Well, dear readers, I have news to share: It is Thanksgiving. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it is Thanksgiving, a day of giving thank and turkey and those berries that are cran and sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing and biscuits and butter and eating too much and plotzing and complaining about eating too much. I will enjoy all your posts about your various and sundried celebrations. Before I get to that, however, perhaps I should just get yesterday out of the way.
Yesterday, which I am currently getting out of the way, was an okay day. I was up at ten after less than seven hours of sleep, I did the usual morning stuff, and then I moseyed on over to have our third rehearsal this week. The original intention was to assemble the show, then run it for timing purposes. But we had late arrivals and weren’t able to start for thirty minutes, so I knew that wasn’t going to happen. Instead, I assembled the show and that took the two-and-a-half hours left. We got all the transitions done, ran every song, cleaned up staging and some group singing that needed to be more precise. When we hit the third from the end number I knew it would stop the show cold. The number that was supposed to follow it was a late addition and neither the singer or I thought it was working as it should – it was very good but tonally so different than everything else in the show. I knew that to follow that huge showstopper would not work at all, so the singer and I proposed cutting it and thankfully that happened and now the end of the show will move like a house afire to the encore. With the other minor cuts we made the show should be very tight now. The group staging bits work very cleanly and nicely.
After the rehearsal, I picked up some packages – DGA screeners and finally some that I’ll actually watch – A Star is Born, Crazy Rich Asians, BlacKKLansman, and Boy Erased. I went to Taco Bell again, just because I wanted to do what was easiest. I got my usual stuff, came home and ate it whilst catching up on e-mails. I’d forgotten that I had to go and see a show, so since I had three hours I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I began watching a motion picture on the Flix of Net entitled CAM. It’s a rather silly doppelganger film, with the doppelganger aspect not well explained at all. It does move along at a steady clip but it’s really nothing special, and therefore I was surprised to see the rave reviews for it, including one from Mr. Stephen King. They all speak of its feminist bent – sorry, I guess you see what you want to see in regards to that stuff, but other than a female lead taking her life into her own hands and being strong, I don’t see what is in the least bit feminist about it. It wasn’t bad, but it certainly was no gem.
Then I moseyed on over to see a new musical, directed and choreographed by our very own Kay Cole. It was a very nice production – good set, nice lighting – well, they spent buckets of money on this three-week run and I do mean BUCKETS of money. The story, about the first date and subsequent romance of Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis seemed like a weird idea for a musical and it is. Perhaps it might work as a play, but the songs always seem scotch-taped onto the book scenes and some of them are downright puzzling. The lyrics are not so hot and the music is not so memorable. The script is filled with clichés, too, and good use a strong rewrite. I have no idea what the development process for this has been and have no idea if they’ll be working on it or just try for another production. But for me, it’s just a “why” musical. Everyone on the production end did good work, but for me it didn’t involve me or cause me to feel anything. The actors did a fine job, too, and I’m always very supportive of Kay.
After that, I came right home. I had some pinwheels from our rehearsal that our writer had brought. The Boar’s Head ham pinwheels – low calorie and that was my evening snack. Then I finished CAM, and then I listened to some music and am still listening to music as I type these here notes.
Today is Thanksgiving. The few places I get invited to are not doing it this year, so I’m either going to just hang out here or, if things align well and I can find a gas station that’s open, I may meet dear reader Jeanne for a Thanksgiving meal out. We shall see. Otherwise, I’m relaxing and watching DGA screeners.
Tomorrow is a complete and total ME day – no work, all play. I’ll eat, hopefully pick up packages, and I’ll watch stuff. Saturday we’re back with a two-show day for A Carol Christmas. Whether I attend both is unknown to me at this time. Sunday we play a matinee and I’ll definitely be there for that, since the Shermans are coming and I know several other folks coming, too. Monday begins with a no-stops run-through of the revue, followed by our first Kritzerland rehearsal. Tuesday I can relax until sound check, and then we do our little satirical revue. Wednesday is free, Thursday is our second Kritzerland rehearsal, Friday we’re back for our third weekend of performances, Saturday is our stumble-through, and Sunday is sound check and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hang out, maybe go out for a meal, watch stuff, and just relax. Today’s topic of discussion: As always, most memorable Thanksgivings and what you’re doing today. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be giving thanks on Thanksgiving.