Posted by Laura @ 07/23/2002 08:53 AM PST

So. What about the trivia contest? Have "those people" snatched it away?

Posted by steveg @ 07/23/2002 09:00 AM PST

Hugs to Michael, who is undergoing surgery today.

Posted by Laura @ 07/23/2002 09:26 AM PST

Yes, Steve G. those scum-sucking virus carrying jiggly butt cheeked cretins made me forget to post the trivia contest answer. It is now posted, merely scroll back up to the notes and you will find a brand spanking new paragraph with all the information.

Posted by bk @ 07/23/2002 09:27 AM PST

Now, BK, you know that half a sixpence is NOT two threepence! It's a cut up coin that ain't worth a pence to nobody nowhere except the two lovebirds who each kept one. I actually gave half a sixpence to my first lover more than thirty years ago and I was recently informed in an email that she still has it! (We're both married to others now, so no reunions.)

As for DVDs, my most recent acquisitions were The First Nudie Musical and The Slipper and the Rose, but the video tape in my VCR right now is Walt Disney's Kilroy starring Warren Berlinger. I was his biggest fan when I was a teen and, quite fittingly, my first professional acting job was as Buddy Baker in Come Blow Your Horn (the role he originated on Broadway).

As for viruses, without an anti-virus program many emails can pass on viruses even without opening the attachment. I discard two-thirds of my emails without even attempting to open them.

Posted by Robert Armin @ 07/23/2002 09:36 AM PST

What's in my VCR? I believe the last thing I was watching was HEY! MR. PRODUCER...that self-indulgent celebration of the past productions of the igrediously wealthy (to mis-quote Ms. Andrews...and I probably spelled it wrong, too) Mr. Cameron McIntosh. Speaking of Ms. Andrews, I recently acquired the video of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," seeing how it is chic, unique and quite adorable to be in the Millie Mode. Perhaps Sheryl Lee Ralph should have watched Carol Channing's performance of Muzzy before taking on the role. Maybe then the part would have been tolerable. Oh! Did I say that out loud? For those of you who haven't seen it, let's just say she should have packed up her toys and gone home after Deena in DREAMGIRLS. OK, perhaps I'm being a bit too hard on Ms. Ralph. She didn't write the role, after all...

Following BK's philisophical pondering, "What is it with people?" I would just like to vent for a moment about the slow-ass people who always seem to plant themselves in front of me as I'm trying to climb the stairs out of the subway stations. Who told them that it was acceptable to stop mid-stream to tie a shoe or to search through one of their fourteen bags for a Ring-Ding? Don't they know that another hundred people just got off of the train and they're trying to get out of that steam-bath they try to call a subway station? And then, once we finally make it up the stairs, people seem to think it's a free-for-all road rally to get through the passageways--knocking people out of the way, cutting people off and then slowing WAY down so you can't pass them. Shouldn't the rules of driving apply when walking en masse down any tunnel, hallway or sidewalk in New York? What am I saying? I know how people drive here. What is it with people!?!?!

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 10:03 AM PST

I just watched the DVD of the road show version of "The Happiest Millionaire" and, despite the fact it almost completely falls apart in the last half-hour, I was quite enchanted. But I do have question: Greer Garson's and Gladys Cooper's singing voices seemed to be their own, but Geraldine Page I am sure was dubbed. Anyone know for sure?

Posted by Phil Crosby @ 07/23/2002 10:05 AM PST

Laura: Have you tried putting pralines just outside your VCR to see if they might lure the Richard Simmons tape out? A hostage negotiatior highly skilled in Richard Simmons mediation suggested it, so it might be worth a try. If that does not work, try playing a Barbra Streisand CD in the next room to see if that works. Good luck and be careful.

Posted by freedunit @ 07/23/2002 10:06 AM PST

Currently in my DVD player is Cathy Rigby's "Peter Pan" which I was using as reference lately because I'm involved in a production of said show using all the elements of that production, except Cathy Rigby. I'm the voice of Tinkerbell. In the VCR, is a high school theatre production of "The Sound of Music" which a student of mine played Liesl. It's quite a good show.

Posted by Matthew @ 07/23/2002 10:08 AM PST

In my VHS is a stereo tape of "The Rains of Ranchipur" a good friend made from off the Fox Movie Channel. The stereophonic sound is fantastic and highlights the beautiful Hugo Friedhofer score perfectly.

Laura: You can take a small screw driver and actually remove the outer shell of your VCR without having to know any electronics.

