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02/23/2002:
"A MORASS OF NOTHINGNESS"

Photo of Bruce Kimmel

bk's notes II

Well, dear readers, the gorgeous California weather continues unabated. Each day is more beautiful than the last. Clear blue skies, and if I didn't know it was February I'd swear it was July. Conversely, if I knew it was July I'd swear it was February, because I do like to be contrary, just like my close personal friend, Mary. Mary is always contrary and, for some reason, she is always out in her stupid garden. She's very secretive about her garden, though, and she will never tell me how her Secret Garden grows. Damn her eyes from here to Chicago - the city, not the musical. Not even one paragraph in and these notes are already sinking into a morass of nothingness.

And just what is the word "ass" doing in "morass"? It's so rude. Couldn't it be "morbutt" or "morrearend"? That would be ever so much more gentile. And just how did gentiles get into this? What do gentiles have to do with "morass"? I have always found that gentiles have "lessass" but that is another story altogether. Don't mind me, I'm just sitting here like so much fish, typing away, sinking into a morbutt of nothingness.

I know you'll all be happy to hear that I only lost three dollars at poker last night, not bad for an evening's entertainment. I also attended a rehearsal for our Tourette's Syndrome benefit, with the sultry Sally Kellerman, who is going to be wonderful, singing the Julius and Cissy Wechter song, Warm. I then saw a roughcut of the first thirty-eight minutes of the Nudie Musical documentary. How was it, you might ask, and I might tell you but before I do, isn't it time we all clicked on that Unseemly Button below before we all sink into a morass of nothingness?

Just in the nick or edward of time. Speaking of Nick, my pal Nick Redman showed me his rough cut of the first thirty-eight minutes of the Nudie Musical documentary. This sounds very familiar. Didn't I just say this elsewhere? Am I slipping into a mortucous of nothingness without even being aware of said slipping? We now have a handy-dandy title for the documentary. It's called, "From Dollars to Donuts: The Undressing of The First Nudie Musical." The documentary will run close to an hour, and if the first thirty-eight minutes are anything to go by, it's going to be terrific. I was very pleased with what I saw, and Nick is doing a great job with it. It just flies by, and it's pretty funny, too. It is sometimes shocking when he goes from film footage to actual person, because twenty-seven years does occasionally change the way people look. I wish I'd looked at the monitor, for example, when my interview was being shot, because if I had looked at the monitor I would have placed the interviewer on the other side of the camera, my better side these days. Still and all, I don't look too hideous, so there's that to be thankful for. I'll be seeing the rest mid-next week and of course will have a full report for you. The other fun thing we're doing for the documentary is having an original score (based on the music from my songs), arranged and played by the great Grant Geissman. I think this may be a first, DVD documentary-wise, having an original music score - usually they just use the musical score from the actual film. The Special Edition DVD will include the soundtrack CD, and I've decided to also include Grant's score for the documentary as well, as the actual soundtrack is only twenty-seven minutes long, and Grant's arrangements are so much fun.

Well, you know what today is. Today is Unseemly Trivia Contest day. And before we totally sink into a morass of nothingness, we just better get the trivia question out of the way. Remember, you have until midnight Monday to submit your answers - don't post them on the site, simply e-mail them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com or by clicking the handy-dandy "Ask Bruce" button. And now, this week's trivia question:

What Tony Award-winning performer also spent many years doing another award-winning job? Name the performer, the show they won a Tony for, and the non-theater related job. Good luck to one and all and also all and one.

Tonight I'm going to the Pasadena Playhouse to see Mr. Paul Lazurus' production of Mr. Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues. I've never seen play or film, so I'm looking forward to it.

Has anyone noticed that we are sinking into a morass of nothingness? I guess writing The Story has really been taking it out of me. Frankly, I like "it" in me, so I'm a bit annoyed with The Story for taking "it" out of me. Just what are "The Story" and "it" doing? Are they having a dalliance? Are they having a thing, a fling, doing something with zing? Oh, well, "it" always comes back in the end, so I do have the last laugh, it-wise.

I no longer have any clue as to what the hell I'm talking about. I feel it would be best to just stop writing right here and right now because I simply have nothing else to write about at this time on account of The Story taking it out of me. I'm empty inside and must eat some Rice Pudding and then do the Rice Pudding dance. Today's topic of discussion: Name your favorite song from a flop musical. As those who have listened to my Unsung Musicals albums know, I'm very fond of songs from flop musicals. Certainly at the top of my list would have to be Mr. Hamlisch and Mr. Ashman's Disneyland, from Smile. Post your thoughts in the Unseemly Comment Box below. Don't be shy - meet a Guy - pull up a chair. The air is humming - and someting great is coming.

- Bruce Kimmel



Replies: 10 Unseemly Comments


The first songs that come to mind are from "One Night Stand" and are "A little travelling music please" and "if you're gonna go out, go out big". This musical had a book by Herb Gardner and a Jule Styne Score which has some gems in it for sure. Charles Kimbrough (Murphy Brown, Sunday in the Park with George, etc) starred.

Posted by Craig @ 02/23/2002 10:23 AM PST


"That Something Extra Special" from DARLING OF THE DAY or "I'll Be Always Loving You" from MR & MRS.

