haines his way

06/15/2002:
"JUMPING IN THE SHOWER"

Well, dear readers, it is cleaning lady day and I must write these here notes in a thrice and vamoose because otherwise I shall be getting the evil eye in a matter of moments. I must write these here notes in a thrice and then jump in the shower. Why I need to jump in the shower I’ll never understand. Why can’t I just stand still in the shower and let the water cascade over my buff and toned abs and buns of steel? No, I have to jump in the shower, up and down, as if I were on a trampoline. I should also tell you that I am still having a dead gnat problem. In my hall bathroom there are hundreds of dead gnats. I cannot figure out where they are coming from or why. All I know is they are somehow getting in the hall bathroom and once there they drop dead immediately. Something is killing these gnats the minute they arrive. The two things I’d like to know are, why are they arriving in the first place and why are they immediately dropping dead like so much fish? I have even sprayed the window area with roach killer and still they come and still they die (not from the roach killer though). Are they dying from natural causes? Are they taking one look at my hall bathroom and going, “Oh, my God this is a frightening bathroom” and then dropping dead just like that? What is it that is killing these gnats that’s what I want to know? If we have any budding Hercule Poirots out there, or Miss Marples, or Lew Archers, maybe you can help solve The Mystery of the Dead Gnats.
My roses are in bloom, and so are my snap dragons and various and sundried other flowers. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that too too? I love flowers, they’re so colorful and gay. Why am I talking about my fershluganah flowers when the cleaning lady will be here at any moment? If I am still at this table typing away when she arrives she will give me, at the very least, a sidelong glance and if she does that then I have to look at her askance, and then after the sidelong glance and the look askance we will start doing the “Why Don’t You Get Out of This House” dance.
Have I mentioned that I have dead gnats in my hall bathroom? Have I mentioned that I have balls in the air? Have I mentioned that I have a meeting with a big Hollywood Star on Tuesday? Yes, Virginia, you heard that right, I shall be having a meeting with a big Hollywood Star on Tuesday. I’ll be that just whetted your appetite, didn’t it? I’ll bet that just made you sit up and take notice, didn’t it? I’ll bet that just made all of you scratch your collective heads and think, “Who could the Hollywood Star be?” didn’t it? Well, I shall tell you in due time, dear readers. Oh, yes, in due time I shall tell you. But for now you will simply have to have whetted appetites. Frankly, or even Charlesly, I like to have a wet appetite rather than a whet appetite, but that is just a whim of mine – or is it a wim of mine?
Well, I’m afraid we must all click on the Unseemly Button below because we are simply running out of time, cleaning-lady wise.

Yesterday we had twenty-something posts. Isn’t it funny, but that used to seem like an incredible number of posts, but now it seems paltry. We simply cannot have a paltry number of posts, because then we will not be perceived as the most popular site on all the Internet, people will not be jealous of us, and envious of us and want to be us. There will be no Post Envy and we must have Post Envy, we must be the envy of one and all and also all and one. So, post away, dear readers, even you lurkers out there in the dark. Join our merry group, join our happy throng, just make sure you don’t wear a thong because that would be wrong and you wouldn’t really belong. What the hell am I talking about?
Well, dear readers, as you know, today is our handy-dandy Unseemly Trivia Contest, and because I have been so busy I have not been able to come up with a question. Therefore we our having another guest quiz, this one courtesy of our very own Steve Gurey. Here is his question:
This musical had among its creative staff someone who would go on to be a major composer in several media, and included in its cast someone who would go on to win an Academy Award, and someone who would achieve fame for a period of time starring in a cult TV series. The cast also included two future Tony Award-winners. Name the musical, the composer who would go on to major success, the Academy Award winner, the person who achieved fame in the TV series, the cult TV series and the two future Tony Award winners.
Well, that is a lot of questions to answer, so get to work, you Hainesies/Kimlets. And remember: DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE. Send them to me via e-mail to bruce@haineshisway.com or simply use the unseemly Ask BK Button.
Well, dear, readers, I must go jump in the shower then be on my merry way. I shall be going hither and thither and also yon, although not necessarily in that order. No, I may just go thither first so if you’re anywhere in the neighborhood of thither do come up and say hello. This week, I’ll be giving more information about the two signings we’re doing at the end of the month, so do check back every day, because there are always interesting morsels to be found in these here notes. Today’s topic of discussion: As most of you know, I have been a fan of cut songs from hit shows for many years, and to that end I have done four count them four Lost In Boston CDs. So, what are your favorite songs from the Lost In Boston series, or your favorite cut songs that may not have been on the series. I’ll start: Obviously the 110 In The Shade songs, but I am also very fond of Tick Tock, What Am I Doing Here? (both Promises, Promises), Let’s Make It a Night from Silk Stockings (I do love the arrangement I did, and the song is quite wicked), If I Can’t Take It With Me (I’m Not Gonna Go) from Goldilocks (with that killer vocal by Alet Oury – what a great song), Guess We May as Well Stay Married Now from I Do! I Do! and, of course, many others. The most weird but interesting cut songs? Waiting from The King and I and Like Everybody Else (Kids Ain’t) from West Side Story. Your turn.

