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June 3, 2021:

ANOTHER NON-STOP DAY

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am finally sitting here like so much fish, finally relaxing, and finally listening to music, said music being Mr. Ottorino Respighi and his transcriptions and orchestrations of Bach and Rach, Rach being Rachmaninoff. I’ve just started listening and his Bach stuff is fantastic. Otherwise, I have, in fact, listened to quite a bit of other music, but not for pleasure, although it’s always a pleasure to listen to music. I had to approve a new master, which I did, although I think a bit more work will happen before it’s sent in, but I was very pleased with what I heard. And I also began making some of the tracks I’ll sing to at the reading of our new musical. I did find time to watch a motion picture entitled The Perfect Furlough, a perfectly ordinary service comedy starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh and a host of fun character types, including the one and only Elaine Stritch. Written by Stanley Shapiro, he of Pillow Talk and other Doris Day comedies, as well as Bedtime Story and Me, Natalie. Side note (Bb): I almost appeared in a Stanley Shapiro-written film directed by Rod Amateau, called The Seniors. I was, in fact, offered one of the leading roles, but it involved rear-end nudity and I said no. The film was a total bomb and was barely released, so I dodged that one. The Perfect Furlough is one of those smarmy, winky-winky things, risqué, kinda sorta, directed by Blake Edwards in Cinemascope. You can see Edwards trying to help the writing with visual gags, most of which aren’t great, but clearly he’s trying out stuff that he’d go on to perfect in other films, especially the klutzy character played by King Donovan – the kind of bits Edwards would eventually give to Inspector Clouseau. King Donovan is not Peter Sellers – he’s not even me. I kept thinking how funny his stuff could have been with someone else doing the bits – it’s the kind of physical comedy I lived for in my acting days. The transfer is a bit, well, Pathe Color. It’s reasonably sharp most of the time, overtly grainy, with mostly fine color. This is part of a three-movie Tony Curtis collection, which includes The Great Imposter, which I love, and Forty Pounds of Trouble, which I’ve never seen. These Bach transcriptions are really good.

Yesterday was another non-stop day. I got almost eight hours of sleep, got up, had many e-mails to answer and then it was back to the Nothing in Common script, trying to get it ready so we can lock it as a rehearsal script. I talked to one of the co-writers and went over some stuff he had to do. And then more stuff with the packaging for one of the new releases. We should have its final component by the time I arise this morning and then we can get that booklet done. I did write the blurbs and got all that part ready. The other release’s packaging is awaiting my proofing.

Then I had a Zoom read-through of the playlet I’m directing. I have two wonderful ladies in it, one Black, one White. We read through it, they had a few things that were not comfortable for them, and I had things that I thought needed adjusting, which you can only tell when actors are reading it aloud. It was fun and they’ll be great. I ordered from Barbie-Q – my usual pulled pork dinner with coleslaw and a tiny Caesar salad. It arrived about fifteen minutes after the Zoom thing, and I ate it all up – this was another ten-dollar off coupon, and I have two more to use up. It makes it cheaper than picking it up.

Since I hadn’t been out of the house all day, I took a little drive, then came home and had a long telephonic conversation with the author of the playlet, giving him the notes we had from the Zoom read-through. He was very open to all the suggestions. I told him it was, in the end, up to him as to which he used, but I think he’ll actually use most of it because it helps clarify and also shorten it a bit. So, we should have a rewrite by Friday, and we’ll be able to rehearse with it on Saturday at our first live rehearsal.

Then I watched the movie. After that, it was another telephonic conversation with the co-author of Nothing in Common to wrap up the last of what he needed to do, which he got to me a few minutes later and which I entered into our working script. That should be everything for now. And then, finally, I could relax.

Today, I’ll be up by eleven, I’ll shave and shower, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then I’m having photographs taken. Not sure how long that will last, but after we’re done, I’ll then go meet David Wechter at his local deli and we’ll sup. After that, I’ll come home and watch, listen, and relax.

Tomorrow is hopefully announcing our two new titles and then I’m supping with Barry Pearl at six. Saturday is our first live rehearsal – we’ll be at the theater. She of the Evil Eye hurt her foot, so she’ll come the following week, which is fine. Sunday, I hope will be a day of rest. And then next week there are several rehearsals, plus finishing casting the reading and the Kritzerland show, which I haven’t even had time to think about.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven, shave and shower, hopefully pick up packages, have photographs taken, sup with David Wechter, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Mr. Tony Curtis and Miss Janet Leigh? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, tired from another non-stop day.

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