Well, dear readers, we start up doing performances again this evening. I have no idea how crowded we’ll be – we shall see. The few reviews I’ve seen are all mixed but with many positive things in them. They all say the same thing – the ballads and a few of the other numbers get in the way of our marvelous satirical evening and they wish it was all satire. They’d wish that until they saw it, and then they’d wish for some respite. One review said the show can’t seem to make up its mind what it wants to be. I can only say that the show knows exactly what it wants to be and states that very clearly in the opening number. But, as I’ve said, these critics do not understand what the history of revues are, or what an old-fashioned revue is. I’m grateful they’re at least enjoying the funny bits and I’m glad they want more. Always leave them wanting more, I say. But I’ve now heard from enough “real” audience members that they really like the other material, too, and that it gives the show some depth. Of course, some people will, and some people won’t, and it’s all perfectly fine. Some audiences we’ve had haven’t “gotten” the What If parodies like some other audiences have, and those audiences like the other material better. You simply can’t win with LA reviewers, that’s the sad part. They jump all over themselves to rave about the most mediocre shows and then give good shows mixed reviews. Again, a lot of what I’ve read (I’m not really reading them, they’re being read to me, which I’d really like to stop) is very positive, and very kind to me personally, as well as the cast. And, the way in which they’re writing them gives us many valuable pull quotes. The new speakers are in – they’re not great, but they work. The mics are still behaving weirdly (it’s not the speakers because we checked them out with various CDs) – they’re buzzing and distorting a bit. I would just forego them if we can’t solve the problems, but, for example, on Sunday when the speakers were totally out, several elderly people were having a bit of trouble hearing things. We’re told it may be because the receivers for the mics are in our light booth, which is behind glass. That may be impeding the signal. The company that rented us the mics is coming out today to check things out. When they’re working properly, you’re barely aware of them, but they do help a couple of the performers and they really help the group numbers sound spiffy. So, we shall see – whatever the problems, I have asked for them to be solved by six-thirty this evening. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Freaks, directed by Mr. Tod Browning. I’d only really seen it once before. I really liked it this time around – it’s actually quite affecting in certain ways and it’s always fun to see Daisy and Violet Hilton. The transfer is a bit of a miracle (naturally a “reviewer” on an esteemed DVD site complained about, wait for it, the gray scale and the shadow detail – note to “reviewer”: GET A LIFE – you know absolutely nothing about transfers or DVD or shadow detail or edge enhancement and gray scale – these are all words you’ve picked up somewhere). That parens was so long I have no idea what the hell I was talking about. Oh, yes, the transfer – it’s a bit of a miracle. It looks and sounds really good, 200% better than it’s ever looked before on home video. It’s sharp and has excellent contrast, and for a film made in 1932 that has had the strange release history that Freaks has had, well, it’s amazing it looks this good. Kudos to Warners and all concerned. It’s marvy, and I recommend it.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? What is most interesting about Freaks is how the freaks aren’t as freaky as some of the normal people in the film. I think we all feel that way, at least I know I do – I deal with freaks every single day – people who look and seem normal on the outside, but who inside are freaky freaks who only want to cause trouble or be negative. Well, phut to them, I say, and phut I say again. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I have various and sundried things I must attend to.
And just what are these various and sundried things I must attend to? I have no idea, but I know there are various and sundried things I must attend to and as soon as I figure out what they are you shall be the first to know. And to the freaks I say phut.
Our very own Juliana A. Hansen will be coming to see What If tomorrow night, and a dear lurker will be coming this evening and has asked if I will bring the three Kritzer books so she can purchase them. I shall indeed.
I was saddened to hear of the death of Mr. Dennis Clancy, one of the first hainsies/kimlets on haineshisway.com. He hadn’t posted much in the last year, but he was quite a regular as I recall. I believe this is the first hainsie/kimlet we’ve lost, and I’d like to make it the last for a long time to come. I value each and every one of you delicious hainsies/kimlets and wish you all long and healthy and wonderful lives.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must deal with freaks, I must do various and sundried things although I don’t know what they are, I must eat something at some point and then I must be on my way to the theater to run a few things with our cast. Today’s topic of discussion: Let’s see – what would a good Thursday discussion be? Hmmm. What vinyl LPs do you still have that you cherish – that for one reason or another you have never ever wanted to get rid of, whether it’s on CD or not? And what things would you kill to have on CD that haven’t made it yet? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? We shall. And by the way (BTW, in Internet lingo), phut to the freaks – the real freaks (you know who you are).