Well, dear readers, continuing our look back at 2019, the remainder of the year seemed like it was one thing or another, almost a constant barrage of things to attend to, whether Kritzerland releases (and we did a LOT of releases this year – I’m afraid to count the number, actually), including the monumental five-CD set of Henry King at Fox, the biggest project we’ve ever done. Of course, I had to write all those liner notes, which is always a chore.
We did a second fundraiser for the Group Rep, this time a little 15-year anniversary thing for What If – we did tons of those plus a potpourri of other songs, with a splendid cast. It made them a little money, but it was rather surprising to me how ill-attended it was by actual Group Rep members. Still, those who were there loved it. We spent some time casting The Man Who Came to Dinner, lost our original lead, which turned out okay because the person we got is such a superb actor, Jim Beaver. And I got Barry Pearl and Kay Cole to both come on our little Dinner adventure, but even with those three non-members, we still used twenty-two Group Rep actors.
From early on in the year, I’d pretty much decided what my twentieth book would be, that I’d begin on the first day of January. As with my tenth book, I wanted to do something personal and non-fiction, and that’s what this is. I began the introduction way back in May, I think, and I’ve gone back to that a few times since so I’m well into that now and that will make starting lots easier. In fact, I’ve written four pages this week.
And then it was non-stop rehearsals for The Man Who Came to Dinner, preparing the December Kritzerland, casting Doug Haverty’s play, which begins rehearsing the beginning of January, and I got to the point where I thought my head was going to explode. And all during this time, writing new songs for the musical. I like being busy, for sure, but boy did I need some ME time, that I actually haven’t really gotten yet, although yesterday was a good start.
Yesterday, I got eight hours of sleep, arising at noon. Once up, I found very few orders, very disappointing, and very problematic, but hopefully more will come in. I answered e-mails, had telephonic conversations, and then I went and picked up some packages, put gas in the motor car, thought about Popeye’s until I saw the line out the door with the chicken sandwich sheep, went to Gelson’s to get something only to find not a single parking space, and then gave up and went to Taco Bell. I came home and ate that all up and it was okay. I listened to music, had more telephonic conversations, did some work at the piano and on the computer, went and picked up one additional package and got some mini cupcakes for a snack, came home, and finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I decided I could take no more of Little Women, and instead girded my old loins and watched all three hours and twenty minutes of The Irishman, a motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesce. I like Mr. Scorsese, but I’m not a FANatic. For me, his best film will always be Taxi Driver, I enjoy most of The King of Comedy, and I thought his version of Cape Fear was okay. Raging Bull wasn’t a favorite, New York, New York was awful, at least I thought so, and Goodfellas, which I know everyone loves, I shut off because I could not stand the violence. I was, in fact, concerned that would be the case with The Irishman, but it’s not so bad in that regard. And while the pace of the film is extremely measured, I wasn’t really bored. That said, I can’t say I loved it or that I find it a masterpiece. I get bored of all the songs on the soundtrack and the occasional droning that composer Robbie Robertson provides didn’t do anything for me or the film. The acting is the acting. In the case of Mr. Pacino, he just seems to be in his own movie all the time these days. De Niro is fine. Pesci is fine. Scorsese doesn’t do much showing off in this one and that was refreshing. If you like films like this, it’s probably worth your time and I’m glad I saw it and stuck with it.
After that, I watched the first thirty minutes of the new Blu and Ray of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I’d seen the 70mm blow-up at the Cinerama Dome, but nothing looks good there – but I certainly wasn’t impressed by the photography. Well, the Blu-ray looks great and the photography IS great after all. It’s a weird movie, but I’m enjoying it again, probably more this time since it looks better. And once again, there’s Mr. Pacino, who seems to have wandered in from the set of some other movie.
After that, it was more music, I went back to what will be the new book and wrote a page, just to try and get close to the end of what will open the book. I’m certainly close.
Today, I can sleep until eleven at the latest, then I have some things to do, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then I’ll mosey on over to the theater to do the pre-show announcement. Once done, I may stay for act one and if it’s a good audience, I may stay for all of it, although I doubt it, because I do have to see tomorrow night and the Sunday matinee. So, I may just come home.
Tomorrow, I have to be out early due to she of the Evil Eye, and I think I won’t have to eat a light breakfast, because we’re auditioning some folks at ten. Then I’ll come back, relax, watch something, then I’ll sup with Peyton and her mom – have to figure out where – and then I’ll do the pre-show announcement and see the show, and then I know some of us are going out after. Sunday, I’ll be at the matinee, since I know a lot of folks who’ll be there, and following the matinee there’s a cast party at Doug’s house, so that will be fun. Monday, I do the big shopping for the Christmas Eve Do – I would normally do that at Costco, but it would cost me so much to do it there, as I’d have to renew my membership, that it would probably just be easier to do it all at Ralph’s and Gelson’s. I may, in fact, get a bunch of it tomorrow. And then it’s the Do.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep until eleven, do stuff, eat, hopefully pick up packages, relax, do the pre-show announcement, and then either watch the show or come 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, wonderful music by a whole slew of lesser known composers. DVD, more DGA screeners, and then some Blu-rays to catch up on. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have done part two of the look back at 2019.