Posted by Scot Morehouse @ 02/23/2002 10:40 AM PST


I like Disneyland as well from Smile. The three version I have are from Unsung Musicals, the hidden track from Michelle Nicastro and a great cabaret singer and male voice Bill McKinley.

Another song and the only song I have ever heard from "Jean" based on the life the actress Jean Seberg is the song dreamers. Top notch renditions by Sarah Brightman who I believe recorded it first and one of my favorite cabaret singers Lee Lessack.

Another song is The Story Goes On from "Baby" sung by a Bruce Kimmel favorite Liz Callaway. Going on there is of course Our Time from Merrily We Roll Along. I have many different recordings of this song from solo to duets to cast recordings to choirs. I never grow tired of listening to it every since I saw it performed in the 4th preview of the original production. It still a found memory of for me of a production that disappointed me.

Going onto more of Sondheim if you can consider Follies a flop there are a multitude of songs to consider.

From Pacific Overtures I think perhaps the best musical (of the best I don't to get myself into trouble) Someone In a Tree.

I don't know how long the show run but the musical Stages has always been a favorite (and I'll keep on saying it) The title song, No Letting Go, Circles and Musical Comedy whose openning lyrics are (and for give me dear composer/lyricist if they are not exact:

"I want to be in a musical comedy. Forget the drama delight and amaze me. Nothing can faze me. When they sing and the dance OKlahoma to Runaways. Forget your Faye Dunaways. Give me a Merman! Gower Champion not Clurman! Dance.

From 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue there is the ravishing Take Care of This House. Whether it is sung as a solo or in the context of the show. This underrated and rarely heard score is a treat to listen to.

Finally there is The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public.

Not!!!!

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 02/23/2002 12:17 PM PST


Well, not to be a pedant, but it goes something like this (although you are so close it's truly amazing):
I want to be in a musical comedy
Forget the drama de-
Light and amaze me
Nothing can faze me
When they sing and they dance
Oklahoma! to Runaways
Keep your Faye Dunaways
Give me a Merman!
Gower Champion not Harold Clurman!

Obviously Runaways was playing when I wrote this song. And Mr. Champion was alive. As was Ms. Merman, as was, I think, Mr. Clurman. Stages had quite a few productions in the early eighties, I even have a tape of some high school in Canada doing it.

On another note - we have not had one single guess for our trivia question. Stumped at last? Actually, if you read the notes and posts carefully there might just be a clue as to the answer.

Posted by bk @ 02/23/2002 03:10 PM PST


okay, the new Broadway Radio Show will be posted tomorrow afternoon and I decided that we would take a look and listen to how some great (and not so great) performers have been portrayed on stage by some other great (and not so great) performers.....of course, that will include Fanny Brice (actually, 2 Fannys) as well as Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, George M. Cohan and many others.....

Posted by Donald @ 02/23/2002 04:24 PM PST


Shoudl clarify the Pacific Overtures statement.

From Pacific Overtures I think perhaps the best musical SONG ( ONE of the best I don't to get myself into trouble HERE) IS Someone In a Tree. THERE WAS EVEN TV PROGRAM DEDICATED TO THE CREATION AND WRITING OF THE SONG.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 02/23/2002 04:57 PM PST


"Open Your Heart" from CARRIE tops my list.
"Disneyland" from SMILE
"She Touched Me" from, well, you know.
"Men" from WHOOP-UP!
"Everybody's Got a Home" from PIPE DREAM - revive this! revive it in any way shape or form!
"Why Did I Chose You?" from THE YEARLING
"Something You Never Had Before" from THE GAY LIFE
"Gifts of Love" (original version) from THE BAKER'S WIFE
and while we're in a Schwartz mood:
"Since I Gave My Heart Away" from GEPETTO - a song which the ineffable Guy Haines should tackle.

Posted by td @ 02/23/2002 09:46 PM PST


What about the song from 1776?

Morass and Rum

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 02/24/2002 07:19 AM PST


The title song from "I Had a Ball," especially as sung by the one and only Karen Morrow. WOW!

Posted by Phil Crosby @ 02/25/2002 06:10 AM PST


Oh, there are so many! After all, most musicals have been flops--at least in the financial sense--haven't they?

Anyone remember DONNYBROOK? Music and lyrics by Johnny Burke. "Sad Was the Day" sung by the legendary Susan Johnson. And Ms. Johnson teamed with Eddie Foy, Jr. for "It Couldn't Have Been More Delightful" Art ("Whatever Happened to?") Lund's songs were somewhat less memorable.

And TENDERLOIN was a flop, nicht wahr? "Artificial Flowers" brought to the pop charts by Bobby Darin. "Little Old New York" would have been a much grittier theme than "I [picture of a heart] New York". "My Gentle Young Johnny" is hauntingly beautiful.

GREENWILLOW. Setting aside the annoying "Clang Dang the Bell", what about "Summertime Love" and "Never Will I Marry", both masterpieces. And the CD has the rare opportunity to hear Pert Kelton, (the original Alice Kramden) whose family has set up a web site in her honor, bless their dear little Christian hearts.

Ah, flops, flops, flops! I could go on rhapsodizing for days. As I'm sure Bruce will.

Oh, hi, Bruce. LTNS

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/25/2002 12:06 PM PST





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