With that shell off, you can effectively remove the Richard Simmons tape, which must have entered the VCR after a meal -- which just goes to show you that when your mother told you never to go swimming right after eating, that goes double for putting Richard Simmons VHS tapes into VCR players if a meal has been consumed.

Standing by to be played on my DVD player is "Legally Blonde" and "K-Pax."

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/23/2002 10:35 AM PST

BK's evocative descriptive powers have me imagining jiggling butt cheeks -- and oddly enough, only one person comes to mind when that image pops up.

It is most definitely NOT pretty!

The most heinous hiney imaginable.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/23/2002 10:37 AM PST

I'm listening to several CDs lately, including two BK-produced ones featuring "Mama's Talking Low."

I much prefer the one arranged/performed as though it were from an actual production of the show.

And it's incredible how good this song is -- it has been running through my head all morning.

And what?? No HOOPLA over yesterday's 70 (Count 'Em 70) posts??????

Extraordinary!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/23/2002 10:54 AM PST

In my VCR waiting to be watched is the episode of Sex and the City from this past Sunday. I taped because I was on Long Island for the weekend. Earlier in the week (courtesy of Turner Classic Movies) my Anthony and I watched a 1913 Italian silent movie, The Last Days of Pompeii and the 1928 West Point w/William Haines and Joan Crawford, one of MGMs last silent movies and one of Haines' last movies altogether. I wonder if there is some branch of the family tree which links Mr. William Haines and Mr. Guy Haines? Mr. William is not mentioned or captured in the photo gallery. We may have to do some geneaological research.

In the DVD player (this was on Long Island on Saturday), which is only in the computer, we don't have a stand alone unit yet, was a raucous and ribald little piece called "The First Nudie Musical" Hooray! We had a great time watching stunt cocks and dancing dildoes and doughnuts for days! Popcorn and comfy chairs and lots of laughter and who knew that you were watching it on a computer???

Posted by Ben @ 07/23/2002 11:09 AM PST

70 Posts 70. Hmmm. It scans the same. Maybe we could make a musical out of it?

Posted by Ben @ 07/23/2002 11:11 AM PST

Ron: I'm afraid most of those 70 messages were from me, and I was just babbling through the majority of them.

I just scant moments ago saw Mr. Andrew Lippa chowing down on some Kung Pow Chicken or something glamourous like that at Ollie's Noodle Shop on 45th St. I chose not interrupt his fine dining experience, though I would like to have introduced myself. He's such a talented little mongrel, don't you think? I absolutely love his WILD PARTY. Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 12:04 PM PST

We could have numbers like

Posting with a Cardboard Cup
See the Post
Well Laid Posts
I Can't Post That Anymore

The list could go on, but I won't. Back to work for this little duck.

Posted by Ben @ 07/23/2002 12:22 PM PST

Ok. I don't know whether it was the pralines or the screwdriver that made Richard Simmons so angry. But he decided to take the tv out with him when I removed the tape. So I now have eight channels of "The Static Channel."

Posted by Laura @ 07/23/2002 12:22 PM PST

Laura: Rumour has it that Richard enjoys a good screwdriver every now and then. It must've been the pralines.

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 12:27 PM PST

Andrew Lippa is very talented, but his was without question the second-ran of the two Wild Party musicals. I did not like Mister Lippa’s show—not at all, not once, not a little bit—and I left at intermission. I would have departed much sooner, but I was seated exactly center of one of the long rows of City Center Stage I and I chose to suffer rather than to disturb other patrons. Come to think of it, although I have not seen many Manhattan Theatre Club musicals, I have not liked any of them, not Wild Party, not The Green Heart, although a couple of scenes were funny, and not Captain’s Courageous. I very much enjoyed Michael John LaChiusa’s flawed The Wild Party, directed by George C. Wolfe, and notably the performances of Eartha Kitt, Marc Kudisch, Mandy Patinkin, and Toni Collette.

Laura: Don’t blame the pralines. It’s not their fault. They’re innocent. By the way (BTW), if you are watching television via the VCR’s tuner, it may be simply that a wire connection or the tuner itself was bumped while extricating the tape. Could it be that a connection needs tightening or a channel, or two, retuning?

Posted by freedunit @ 07/23/2002 12:41 PM PST

Laura: I get it. You and VCRs are not on friendly terms.

I think what we have here is a heinous problem.

Yes, that's right, heinous. It's heinous because I could remedy the problem so easily if I was there, but 'splainin' it may not be my forte.

