Well, dear readers, we had our second Kritzerland rehearsal yesterday, another long one. It was really quite good – all the kids had taken the notes I’d given at the first rehearsal and worked on them, and the difference was wonderful – more focus, more energy, more assurance, and more fun. They all knew their material, too, which is really a plus in terms of me being able to work on the performance subtleties. So, I gave a few more notes, switched up a few arrangement things I wasn’t happy with, and now everything should work well. I know we have a socko opening number and a strong penultimate number – for this show we’re closing soft after my thank yous, with a tender ballad. I like to do that sometimes. We have a very full house at this point and we’ll probably be completely sold out by Sunday, as we all know some people just cannot help but wait until the absolute final minute before booking their tickets.
Prior to rehearsal, I was up at nine-thirty, got coherent, and then began futzing and finessing. I had to stop to shower, but then went back to it and finished doing whatever I did to the previous day’s writing, which included fleshing out some stuff (which I’m doing repeatedly as I go along, as the rhythm of the story is clearer to me – and I suspect that will continue until I’m finished with part one of the book. I wrote about a half-page of new material, then we began rehearsal.
After rehearsal, I went right over to Ralph’s and got lots of small things for my meal o’ the day – three drummettes (very small), three chicken tenders (VERY small), a little bit of chicken Caesar pasta, and a little bit of excellent potato salad. I came home and ate it all up and it was very enjoyable. I also had some pistachios. Then I began writing again.
I did about four pages – very slow going due to having to constantly stop and research certain things so I could get the details exactly as I wanted them. Part of the fun of part one of this book is that every time I fall into my familiar writing patterns in the descriptive sections, I stop and revise and find a different way or style of saying the same thing, without sacrificing my writer voice. That part is fun for me. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I tried to watch a motion picture on DVD entitled Nothing in Common. I promised a friend I’d watch it – I saw it when it came out and didn’t care for it, but always thought it was a big hit movie. Well, it wasn’t – it was not a hit at all – it received some favorable reviews and a lot of not favorable reviews. So, why did I think it was so well thought of? Anyway, friends are turning it into a musical. I saw a reading of act one and I had some strong reactions to what I saw. I suspected that my problems were probably the same as I had with the film, and that is exactly right so far. I’m about forty minutes in. It was one of Tom Hanks first starring roles if not his first, and he looks so young in it. Jackie Gleason is always fun and so is Eva Marie Saint.
Then I came back to the computer and wrote about five more pages and got to a sequence I’ve really been looking forward to. I began it, took another shower, got some great ideas whilst doing so, then wrote another two or three pages – I think I did close to twelve today, with all the additions.
Today, I will futz and finesse and write in the morning, then hopefully pick up some packages and do some errands and try to avoid the ever-deepening annoyances and irritations that I was really hoping not to have to deal with this early in the year. It’s actually debilitating, but thankfully the Kritzerland show is so much fun and I’m so enjoying writing this book that that all helps immeasurably. Do keep sending those most excellent vibes and xylophones for miraculous miracles – we need ‘em and plenty of ‘em. Several people are stopping by in the afternoon for various reasons, and I have a haircut at three. I also have to buy a mini-drive of at least three terabytes as I have to upload all the video footage of Levi to it and get it to Marshall Harvey for editing. I’ll eat at some point, too, and I hope to get at least ten pages done.
Tomorrow, I’ll write throughout the morning right up until it’s time for our two o’clock stumble-through. As soon as that’s over and I’ve given notes, I have to hurry over to my engineer’s place in West LA to finesse the Levi mixes – it’s imperative we get it all done tomorrow so I can get it to mastering. It’s a lot of work, but he’s got it sounding pretty good so hopefully it will go fairly quickly and I won’t be there too, too late.
Tomorrow I’ll write in the morning, then relax, get ready, and mosey on over to The Federal for our sound check and then show. I’m sure some of us will go out for a bite to eat afterwards and I will, of course, have a full report for you. Next week will be a full writing week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, futz and finesse and write, hopefully pick up packages, do errands and whatnot, have a few visitors, have a haircut, write, and then relax at some point. 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, Kritzerland stuff. Blu and Ray, trying to get to stuff in boxes that I hadn’t watched yet. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a good second rehearsal and happy to be writing this new book.