haines his way

09/28/2002:
"THE NOTES SANS TITLE ARE SANS NO MORE"

Well, dear readers, I can’t believe it, but I am on my way to shoot some video for the new show at six-thirty in the morning and I shall not be returning from said shoot until eight this evening. Isn’t that something? Isn’t that just too too? I think I am already losing my sanity – I really need both weekend days off, but unfortunately duty called and I answered the fershluganah phone. If only I’d looked at the caller ID I would have seen it was duty calling and I would have let the machine pick it up. Of course, maybe “it” doesn’t want to be picked up by the machine. And next week, when I should be sleeping in and resting on Saturday, I will be flying to New York, New York very early in the morning. And then it’s a whirlwind of get-togethers, meetings, casting sessions and meals until I get back on Wednesday morning, and then I go straight to a meeting even then. Then back to work on Thursday and then, only then, at long last, will I have a weekend off. Well, at least I can get some writing done on the two plane trips, so that will be good. I need a massage, I need my feet rubbed and I need a cheese slice and ham chunk.
In any case, I must hurry along because Mr. David Wechter and his automobile will be here any minute to pick up his bleary-eyed and vaguely discontented passenger.
Of course, knowing that I must hurry along I can think of absolutely nothing to write about. Isn’t that always the way. Just when one is in need of words the words don’t come. Well, damn them, damn them all to hell. Have I mentioned that it is very early in the morning? Have I mentioned it’s still dark out? Have I mentioned that I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night – oh, an Irving Berlin reference. Have I mentioned that I am losing my mind – oh, a Stephen Sondheim reference. Enough with the references already. Not a day goes by without some reference – oops, a Stephen Sondheim reference. You see what I mean?
Why don’t we all just click on the Unseemly Button below and see if there are more words waiting there.

Why yes, look at all these words that are waiting to be read. That is because, clever boy that I am, I answered all your excellent questions last night. Some questions required too much thought and those I will mention but answer when I can do the question justice. Have you ever done a question justice? What was the sentence? Two years at hard labor or just a slap on the hand? What the hell am I talking about?
Jose asks if there are any particular songs where I’ve heard an arrangement and it’s totally changed the way I viewed the song, for better or for worse. Well, there was the lounge version I once heard of Send in The Clowns, which was so bad that I find it difficult to even listen to the song now. I will tell you a little secret – when we did the A Little Night Music in Jazz album, there was originally going to be a hidden track and we recorded it and everything. It was Guy Haines and Terry Trotter doing that lounge version of Send in the Clowns. I wonder if I still have it somewhere. Ever since we did the kooky Bacharach-style arrangement of Joey, Joey, Joey on Liz Callaway’s first album, I find it difficult to listen to that song sung any other way now.
Philip Crosby asks if there’s a cast album or film soundtrack that I really like, where the show or the film itself is pretty dreadful. Oh, many. For example, the film of The Blue Max is just about unwatchable, but the Jerry Goldsmith score is simply brilliant and is one of my favorite CDs. Cast album-wise, I love listening to Minnie’s Boys, but the show was bad. Same thing with Mack and Mabel and a few others.
Jay asks what my thoughts are about the state of amplification in the legitimate theater today? I think the state of amplification in the illegitimate theater is better, frankly. After I saw Beauty and the Beast I remarked that that kind of sound design was the end of the Broadway musical. Then I saw Mamma Mia, which was so loud and obnoxious-sounding that I almost ran from the theater. I think the way they sound design shows today has made performers very lazy. There’s no question that amplification is needed, but it should sound normal, just a reinforcement of the real sound coming from the pit and the stage. Occasionally you still see something like that and it’s like a breath of fresh air.
William E. Lurie asks why most DVDs come with three sides sealed with security tape under the shrink wrap. I really don’t have an answer other than to say someone in the DVD wrapping facility has a warped sense of humor. I spend so much time peeling tape it’s not even funny. Sometimes I say, Beulah, peel me a tape. Not all studios do it, though, thank goodness.
George has found a photo of Guy Haines as a baby, in which you can see his face (don’t we have that photo in our very own photo gallery? I’ll have to go look, but I think we do). Has the fact that the adult Mr. Hainses’ face is always obscured a deliberate attempt at anonymity, a totally incredible coincidence, or just a big giant running gag. All of the above. If you haven’t visited the Guy Haines photo gallery, there is a complete family history – just go back to the unseemly Home page and click on the link on the left.
Steveg asks what method I have of storing and cataloguing DVDs. I have shelves that accommodate them in my den, but I have run out of room there. Those in the den are all alphabetical, except for the Criterion DVDs, which I have all together by number. The rest are scattered in various other rooms and I’m afraid are a bit of a mess, cataloguing-wise. I’ll get around to figuring out something for those scattered DVDs, when I have a moment to breathe.
Jed asks what my favorite Act One finale is. Well, I love Everything’s Coming Up Roses, And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going, and Turkey Lurkey Time.
S. Woody White asks if I have a favorite non-fiction author. I read a lot of non-fiction, but mostly film books, so there is no one author that I’m partial to. S. Woody White also asks what my impressions are about The Adventures of Robin Hood, color-wise, given my disappointment with Singin’ In The Rain. Funnily, when the Criterion laser came out it got absolute raves. I hated every minute of it – it was all brown and ugly and totally washed out Eastman color of a Technicolor film. Then MGM/UA released their own laser, and it was spectacular – one of the great color transfers – vibrant and thrilling and exciting. And people who had the Criterion laser complained about it! I couldn’t believe it. I do hope when it comes out on DVD they get it right.
Kerry asks if I were to have my stable of stars record an album of my songs, who would I have sing what? Well, that’s too difficult to answer blithely. I shall think on it. The problem is, however, most of you don’t know most of my songs, so I don’t know that the answers will mean much.
StephenG asks how I first met Jason Graae. He was recommended to me by someone, for Unsung Sondheim, and I think we met at the musical director's apartment – and we just got along famously and have ever since.
Well, I’m afraid I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must be driven a long distance to a place where I will shoot all the live-long day and into the early evening. I shall be exhausted by tomorrow night, but I promise to log on the minute I get home so I can read all your wonderful postings, which will cheer me up. I do apologize for not having our Unseemly Trivia Contest again (several dear readers sent me questions I could have used, but I am so crazed I don’t even have time to go get them and paste them in) – but the contest will be back next Saturday, I promise. Today’s topic of discussion: Here’s something I don’t think we’ve discussed – what are the best costumes you’ve ever seen designed for a stage musical? Maybe we have discussed it, who can remember anymore after all these fershluganah topics? I’ll start – certainly the costumes from Pippin were brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Hello, Dolly had wonderful costumes too. I thought the costumes for the original production of Follies were some of the best I’ve ever seen. Your turn. And discuss whatever else you feel like discussing.

