetings and meals.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long drive to Coachella, do a cue-to-cue, eat, and debut Robert Yacko’s cabaret show, then do the long drive home. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, Ellington. Blu-ray, Twilight Time stuff. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I will be on my way to Coachella.