First: Since all you are seeing is static, that indicates to me that either the VCR is in the OFF position, or you need to press the button that says cable. Normally, you will find a cable/antenna button. If you have cable, you need to be in the "cable" mode. If you have an antenna, ditto. This button on my VCR has to be activated every time I turn on my TV, otherwise I get all static, too.

I don't know why it won't stay the way I leave it, but it won't.

Try this and see if it helps.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/23/2002 12:46 PM PST

Laura: I've sent some other options to you via private e-mail.

However, if Richard Simmons is lurking, he should be sending someone over to your house to get your VCR and TV to working perfectly...after all, it's his tape that started it all.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/23/2002 12:52 PM PST

I'm thinkin' I better just keep my hands off the darn thing and let The Boss take care of it when he gets back from Kansas in a week. Who knows what wondrous things I may accomplish without a tv in the house?

Years ago The Boss removed a fuse from the tv and we told the kids it was broken and we couldn't afford a new tv. It was the most blissful couple of years I've ever known. We missed the entire OJ trial and the whole Ellen-coming-out thing.

I'll just convince myself this tvlessness is a positive thing.

Posted by Laura @ 07/23/2002 12:55 PM PST

Freedunit: I thought we were friends with the whole LuPone thing... I'm so disappointed that you didn't enjoy Lippa's version. Actually, it doesn't really matter. To each his own, right? Isn't it funny, though, how so many people love one WILD PARTY and hate the other? There seems to be no common ground! What to do, what to do? I have to admit, I love Toni Collette and Marc Kudisch is just the best, but Mandy Patinkin? Not so much. I think he's what ruined the show for me. As BK would put it, he's just too too. As much as I love La LuPone, it's like someone told her and Mandy that it was OK to take their gimmicky, over-the-top acting and singing styles and run with rampant them...that audiences would flock and praise them for it. I still love La LuPone (and La Chanze), because it sometimes works for her, but La Patinkin just doesn't do it for me anymore with his weird falsetto and his screaming.

I must also admit, I have a special place in my heart for Andrew Lippa No. 1 because he wrote "My New Philosophy" for Kristi and No. 2 because he just sounds so darn cute singing "A Moment With You" on the Sondheim CD so wonderfully produced by our very own BK.

So, I hope that we can continue to be friends even though we don't see eye to eye on this WILD PARTY thing. We'll always have Patti...

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 12:59 PM PST

Since all of a sudden the topic seems to be THE WILD PARTY (PARTIES?) I thought I'd put my two cents in. Obviously the ideal WILD PARTY would contain some elements from each production, but for what it is worth I think the MTC/Lipa version came off a lot better on stage, but the NYSF/LaChuisa comes off better on CD. Perhaps that is because on the CD you don't have to suffer though Mandy's scenery chewing. I felt that in both versions, it was a supporting player that stole the show (Alex Korey/Eartha Kitt) and that seeing one made the other easier to follow. It was sort of the HOUSE and GARDEN of musicals.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/23/2002 01:38 PM PST

DVD currently: First Nudie Musical
DVD recently: Waiting for Guffman, Putting It Together
VCR currently: Stop the World - I Want to Get Off
VCR recently: Fargo, Bells are Ringing, production of Music Man in which I sang in the School Board Quartet

Posted by Jed @ 07/23/2002 01:52 PM PST

Laura: O.K. I hear you. Leave it for The Boss. I agree: Oftentimes no T.V. would be a good thing.

