Well, dear readers, this month is flying by, like a gazelle celebrating Rosh Hashanah and dancing the Hora whilst eating gefilte fish, chopped liver, and herring in sour cream, whilst saying “Oy” and belching loudly. Well, that was an opening. Speaking of an opening, yesterday was a nice first day of October, the tenth month. Other than negotiating the roadway with the usual stupid drivers, it was pleasantly pleasant.
I got eight hours of sleep. Once up, I answered e-mails, sent e-mails, had telephonic conversations, did work at the piano and on the computer, had some productive back-and-forth on this show I’m now composing and dramaturging and eventually directing, should we be so lucky. I work with the lyricist, I work with the book writers, all of us trying to get this machine to work as a stage vehicle (it’s based on a film). So, I cajole, suggest, give ideas – I had a really good one last night and sent today and they loved it. The reading of the first act that happened three years ago when a different composer was involved, did not work at all. There was no lightness to it, the tone was dark and wrong, and it began so wrong that it could never recover. I’ve changed all the obvious things that didn’t work, and it’s starting to feel better now. It’s much lighter, has some good laughs now, and the score is now much more musical theater because, well, that’s what I do.
After that, I moseyed on over to the mail place and picked up a couple of packages, then did some banking, then came home. And then it was more work at the piano and the computer. I forgot to mention that for the second morning in a row, the fob wouldn’t work – couldn’t open the car door and had to use the key, which set off the alarm, fob wouldn’t work, but then did, and then continued to work all day and evening – same exact thing. So, before I went to the auditions, I went to the nearby Infiniti dealer and brought both fobs and got new batteries. I’m praying that that was the problem and that tomorrow the fob will work fine – send some excellent vibes and xylophones that everything will work as it should.
Then I moseyed on over to the Group Rep for auditions. We saw four count them four actors – they were fine, but not really what I’m looking for. I think we have two VERY strong candidates, one of whom has some actual name value, so we’ll have to decide on one of them by Thursday and the decision is not solely mine, as I want everyone, including the theater to be comfortable with the choice.
After that, I came right home, had some matzoh, some Milk Duds, listened to a lot of music. I’m working through two big box sets now – after all this sublime and accessible music I’ve been hearing, this is more difficult. The first box, which I’ve now finished, is a Korean composer called Isang Yun – very interesting life, and certainly interesting music on some level – an occasionally loud composer of more modern music – no tunes here – but he does set interesting mood pictures and has very interesting orchestrations and orchestral color. His fourth symphony was, for me, the most interesting and I’ll give all five another listen. The bigger box is devoted to the symphonies of Allan Pettersson, another more modern composer. So, again we have interesting music – no real tunes – but very moody, at times very film music-like and it’s not really my thing, but I like to expand my horizons. His symphonies are fairly long, so it will take a while getting through all twelve CDs.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven to have a chat with one of the actors we’re considering – the one with some name value – and then another conversation with the lyricist to clarify what the song we’re working on should actually be about and what it should say. It’s one where I wrote the music first. After that, I’ll do whatever needs doing, hopefully pick up some packages, and then Doug Haverty and I are going to see a musical comedy. It’s a bit of a drive, so we want to leave early, then we’ll find a fun place to eat and where we can sit for a couple of hours. Show begins at seven-thirty.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals, making a decision, seeing a concert on Saturday, and trying to get some relaxing in.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have two chats, do what needs doing, hopefully pick up packages, sup, and see a show. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader and 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, as we continue celebrating the Jewish New Year or as we Jews like to call it, Rosh Hashanah.