Replies: 12 Unseemly Comments

Perhaps the gnats are flying formation and catch site of themselves in your mirror -- I suspect hara kiri tactics...they are simply charging their image and crashing/burning into your mirror, dropping totally dead from their own ignorance.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/15/2002 11:02 AM PST

Ouch!
You and Joe! First you say you're going to jump in the shower, then my Joe says, "Why don't you jump in the shower while I bring in some more firewood."
Ouch! A word of advice: Never jump in the shower if you have corns. That tile does not offer much cushioning.
Warning! Pedantry follows: Doing things in a thrice is even slower than doing them in a twice. I recommend a trice for efficiency.
Lost-in songs? There are so many I love. But for starters.
"Evening Star" from 110 in the Shade was one of my favorites before I even heard it, just from the brief part at the beginning of the show. Lyrically, however, I never feel quite full when I leave the table. I think it still need more of an oomph tag at the end.
"Ten Percent" from Chicago.
"Travelin' Light" from Guys and Dolls. Frank Loesser can't write a bad song.
"Mamma's Talking Soft" from Gypsy--uh, but that was on Unsung Sondheim and doesn't count, right?
Posted by William F. Orr @ 06/15/2002 01:05 PM PST

Are those gnats dead near a light source? Or just randomly falling any place in the bathroom?
I only have the first Lost In Boston (for now,anyway) and 10 Percent is probably my fave.
Posted by Mark L. @ 06/15/2002 02:22 PM PST

The cut songs from "Ballroom" - "Who Gave You Permission", "Suddenly There's You" and "The Job Application".
"Sweet River" from 110 and "Ten per cent" fom "Chicago".
I enjoy all the series - wish there were more. The 110 songs are all a delight. Got to know "Sweet River" from the Ben Bagley recording.
"Mama's Talking Soft" is on Vol III. - an old favourite from Petula Clark's recording long ago.(Pre - Downtown etc)
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 06/15/2002 02:58 PM PST

Part One: Favorite Cut Songs
Sondheim:
Multitudes of Amy (Company)
A love song for Bobby that was probably out of place. I think Marry Me a Little was writen on its place.
Second Midnight (Complete version) (Into the Woods)
I like the thematic material that was used in this song. It also neatly tied the ending of act two to act one.
A Gaggle of Geese (A Funny Thing Happened...)
Cute song but probably would have slowed the action in their tracks oreven stopped it.
Silly People (A Little Night Music)A beautiful song that was put back into various productions.
Up To the Moon/My Greatest Day (West Side Story) Interesting for what it was cut for.
There's Always a Woman (Anyone Can Whistle) A very funny song that needds the right actresses for it. The song has now been reinstated.
Killing You Loving Me (Getting Away With Murder)
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 06/15/2002 03:07 PM PST

"Come Down From the Tree", from "Once on This Island." Please don't tell Ahrens/Flaherty, but I'd love to arrange this for a community choir I direct. I've been told they don't do the internet since "Seussical", so hopefully they won't see this (that's a little inside joke for RATM-ers). :)
Posted by JMK @ 06/15/2002 03:47 PM PST