Jason: We are friends. I can be friends with someone who likes Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party, dislikes Mandy Patinkin, and doesn’t mean to malign Patti LuPone. I do not know from Richard Simmons liking screwdrivers, but I did hear the diapers rumor. Circa Evita, I liked Mandy Patinkin a lot. I loved his Che on the American Premiere Recording. Also, I loved his performances as Georges in Sunday in the Park With George. I even liked him as Jeffrey Geiger in Chicago Hope. However, some time after the Georges, the falsetto began to grate on my nerves and I decided that he is, to add emphasis to Gerard Alessandrini’s description, more than somewhat overindulgent and I fell out of love with his overwrought style and illegitimate falsetto. Still, his talent and star status are undeniable, and his performance as Burrs was excellent. As for Patti LuPone, she is one of the very best actresses of her generation. No other musical-theatre actress of her generation has the acting chops that she does. One would have to look to a prior generation and to Elaine Stritch to find a musical-theatre star with the comedic and dramatic ability of LuPone. Some of her best work is not musical. Her Maria Callas was a triumphant performance that followed an act (Zoe Caldwell) that I thought could not be followed. LuPone’s performance in Summer of Sam was motion-picture naturalism at its best. She was wonderful in tiny roles in State and Main and Heist, and David Mamet really ought to write a movie for her. I know of LuPone’s reputation, and all I will say about it is that the great ones usually come with an entourage and luggage. At least her entourage is relatively small. When LuPone works with talents her equal there seem to be no real problems. Contract and creature-comfort issues, all minor, perhaps, but no real problems. As for Andrew Lippa, he is cute and, as I said, he is very talented. It is only his Wild Party that was not for me. His work with Patti LuPone was particularly good, and I loved “My New Philosophy,” and Kristin Chenoweth’s performance of it, in the short-lived You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I love Kristin Chenoweth! Forget Lippa’s Party; let us have our own. Cake?

William E. Lurie: Of course, I disagree entirely. The MTC production did not come off better onstage than the NYSF production, nor did it come off well on CD. The LaChiusa-Wolfe production was the best on both counts. Furthermore, Eartha Kitt stole her scenes because she is Eartha Kitt and fabulously so, even though her numbers should have been better. Alix Korey stole her first-act scenes because nothing else was happening… The best Wild Party would not combine elements of both productions; it would be the LaChiusa-Wolfe Party with more time to figure it out and make it work. The creators were on the right track with the right cast, but they never should have opened cold in New York. As I said to Jason, we could forget Wild Party and have our own. Cake?

Posted by freedunit @ 07/23/2002 02:37 PM PST

I will now weigh in (at 160 pounds) on the subject of The Wild Parties. First of all, may I just say, what is it with people? There. Now, I did not see the Lippa on stage but I've heard the CD. I did see the LaChiusa on stage, a late preview at which I was seated next to Mr. Fred Ebb. I will only say that at the end of the show is toupee was noticibly distraught. He turned to me and said, "You're not recording this, are you?"

Neither Wild Party worked and here's why - they had no pointy party hats, no colored tights and pantaloons and most especially they did not serve cheese slices and ham chunks nor dance the Hora. What kind of Wild Party is THAT? They want a Wild Party, they need to come here.

I like Mr. Lippa very much (I recorded his first show, john and jen) and I'm not a huge fan of Mr. LaChiusa. That said, I like things about both, but neither of them have ever made me want to go back to their respective CDs after I heard them the one and only time.

Posted by bk @ 07/23/2002 02:55 PM PST

Freedunit, your comments on Patty Lupone bring to mind Sheridan Whiteside's first words in The Man Who Came To Dinner.

Posted by Robert Armin @ 07/23/2002 02:58 PM PST

Ok. The TV is working for now. I'm not moving it again! I did find some rather interesting stuff behind it when I pulled it out, though.

Posted by Laura @ 07/23/2002 03:15 PM PST

PS. Being the nice girl I am, I don't know from Wild Parties.

Posted by Laura @ 07/23/2002 03:16 PM PST

Another opinion on THE WILD PARTY's: I have seen neither onstage, so I must judge both solely on the basis of their cast recordings. The two shows took radically different approaches to the material, and while neither is completely successful in their attempts, both have their moments. The difference is this: Mr. Lippa's score is more entertaining by degrees. Mr. LaChiusa falls back on his trademarks, and he will earn his admirers and detractors for his style, but he fails (refuses) to write a "song" in the traditional sense of the word. Ironically, all of the criticisms that people normally level at Sondheim can be applied to LaChiusa, only now they are actually justified.

Unlike Bruce, I have listened to the MTC WILD PARTY many times, and always find something to enjoy.

As for Mandy Patinkin, well...I enjoy his earlier work, but give me Brian D'Arcy James anytime! His voice is enough to make mediocre material (TITANIC, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS) sound wonderful! Maybe the LaChiusa version would have been better if they had given Marc Kudisch the role of Burrs...

And much as I enjoy Toni Collette on film, she can't hold a candle to Julia Murney vocally.

Posted by Dave @ 07/23/2002 03:18 PM PST

What is this business of videos and dvds in players? That is bad, do you hear me, bad, to leave videos and dvds in players. Bad, bad, bad. They just sit there, unlike cds, which are played and played and played, like football in Texas. Where did that come from? I don't know, but here's what's in my VCR:

I Am Sam. Interesting movie. I rate it at "eh".

