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June 18, 2021:

ANOTHER OPENING, ANOTHER SHOW, OUTDOOR-STYLE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we had us another opening, another show, and all things considered, and believe me I considered all things, it went pretty well. Lighting worked, sound worked, so that’s always a plus because if you can’t see or hear a play then you don’t know what the HELL is going on. How did it get to be so late? These here notes should have already been posted and yet here I am in the first paragraph. I’m not just saying this, but I do think our playlet worked best, there were lots of big laughs, and it got a really strong hand at the end. One of the biggest mistakes first time playwrights make is trying to write drama without any humor – it rarely works. Now, interestingly, the final play of the evening was written by Bill Fitzhugh, who happened to write a very funny novel called Pest Control, which was turned into a not so good musical that someone spent two million dollars on in a ninety-nine-seat theater. While it had been very hot during the day, the evening was quite cool so I’m glad I had the foresight to bring along a sweater. So, all in all, I think the evening was pretty successful. What wasn’t successful was the noise – oh, dear Lord, is it noisy at night in that neighborhood. Some moron was setting off firecrackers and fireworks (why they don’t go after these jerks is anyone’s guess – it is ILLEGAL to do that in Los Angeles and environs), then the theater is in the flight path of the Burbank Airport, so every ten minutes a noisy plane flies over. And then there were eight helicopters – really noisy helicopters – because there’d been some car theft on a nearby street. Even with the mics, you could barely hear a couple of the playlets. I was very proud of my two actresses, who did a great job and made the playlet really land. And the author, who did approve all the dialogue changes we made, got a lot of great comments, so I think he was pretty happy. They had a little after party with lots of really yummy foodstuffs, none of which was Keto friendly. And now I am home, sitting here like so much fish, resting my voice, and listening to Ormandy doing a Beethoven piano concerto (maybe Serkin playing). I think I like the piano concertos better than the symphonies.

I did stop at Gelson’s on the way home and got stuff to make a wedge salad, including some Bob’s Big Boy Thousand Island dressing. I made it and I have to say it was great and I think all the Bob’s dressings are the best bottled dressings there are. Tempted to try the Roquefort next. I ate the salad all up.

Today, I have to be up by eleven or so at the latest, as I’m doing some podcast thing for a David Cassidy thing. I think she said that even though we’re doing it on Zoom, it will only be sound, and I hope that’s the case. I was hoping not to talk too much today and after I’m done with that, then I’m not doing anything else, just relaxing – I cancelled going to the second opening night and will see those plays next Friday. I’ll probably have another wedge salad for food, and I have a few things here for snacks. But mostly I have to get my voice back nice and strong, so I probably will rest it today and all weekend, then if it’s back to normal, then I’ll try to sing through the score on Monday because I’ll have all day Tuesday to rest before the reading. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I should have a video to watch and some music to listen to, too.  Ooh, we just had a to and a too in the same sentence – all we were missing was a two and a tutu. What the HELL am I talking about?

Tomorrow will be a ME day, resting my voice, doing whatever needs doing and viewing and listening, and Sunday will be more of the same. Monday, I can also relax (I’ll be planning Kritzerland songs during those few days), then I’ll definitely sing through the score even if I don’t do it full voice. Then on Tuesday evening we do our private reading. We have a really good cast, but I won’t reveal who they are until that night’s notes. I’m looking forward to hearing it aloud.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven, do a podcast, hopefully pick up packages, eat, and then rest my voice and watch, listen, and relax. 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, not sure, depends if anything arrives. Blu-ray, I have a hankering to see Close Encounters of the Third Kind again, so perhaps that, but also The Wheeler Dealers is sitting here like so much unwatched fish, so maybe that. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had another opening, another show, outdoor-style.

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