Well, dear readers, how can we be nearing the end of March? Where the HELL did March march to? Why I oughta… March has flown by, like a gazelle singing an aria from La Traviata whilst doing the Peppermint Twist, an arresting combination for which the gazelle should have been arrested but instead received rave reviews. What the HELL am I talking about? I have no clew and I don’t frankly want to know. At this particular moment in time, I am listening to the marvelously marvelous Ormandy recording of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde (The Lied von der Erde). Amazing sound and recording, beautifully played and wonderfully sung by Richard Lewis and Lillian Chookasian. I don’t know the work very well, but have heard most of the famous performances because they’ve come in other box sets or SACDs – Reiner, Klemperer, etc. But the playing here is exquisite, and I prefer non-fussy readings of Mahler. Not only do the Philadelphia strings work their usual magic, but the winds are stunning on this recording, both in the playing and recording. Otherwise, earlier I managed to watch two count them two motion pictures – John Woo’s film from last year, Silent Night – not his best and not enough of his usual operatic stuff until the very end. A simple and cliched tale of revenge with the twist that in the opening scene the lead is shot in the throat and can no longer speak. And that’s the conceit of the film. Other than music and bombastic sound effects there is not a single line of dialogue in the film. As in silent cinema, the entire tale unfolds visually, which is fun for a while, but it just doesn’t quite hand together as most Woo films do. Still, it has its moments. Then I watched a dreadful no-budget stinker called Black Bags, not to be confused with Steven Soderbergh’s just released new movie, Black Bag, which I very much want to see. Prior to that, we go another nice review from Julio Martinez, who I’ve known for fifty-something years now. He’s always been kind to my work over the years but hasn’t been afraid to knock something he didn’t care for, although never meanly – he really didn’t like Deceit, for example. Thankfully, he really liked our show. To wit:
“The Group Rep is offering the West Coast Premiere of the Ira Levin (book and lyrics) and Milton Schafer (music) 1965 musical, that is set in turn-of-the-19th century New York. “Drat! The Cat” did not fare well on Broadway in ’65, but Group Rep’s production, directed by Bruce Kimmel, with a keen observance of the Victorian style and manners of the 1890s, offers a charming journey back to the slapstick comedy of the Keystone Cops, haughty society matrons, greedy bankers, a hapless young cop and the lady he loves.
The opening Overture sets the tone for the whole show beautifully executed by choreographer Cheryl Baxter, who introduces the locals, surrounded by a bevy of bumbling cops, while The Cat gleefully robs the townsfolk at will. Aiding the proceedings is Music Director/Pianist Gerald Sternbach and a first-rate five-piece pit band. At the center of this tale are Bob (Alec Reusch), a naive young cop who has been assigned to capture The Cat, and Alice (Sydney DeMaria), a society ingénue, who leads a double life. Their budding but slowly developing relationship is encapsulated by Bob in the first act ballad, “She Touched Me.” The seemingly ambivalent Alice finally responds in the second act with “I Like Him.” Another plus are the supporting performances of Lloyd Pedersen and Constance Mellors as Alice’s disapproving parents, Lucius and Matilda Van Guilder. April Audia is also a delight as Bob’s working-class Irish mother, Kate Purefoy. And Hisato Masuyama is perfectly cast as the always disdainfully superior Butler.
Drat! The Cat! will run on The Group Rep Theatre’s Main Stage (First Floor) through April 27. For tickets and information www.thegrouprep.com and (818) 763-5990. The Group Rep Theatre venue is located at 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood 91601.”
Isn’t that a lovely review. And yes, I staged the entire opening (insert smiley face here, he said, smiling). Doug Haverty did a nice flyer with quotes (done before we got Julio’s review). Here it is.
Prior to all that, I got eight hours of sleep, got up, answered a plethora of e-mails and a few irritating texts, had a few telephonic conversations, had a turkey sandwich for food, watched a few irritating YouTube videos whilst eating said turkey sandwich, watched the two motion pictures, got a Cantina Bowl from Taco Bell for a snack – not too bad – chicken, lettuce, cheese, beans, guacamole, sour cream, rice, and pico de gallo. Of course, right now I feel like vomiting on the ground.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll have something very small to eat, as I’ll be supping with friends after tonight’s performance. I put off the mail place all week, so after I shave and shower, I’ll stop there and gather up whatever might have arrived, then I’ll arrive at the theater around six for a six-thirty cast call to run some numbers to get the proper show energy back after five days off, and they’ll do a proper vocal warm up with our musical director. Then we do our performance. Hoping for a nice crowd, but I have no idea how many are on the books, as the wags say. Then a few of us will go have a proper meal.
Tomorrow, I’ll relax during the day, then attend the evening performance, as I have friends coming. Sunday, we play our matinee then have a talkback. Then next week I start a few new things, including booking the next two Kritzerland shows – I know what they are already – in fact, I know what the next three are. And I may start writing the other book I wish to write this year, if the timing feels right. If not, I’ll start it in the summertime, when the livin’ is easy.
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, do whatever needs doing, have a snack to tide me over, shave and shower, stop at the mail place for the first time in a week, run a couple of numbers to get us back in the proper show energy, do a performance, then go out for a proper meal. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray/streaming player? I’ll start – CD, Ormandy then more Ormandy – about forty CDs to go. Streaming, I’ll find something, I’m sure. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be back doing our show.