Posted by Lolita @ 07/23/2002 03:26 PM PST

Laura said, and I quote, "I'm thinkin' I better just keep my hands off the darn thing and let The Boss take care of it when he gets back from Kansas in a week. Who knows what wondrous things I may accomplish without a tv in the house?"

I think that it is very nice of that young man, Bruce Springsteen, to make house calls and fix vcrs, don't you? With that new E Street Band tour kicking off and the new album ("The Rising") to promote, you would think that Mr. S. wouldn't have any time on his hands for a few minutes of menial labor. But I guess that's why Bruce S. has so many devoted followers (a certain Miss Barbara Cook, included): he gives his public what they want, even if it means dropping everything to fix Laura's vcr.

Posted by Daisy Hilton @ 07/23/2002 03:58 PM PST

Laura said, and I quote, "I'm thinkin' I better just keep my hands off the darn thing and let The Boss take care of it when he gets back from Kansas in a week. Who knows what wondrous things I may accomplish without a tv in the house?"

I think that it is very nice of that young man, Bruce Springsteen, to make house calls and fix vcrs, don't you? With that new E Street Band tour kicking off and the new album ("The Rising") to promote, you would think that Mr. S. wouldn't have any time on his hands for a few minutes of menial labor. But I guess that's why Bruce S. has so many devoted followers (a certain Miss Barbara Cook, included): he gives his public what they want, even if it means dropping everything to fix Laura's vcr.

Posted by Daisy Hilton @ 07/23/2002 03:59 PM PST

1. I have Gosford Park in my DVD player. 2/3 of the film is brilliant. Could have been funnier, though. Excellent commentary track by the screenwriter (I needed it to figure out who some of the people were, though.)

2. freedunit: Elaine Stritch and Patti LuPone in the same sentence? Ha! (I'm an Stritch loyalist to the ends of the Earth. I'm not the same for Ms. LuPone, however.)

3. The Wild Party: Neither worked as well as the source could be adapted for one reason - The Wild Party isn't really supposed to have either a story or a dramatic arc. It's about style and tone. LaChiusa got it more right trying to avoid a story, but still not right enough. Don't even TRY to have an arc and TONE is EVERYTHING with The Wild Party.

Posted by Paul Fairie @ 07/23/2002 04:13 PM PST

So, BK and Laura, does that mean you would join a non-Wild-Party party? I would never suggest that this is anything other than a party, but I thought I party on top of a party would be fun. Cake?

Dave: I agree with you completely that Mister LaChiusa refused to write a conventional song in a conventional format for The Wild Party, and it proved to be one of the biggest problems of the show. Kitt, and others, needed songs so that everyone would know it was a party and clap a lot. Patinkin was excellent as Burrs in The Wild Party, and Julia Murney could not hold a candle or any other flaming or dangerous object to Toni Collette.

Paul Fairie: Yes, of course, Elaine Stritch and Patti LuPone in the same sentence! In fact, Elaine Stritch and Patti LuPone in the same sentence a third time. There are enormous differences between the two—Stritch is elegant and from Detroit, and LuPone is from Long Island—but there are significant similarities between the two party girls in terms of ability, range, reputation and talent—and they respect each other a lot, so they would never object to being sentenced together. You are correct about The Wild Party.

It looks like conjoined Hilton postings above.

Posted by freedunit @ 07/23/2002 04:34 PM PST

Those co-joined messengers should be bitch-slapped! I'm sure that Violet would bitch-slap Daisy if she only could.

In my dvd player right now:
WONDERFUL LIFE (Anchor Bay's Cliff Richard Collection)
LEGEND (Universal's Signature Series of this neglected Ridley Scott gem).
STRANDED (a Hallmark retelling of the Swiss Family Robinson)
TFNM - it hasn't left the player, yet. (for reviewing purposes).
Michael Lucas' VENGEANCE (for reviewing purposes); don't ask, and I won't tell.

vcr - last night's TCM broadcasts of LOVER, COME BACK and WRITTEN ON THE WIND.

Posted by td @ 07/23/2002 05:32 PM PST

I have a stack of DVDs waiting for my attention, mostly because I've been spending my nights up while it is cool, and days asleep because the temperature isn't cool but sleeping late is. Early retirement has something to recommend it, after all.

I've been promising myself Gosford Park for a while now, and love the bonus material. Best In Show, ditto. Moulin Rouge, however, has given me a headache. Terribly edited, and smirky in it's attitude. My doggies are about to get new mini-frisbees to play with.