Favorite Lost in Boston
Lost in Boston
All the 110 in the Shade numbers. It was a great idea to have Sally Mayes sing all the songs.
Also the 2 songs from Edwin Drood are great.
Michelle Nicastro singing When I Went Home from Peter Pan. Here is another show that I would love to hear all the cut songs from.
Michael Rupert If You Leave Me from the Happy Time. Sooo romantic sounding.
Take It In Your Stride. A Great song that they should have kept in the show. afterall who nowadays need a reprise of There's No Business Like Show Business. This songs says a lot more about the character of Annie.
PS A great number to end the cd
Where Do I Go From Here? Because its Liz Callaway. What a great voice.
I also like 10 Percent. I had previously heard it on a Ben Bagley release (Along with Loopin the Loop which was used sans words as the "overture" much like All Things Bright and BEautiful was used in Follies) But I like the one on LOB as it is mor complete and Harry Groener does a great job.
Lost in Boston II
Just a Map (The Rothschilds)
Beautifully Sung by Meg Bussert. I loved what the song had to say. A lot of it has to do with the arrangement which reminded me of a lullabye.
What Am I Doing Here? Because it was sung by Liz Callaway. She was IMHP was perfect for this song.
The Only Game In Town (The Act) The score was a very rich one and because of its troubled production history it lost many of its character songs. This was one of the. Karen Mason does a wonderful interpretation of the song.
Lost in Bost III
Big Fat Heart (Seesaw)
Another trouble production that was going to have no author credit until Michael Bennett decided that it would look bad and took. Debbie Shapiro Gravitte sings the hell out of this song. She would be perfect for a revival of this show.
Pink Taffeta Size 10 (Sweet Charity) Interesting song because it is sooo wrong for the show. Great song too bad it couldn't be shoe horned into another show like Seesaw.
Inside My Head (110 in the Shade) Another great song. I would loved to of heard the other cut songs as well.
Honey (Merrily We Roll Along) I heard the song performed on Broadway and liked it. But my memory of it become a little cloudy as there was no recording of the song except for an instrumental on a Sondheim Collection. A happy reminder of a great score.
Pick Up the Pieces (SeeSaw) Another very good song dropped from the show. Although it was written for a man; Michelle Nicastro does a great version of this and th placement on the album is perfect ending to the cd.
Lost in Boston IV
Marking Time (Pippin) I saw him as Pippin on Broadway. I think he is better vocalist than John Rubinstein and it was nice to hear him sing a song from the show. Beside it was a great arrangment.
Pretty Is & Evening Star (110 in the Shade) Two more great songs from the show. Ron Raines (again) does a great job here. Whether it as Starbuck or the Sherrif, he can do no wrong with the score. Mr. Guy Haines does a great job with Eveing Star.
The Job Application & Who Gave You Premission & Suddenly There's You (Ballroom) As stated in the notes all three songs were dropped by Michael Bennett. I saw Ballroom on Broadway (From the front row) and thought the show was seriously lacking in character songs. Most of the songs were sung in the Ballroom as dance songs were unmemorable. But the characters were the most memorable. These three songs would added inmeasurable to enjoyment and quality of the show.
PS Another good song was If Anyone Had Told Me. I finally heard the song sung by Dorothy Loudon in My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies. She is credited with sing Fifty Percent but she sings If Any One Had Told Me as a lead to the song.
A Green and Private World (Drat! The Cat!) Two Words: Jason Graae.
Did a great job on the studio album and does it here too.
Bad & A Little Dental Music (Little Shop of Horrors) I haven't heard a bad cut song from this show either. Gerry McIntyre who played Puntjab ahh Punjab in Annie 2 does a great Audrey II.
Hots Michael at the Piano aka Nobody Goes Out Anymore (Working)
Rupert Holmes can play at my Cabaret anytime and Craig Carnelia can play the piano.
and of course I Love Fish sung by Mr. Guy Haines. (Even though its not a really a cut song. See http://www.haineshisway.com/archives/00000161.html
for an explaination of the where the song whence had come.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 06/15/2002 06:55 PM PST

Sorry for the long post, but where is everyone today?
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 06/15/2002 06:57 PM PST

Gnat problems are often caused by undetected moisture behind or between walls (like around your tub enclosure). Gnats, like mosquitos (and some ants), breed in a humid atmosphere. You might want to check the caulking around all your fixtures (bathroom, that is).
Posted by Gnat King Cole @ 06/15/2002 07:19 PM PST

Where is everyone?!? I am in a rush, but my favorites are When Daniel Marries, Multitudes of Amy, and Evening Star.
;)
Posted by Lolita @ 06/15/2002 08:32 PM PST

Where have all the posters
gone??? I know it's the
weekend, but c'mon people!
Sorry mine is so late, but I've
been off in various rehearsals
all day.
Cut songs:
Travelin' Light (G&D)
Pink Tafetta Sample, Size 10
(Sweet Charity)
Multitudes of Amys (Company)
Mama's Talkin' Soft (Gypsy)
There Won't Be Trumpets
(Anyone Can Whistle)
There's Always a Woman
(ACW)
Posted by Jed @ 06/15/2002 11:15 PM PST

Perhaps the weekend was too beautiful to sit at home and post online.
Or, maybe some, like me, came down with an ugly summer cold!
Or perhaps a few others also don't have any of the Lost in Boston CDs and, therefore, cannot possibly comment on the topic of the day. : (
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/16/2002 10:07 AM PST

Ask BK: Got a question? Ask Bruce Kimmel...

© Copyright 2001-2003 Bruce Kimmel.
All Rights Reserved. Site design by hijinks design.