Well, dear readers, I am sitting here with my new friend Schubert whilst eating sherbet. I am listening to his ninth symphony (the “Great”) whilst having my ninth bite of sherbet (the Great rainbow sherbet from Thirty-One Flavors). The dishwasher is washing dishes, I am fighting a little headache, a little headache is fighting me, and on top of all that, she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon and therefore I need to finish these here notes in a hurry. Before I do so, let me say that of the old boys I’ve been hearing, I have begun to really appreciate Mr. Felix Mendelsshohn, I can endure a couple of the Beethoven symphonies now, thanks to Mr. Munch, and Schubert is eluding me, which is more than I can say for the sherbet, which most certainly is NOT eluding me.
Yesterday was a day that eluded me like Schubert. I got almost eight hours of sleep, arising at noon o’clock. Once up, I did what needed doing, sent more tracks to singers (only five to go), did some work at the piano and on the computer, and then decided on the meal o’ the day: Barone’s – the tiny personal pepperoni pizza thing and the antipasto salad, which I really love. I went and picked it up, hurried home, finished off the pizza in six minutes (it really is small), then ate the antipasto salad, which was great. I wonder if there’s a propasto salad for those who don’t like antipasto? In any case, it was a wonderful meal.
After that, I listened to music whilst doing work on the computer. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching season five of Alfred Hitchcock Presents – there were no more great episodes, sadly. Some good actors, of course, including a very young Burt Reynolds, Murray Hamilton, and Harry Dean Stanton (billed as Dean Stanton) all in one episode. But the three or four great ones are truly great.
Then I watched a motion picture on DVD called The Heartbreak Kid, starring Charles Grodin, Jeannie Berlin, Cybill Shepherd, and Eddie Albert, written by Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May. Certainly, it’s Ms. May’s best film – tight, disciplined, and not only very funny, but oddly moving at times. Miss Berlin is a treasure – the dinner scene is very painful to watch but she’s absolutely brilliant in it and she got a supporting actress Oscar nomination for it. Grodin is very funny but even when the film came out, I thought that wig was horrible and it’s even worse now. I also happen to think it’s Cybill Shepherd’s best performance. And Eddie Albert really deserved his Oscar nomination – he’s absolutely hilarious and perfect. It’s still funny, it’s still great, even after all these years. I hadn’t realized they’d remade the film – the awful Farrelly Brothers – and even reading the plot synopsis and reviews of it made me want to vomit on the ground. It seems they made the plot incredibly stupid, really ruined the Jeannie Berlin character (it’s mind-boggling, actually, how they did not understand the story), and according to what I read it doesn’t even resemble The Heartbreak Kid – crass, unfunny, lame – those were some of the kinder comments. I have to say, the Farrelly boys, for me, are as funny as snot dripping from a nose – well, they’d find that hilarious. Anyway, if you’ve somehow missed the real The Heartbreak Kid, get it – it’s really one of the best comedies of the 1970s, not that there were that many to choose from.
After that, I listened to Schubert whilst eating sherbet, and now that I’m finished with both, I’m listening to the wonderful Saint-Saens third symphony – the stereo version. It’s really good, but I think I almost prefer Munch’s earlier mono version.
Today, I’ll be up early, and rather than go eat breakfast, which is what I normally do when she of the Evil Eye is here, I’ll go hunting in the garage. I just need to ascertain whether what I need to find is there or not and if not then we need to start the hunt in the warehouse. Once I’m home, then it’s some Kritzerland show stuff, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat, and then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is more of the same, and then at some point in the upcoming week we’ll do a Zoom rehearsal for all the performers – separately, of course.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up early, hunt in the garage, do Kritzerland show stuff, hopefully pick up packages, eat, then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films and plays of Mr. Neil Simon, and your favorite performances of Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, having listened to Schubert whilst eating sherbet.