By the way, der Brucer and I saw both Gosford and Show in theaters when they first came out. I know, that's not cool, but we can turn off a DVD, we can't turn off a projectionist, or at least none I've ever met. They usually like one or the other of us, or never open the door. So we sit and watch the whole movie, without pausing to make a liverwurst sandwich prepare a plate of those ever-lovin' ham chunks and cheese slices. It makes us focus on the film. Or the projectionist.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 07/23/2002 05:37 PM PST

I don't know from Bruce Springsteen, but around here I let my fella think he's The Boss. But we all know who's really in charge.

Posted by Laura @ 07/23/2002 06:07 PM PST

freedunit: Maybe Patti LuPone's good. Heck, yes she is. I just don't like her. (I'm a fan of the "croaker" crew.) Also, I believe I'm the slowest one here -- all the time I've been pronouncing your screenname as "free done it", until I had a revelation whilst preparing a pop tart.

Posted by Paul Fairie @ 07/23/2002 07:49 PM PST

Paul Fairie: Patti LuPone is great. What were we saying? What is “the ‘croaker’ crew”? You were eating a pop tart?!? Was it Madonna or a Kellogg’s toaster pastry? If the latter, which flavor?

Posted by freedunit @ 07/23/2002 08:52 PM PST

My God, I had no idea what a frenzy I would cause with the WILD PARTY commments! So sorry to steal your DVD thunder, BK. I really didn't mean to.

I just saw NOISES OFF: Version II with the New Broadway Cast. They were FABULOUS. According to Kaitlin, the entire second act has been re-worked again...re-blocked again...now people want tix on that block again...bewitched, bothered and...nevermind. Anyway, I highly recommend it, and so do the three Japanese girls who sat behind me! (I still would like to have seen La LuPone do it, just to say I've seen her live.)

I think before bed I might pop in "Waiting For Guffman" to keep the good times rollin'.

Freedunit: I prefer cheesecake for the party if we can swing it. Otherwise, strawberry cake with cream cheese icing. How's that sound?

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 09:17 PM PST

Oh, Jason, Jason,
We have much to teach you about cake. (freedunit, do you think we should start bitch-slapping so soon? I'll let you and Craig handle this-- experts that you are.)

I forgot to welcome Rachel yesterday (Is this the same Rachel who wrote the lovely letter? If so, I already welcomed her. But welcome again. If not, welcome the first time.) Blame it on jetlag.

Glad to see George posting.

Glad to see Jason ranting about rude people. He'll fit right in.

I love Andrew Lippa singing "A Moment With You" and hope our dear Bruce will record more of him singing such songs.

I don't know what's in my VCR-- probably one of many unmarked tapes that I'm fastforwarding through to figure out what's on the tape (and often wondering why I would have taped it).

Ben- Congratulations on your new job.

Bruce,
I don't know why anyone would send a virus either. Much of the world and I are just not in sync.

Posted by Kerry @ 07/23/2002 09:40 PM PST

Kerry: I was not about to bitch-slap, but it seems I must state yet again that cheesecake is neither cheese nor cake, and cheese is not a dessert item. Jason will have to be seated with Mister Mark Bakalor if he wants so-called “cheesecake.” The rest I simply did not understand—something about strawberries with cake with cream cheese or such. Strawberries, of course, have no part in cake and, well, cream cheese simply brings us back to cheese is not cake and not a dessert item. Does Ben have a new job? I know Craig does. Bitch-slapped a high five on that one. Kerry, I know you would like a piece of cake. Here.

Posted by freedunit @ 07/23/2002 09:53 PM PST

I like the idea of "free dun it". Good to have a lateral thinker on board. My vcr still has last monday night's "six foot" under in it. I did get to watch it last night. We are only just into series 2 here in Oz. Dumb me did not leave enough blank tape so I missed the last 5 minutes or so. Fortunately one of my students (17 year old - final year before university here) was able to fill me in on the missing action. "The Shipping News" is still next to the DVD player (I may need a Spacey fix at any time). I still have not ventured into Wild Party territory yet - have not heard the CD. Should I bother? Welcome to our new friends.
Like Paul I am not a LuPone fan either - a bit like BK not "getting" Audra McDonald. I love Cook, Kuhn and Akers. (I also love Michael Ball but that's sort of different in a Spacey kind of way). I get to post late instead of early now that I am back at work. Only two more teaching days to go!

