Well, dear readers, it is late and I am tired and yet here I am writing these here notes because time waits for no man and, conversely, no man waits for time. That is quite metaphysical, if you ask me. Let’s get metaphysical. I think Olivia Newton John sang that, didn’t she? First of all, let us not let another moment pass without acknowledging that today is Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate all you mothers out there in the dark – mothers past, mothers present, but not mothers future since they aren’t technically mothers yet. So, a very happy haineshisway.com Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there in the dark (you know who you are). In honor of Mother’s Day I was just playing two new soundtrack releases that are mother-centric: Rosemary’s Baby and Mommie Dearest. So, I am in quite a motherly mood right now. Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, but not right now, not when I’ve got Rosemary and Miss Joan Crawford keeping me company.
Yesterday was not Mother’s Day. I had a good night’s sleep, got up at ten, and did a two-mile jog after a brief visit with the helper. Then I did some work on the computer, after which I picked up no packages, which was very irritating. Then Lanny Meyers showed up and we had a nice chat whilst waiting for the East Coast Singer to show up. Once she did, we sat and chatted for a little while, then went and had a quick lunch, where we discussed how we’re going to proceed over these next few days. We talked about what I felt was not working like it should and we all agreed that one particular number was definitely getting cut. After lunch we came back and she ran the act from start to finish, sans the one cut song. The theme and structure of the act seemed mostly sound, but it was hearing the patter again that made me know that that is the area we really have to address, focus, and make much better. The song choices are all fine now that we’ve made the one cut. But I felt we needed to switch up some of the order in terms of the storytelling of the act, so we batted around ideas and came up with a new and hopefully improved order, which we’ll try first thing today. So, there will be a lot of work on the patter and then it’s just getting the performance level where it needs to be and everything to run smoothly and effortlessly.
After rehearsal, I answered some e-mails, and then it was time to mosey on over to LACC to see the benefit staged reading of Mr. William Inge’s Come Back, Little Sheba, with Faith Prince and Tony Plana. It was only about a third of a house, which was too bad, but everyone who was there had a good time. I knew quite a few people in attendance. I’d never seen the stage show of Come Back, Little Sheba, and I actually don’t know that I’ve ever seen the film all the way through. I think the play is a good one, written firmly in that early 1950s style. There’s a lot going on under the surface of these characters, and obviously one day of rehearsal was not going to make a perfect staged reading. But what we got was just fine – Faith is such a wonderful actress and she really should do a revival of this show as she’s really perfect for it. Mr. Plana is an excellent actor, and the rest of the cast, all students, all held their own in such good company. I must try to see the film soon – I do like Shirley Booth, although Burt Lancaster seems a little odd casting for her husband (on Broadway it was the fine actor, Sidney Blackmer).
After the show, I said hi to Faith and we had a nice chat. Then I stopped at Gelson’s, since I’d only had a salad and a couple of drumettes for lunch. I got some no-fat, no-calorie hot dogs and buns and had two of those (only three hundred calories all in) and I also had some shrimp sushi – that hit the spot and was well within my calorie count, especially as I’d jogged.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get another good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall do at least a two-mile jog, then we’ll have at least a four-hour rehearsal, after which we’ll get some foodstuffs, and then we’ll probably work into the early evening.
Tomorrow, we’ll start earlier and go at least until three, maybe four, depending on whether I’m doing the Skip E. Lowe taping, although since I’ve had no confirmation of that, I’m assuming it’s not happening. The rest of the week is filled with meetings, meals, and getting the Kritzerland show cast and music to the singers. I also have several shows to see, I think, and I definitely have to see Teddy this week as I need to have my do done.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, rehearse, eat, and rehearse. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there in the dark.