Haines Logo Text
Column Archive
December 30, 2019:

THE SPECTACULAR SOLD-OUT MATINEE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we closed out our three-show weekend with a rather spectacular performance, playing to a sold-out house (seats added up front), an amazing audience who just ate up everything.  Last night, after the show I gave Kay Cole a note that I’d been meaning to give her about the end of act two, because it’s never played quite the way I knew it could play – it’s been good and fun, but I knew we were missing a laugh and that was what the note was about.  Well, Kay came on at the end of the act, addressed the note with absolute perfection, and the result was a huge laugh where we’ve never been able to get one – I was so happy about that.  Barry Pearl’s last performance was classic – humungous laughs from first entrance to final exit.  And the cream puff gag went on and on, building laugh upon laugh – it’s great to watch a superb comic actor run with a bit.  That, and one other gag, were two I came up with that I knew had never been done in any production of this show (the other involves Miss Preen), and to watch them both work so well is truly satisfying.

Prior to that, I’d gotten about six hours of sleep due to an upset tummy.  Once up, I only had time to shower and get ready, and then I moseyed on over to the theater to read two actors, one of whom was a no-show.  Then we played our matinee.  After the show, there was a talkback and that was really fun, and a lot of audience members stayed for it.  I got so many lovely compliments from really nice and thoughtful folks.

Then Adryan Russ and her ever-lovin’ Dale (seeing the show for the second time), Doug, and I went to the Chinese jernt on the corner.  I mostly wanted the Wor Wonton soup, which we all shared, and I had a small amount of chicken fried rice and some sweet and sour chicken, all good.  Then Doug and I walked back to the theater and we saw the upstairs who.  After that, we read two more actors, discussed pros and cons, and are thinking about the decision we have to make.  Then I finally came home, very tired from the ten-hour day.

I ate some junk for my evening snack, listened to music, and relaxed.  I think I’ve settled on the title of the new book – I had a title from six months ago, but it wasn’t feeling right to me and I’d been thinking about a different kind of title, but it needed a subtitle and that came to me when I was up with my upset tummy and I’m fairly certain that’s the one that will stick.

Today, I can sleep in until eleven, then I have to get crackin’ on the Kritzerland show – I’ve only chosen a couple of numbers and I have to finish choosing and get the young folks their music.  At two, I’m having a combo late birthday lunch with Robert Yacko, so that will be nice.  I’ll hopefully pick up some packages (SAG screeners are arriving, but so far they’re just repeats of stuff I’ve gotten from the DGA), and then I’ll come home and relax and watch something.

Tomorrow is another lunch, and then we have our Annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Bash right here at haineshisway.com, the best partay anywhere, and there will be the usual bootay shaking around these here parts, the usual contemplation routine, and the usual sip of champagne directly after the West Coast Balls drop.  We hope many of you dear readers will celebrate right here.  Then, the following morning, the first day of the New Year, I begin my new book.  Also, hopefully I’ll be meeting with a set designer on Thursday, we resume performances on Friday, and I’ll be preparing both the Kritzerland show and starting rehearsals for Doug’s play.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in until eleven, choose material for the Kritzerland show, have a lunch, hopefully pick up packages, and then relax.  Today’s topic of discussion: What are your biggest hopes for the New Year? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a spectacular matinee performance.

Search BK's Notes Archive:
 
© 2001 - 2024 by Bruce Kimmel. All Rights Reserved