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 07/23/2002 10:30 PM PST

Listen here, people...don't make me get defensive about my choices in cake! I'm an actor...it's very hard for me to make decisions and now that I've made one I feel that you guys should back me up! Maybe I should change my instincts....or at least ignore them.

Kerry: Thank you so much for the welcome. Believe you me (refer back to prior rantings by BK), you will hear me bitch and moan a-plenty about rude and slow and smelly people as the hot, humid summer in New York progresses. Did I mention this is only my sixth month in the city and I'm already jaded? I'm well on my way to becoming a true New Yorker! Someone hand me a piece of cake.

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 10:31 PM PST

For those of you who weren't able to recognize the sarcasm and facetiousness dripping off me, I just wanted to assure you that I meant that last post in all good humour. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Yeah...

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 10:35 PM PST

Who says strawberries have no part in cake?

What blasphemy!!

One of the finest dessert cakes known to man is a strawberry cake with strawberry icing. So sinfully rich and delectable as to make angels weep!

Posted by ensnaredunit @ 07/23/2002 10:41 PM PST

Just checkout yesterday's posts.
speedy recover from surgery to Michael.

Re: Gone With The Wind. It was the first musical I saw in London on my first overseas trip in 1973. I was very impressionable and I loved it.I still play the OLC album but wish it were complete. (I think the Japanese language version is complete but too expensive and I would have difficulty singing along). I wonder if the OLC was in fact fully recorded. Maybe it is in a vault somewhere. I'll think about it tomorrow. It is only 4pm here but it is Wednesday! Oz in only behind the world in some things.

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 07/23/2002 10:44 PM PST

Thank you, ensnaredunit! I have validation...whew! Maybe now I can make it to an actual audition and get an actual JOB! Ha! Who'm I kidding?

Posted by Jason @ 07/23/2002 10:45 PM PST

Jason:

It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

Posted by ensnaredunit @ 07/23/2002 10:56 PM PST

Kerry and Freedunit: I think you're correct, Freedunit, I don't have a new job, but Craig does. I'm still at the same desk, same computer, same greenbar printouts, same computer-generated data that I've been dealing with for the past ten years. Thanks for the good wishes, though!

Posted by Ben @ 07/24/2002 04:50 AM PST

Look. It is all about cake, and strawberries are not cake. Strawberries are not even dessert, except when they are part of strawberry shortcake, which is completely different from cake. Strawberry shortcake is not cake, but it is a valid dessert choice, but this is about cake. The angels are crying because they know strawberries have no business in cake. The only fruit that is valid for cake is banana. And by the way (BTW), fruit cake is not cake, either. Fruit cake is building material. Angels and unemployed actors like either chocolate or vanilla cake. Cake anyone?

And the name is freedunit [ex freed unit]. The naming of things is a serious matter. It is not free done it, not ensnaredunit, or any other kind of “unit.” I do not suggest calling you Pa Ulfai Rie or T Omfro Moz, so remember it is freedunit.

I feel bad for those who do not know from Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald. By the way (BTW), Michael Ball sucks, but that's sort of different in a Spacey kind of way.

Posted by freedunit @ 07/24/2002 06:51 AM PST

Umm...may I have a slice of chocolate cake? (Is that right?)

Posted by Jason @ 07/24/2002 06:53 AM PST

Freedunit -- after our baseball team (Diamondbacks) arrived here, I couldn't understand why our pitcher would want to be known by the name of "Big Eunuch." I probably heard that a hundred times before I figured out it was "Big Unit." Kin of yours, perhaps?

Posted by Laura @ 07/24/2002 07:02 AM PST

'Cause if it's not right, I could try it another way... I mean, I'm a very versatile character actor. But, what exactly is my MOTIVATION for wanting chocolate cake specifically, because, you see, I really don't think that my character would like chocolate...I see him as more of a vanilla or strawberry kind of guy.

How's that for a neurotic actor? Heehee... :-)

Posted by Jason @ 07/24/2002 07:07 AM PST

My goodness! Fifty-four (54) posts! Let them all eat cake!

Posted by Antoinette @ 07/24/2002 07:10 AM PST

Correction. In the few minutes it took me to post my comment, the number jumped to fifty-seven (57)! Is this a record?

Posted by Antoinette @ 07/24/2002 07:16 AM PST

Laura: I knew of someone who referred to Carol Burnett’s character in that family sketch as “Eunuchs.” I have no Diamondback kin, but I have been called the big unit on more than one occasion.

