Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the Sibelius first, a fine performance by Mr. Ormandy, having recently returned from the Group Rep opening night of Doug Haverty’s play, Could I Have This Dance? It’s about a woman with Huntington’s disease, which causes her to be in constant movement, rather like dancing. Directing Doug’s plays can be tricky – you have to dig out the humor, you have to keep the play moving along, and you have to have excellent actors. I first saw this play quite some time ago over at Theatre 40 and I really did not like the production or the play at that time. Happily, the production at the Group Rep is blessed with a fine cast of six who “get” the play, simple and efficient staging, and while I found act one just a tad long, I quite enjoyed it. It was a full house – but mostly filled with family and friends and Group Rep members, which is my least favorite kind of audience to see plays with, even ones I direct. There was the usual afterparty but my eyes were bugging me so I said hi to all those I knew, then left and came home. It was starting to rain anyway and driving at night with my creepy double vision is just unnerving. I cannot wait until I get the new glasses. My goodness, that Sibelius fellow really could write a tune, I’ll tell you that and have told you that. Anyway, it was nice to get out of the house and see some friendly faces. Do you know what happens if you accidentally type an “e” instead of an “a” in faces – I’ll let you figure it out but I’m not sure I’d call the resultant new word friendly. I had an English muffin for a snack. I did get eight non-consecutive hours of sleep, arising around eleven. I answered e-mails, did a few little things on the computer, followed another auction, and then had a small Marco’s pizza for food – hadn’t had it in four weeks and it was very good. I watched some videos throughout the day, including a bootleg of Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Putting aside Mr. Radcliffe, I cannot imagine a worse production than the pitiful thing I’m viewing and of course it’s Rob Ashford, who simply does not understand the material he’s directing. Every choice is so ridiculous and wrong-headed, that no one has a chance, including Mr. Radcliffe. The lighting is so typical of today’s over-the-top crap, the set is stupid, and Ashford’s choreography is intensely wrong. The show itself is pretty indestructible and when the audience is filled with kids who will laugh at anything anyone does, well, it’s just bad. Bad bad. Really and truly bad. Just as bad as his revival of Promises, Promises, and just as ineptly wrongheaded.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll go to the mail place as soon as I know that my package has been delivered, then I’ll come home and make pasta for food – some fettucine with sauteed onions in pink sauce. Oh, I’m also hoping that two important envelopes are there. After all that, I’ll just watch, listen, and relax. If I can figure out how to stream elmore’s ballet, I shall do so. Someone please tell me the time and link me to it.
Tomorrow is a complete ME day and I don’t care who knows it. Then next week it’s writing, hoping the two test books arrive so I can place my order and then books should be here a couple of weeks later and we’ll get them shipped right out.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, go to the mail place for a package and hopefully two important envelopes, eat pasta of my own making, hopefully stream elmore’s ballet, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite movies and plays where a leading character has some malady or affliction to overcome? I’ll start with my favorite – The Miracle Worker. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy if I never see another production by the person who is, for me, the worst director/choreographer in the business.