Jason: You may have white cake or yellow cake, if you like. Chocolate would be the best choice, but you are free to pick white or yellow. It is up to you to do the right thing.

Antoinette: For you, croissant.

Posted by freedunit @ 07/24/2002 07:19 AM PST

I can't take the pressure!!! Fine! I'll take chocolate, but it still doesn't feel "right." I just hope it doesn't hurt my performance.

Posted by Jason @ 07/24/2002 07:23 AM PST

The Minetta Lane Theatre Curse has reared it's ugly head again. THUNDER KNOCKING...has posted its closing notice.

Posted by Jason @ 07/24/2002 08:30 AM PST

References to "ensnaredunit" are addressed to moi!

Strawberries can be mixed into the batter of a cake and become PART of the cake whether anyone else likes it or not.

If carrots can become a cake, so can strawberries. If pineapple, upside down, can be a cake, so can strawberries.

If some of us like strawberry cake and insist it is a cake, then it IS cake!

Posted by ensnaredunit @ 07/24/2002 08:39 AM PST

I sure hope Bruce isn't dealing with more scum-sucking virus carriers with jiggly butt cheeks -- the imagery of which refuses to leave me.

With all this cake talk, I note that a lot is being said about what is not cake, but don't see to much about what kind of cakes are cake.

Does Rum Cake count as cake? I sure hope so 'cause I love Rum Cake!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 07/24/2002 08:51 AM PST

My VCR currently has last nights Eastenders on it...surely the musical world is just gagging for a soap opera musical!

In my DVD player is the US Queer as Folk (episode 4). Though I was told that the US veered off completely after the first episode, I find it strikingly similar to the original UK version.

I should have the First Nudie Musical in my DVD player - but alas, some friends came by over the weekend and watched a snippet of it - and then insisted that it was so funny that I couldn't watch the rest without them. So I'm stuck with it on the shelf, having only seen a snippet. But I liked said snippet. Oh well.

Posted by Stephen Golden @ 07/24/2002 09:23 AM PST

Jason, Jason, Jason, you may have white or yellow cake if you like. There is no pressure to make the vastly superior choice of chocolate cake; the decision [subliminal message: chocolate] is yours alone. Feel free to make it as you see fit. You must do what feels right. Besides, if you pick white or yellow, there is more cake for us.

Carrots cannot become cake, nor can pineapples. Carrots can be made into bread, which is a lunch, dinner, snack, or brunch, but not dessert, item, and pineapples upside down are not cake at all, but cobbler in disguise. Pineapple upside-down cake is like strawberry shortcake: both are desserts, but neither is cake; the names are lies!

Strawberries can be mixed into the batter of a cake, but then it is cake batter with erroneously included strawberries and therefore no longer cake, even if the resulting batter is baked. Cake batter that has strawberries in it is like Seth Brundle + fly: horrifying.

Only under very strict circumstances is rum cake cake. First and foremost, the item must be able to stand on its own without assistance—no help from nurses—no leaning on canes or walkers. Second, it must be moist, but not dripping, leaking, or otherwise losing or spreading fluids. Third, by weight, it must contain more flour than rum and more sugar than rum. Fourth, it must be classifiable as either yellow or chocolate. If all four conditions are unequivocally met, then, yes, rum cake is cake.

Posted by freedunit @ 07/24/2002 09:24 AM PST

ROTFLMAO

Posted by Ron Pullim @ 07/24/2002 09:33 AM PST

I choose chocolate...I think. But let it be known that I only choose chocolate because I'm the new guy (but not the new Guy) on the block and I feel the need to be accepted. And after yesterday's WILD PARTY/Patti LuPone digressions which obviously caused much distress to many of our fellow readers, I feel it behooves me to regain the love and acceptance of the group. In a few weeks time I shall feel strong enough in mind and body to stand up and say, "I CHOOSE *insert flavor of cake I will choose when the time is right*!"

Thank you so much for your expert cake guidance, freedunit. I shall remember your sage wisdom for the rest of my days.

Posted by Jason @ 07/24/2002 10:11 AM PST

Jason, choose what you want! You have been accepted already. Don’t milk this whole “new guy” thing, because that will start a new discourse on cake and beverages, which inevitably will lead to cookies and beverages, and the age old debate over dunking. By the way (BTW), you are always welcome.

Posted by freedunit @ 07/24/2002 10:34 AM PST