Replies: 30 Unseemly Comments

Best costumes:
Oh! Culcutta!
Best bathrobes I ever saw.
Posted by Adrian @ 09/28/2002 08:31 AM PST

When it comes to costumes, I'm partial to Ragtime, but that's because we saw the show in the Los Angeles production twice in close succession. We'd arranged for tix for one of the previews through the L. A. Times, and were able to take a friend of ours with us, a sharp and snappy woman in her eighties named Jean. We all thought the show was fantastic, and loved the look of the show, even though we'd been seated in the very back row of the Orchestra level.
A very few days later, der Brucer got a call from another friend of ours. It seemed they wanted seat-fillers for the gala opening of the show, and would we be interested in going? Free of charge? Of course we would, we replied. Der Brucer insisted that we wear our best suits; if he could have gotten away with it, we'd have been wearing our tuxes, but I put my foot down, never wearing my tux before the sun sets. Well, the seat-fillers were all shunted to one side, so they could fill the seats where needed when all the other seats were filled with the invited guests and people who had actually paid (and paid extra, since it was a charity gala; is there ever a non-charity gala?). Finally, at almost curtain time, we were being taken towards the doors, when this fellow who clearly was working for the theater charaged forward and dragged der Brucer and I aside. Our suits had attracted his eye, standing out like sore thumbs against the rest, who were looking very trendy and in some cases shabby. Seems there were a couple of seats right at the FRONT row that needed filling. So that's where we ended up!
Well, this was a treat and a half! If there's anything der Brucer loves (and myself as well), it's the chance to watch the mechanics of a play or musical at the same time as watching the show, and front row seats, especially to the side as these were, are the perfect place to do that. The moral being, if you're getting a freebie, dress in a way your mother would approve of.
Well, sure enough, we could see the show just fine, thank-you, but we also got to see some of the detail work in the costumes. "Mother's" dresses, in particular, which had looked fine from the back row, now revealed themselves to be layers of lace over other material, just slightly different in color, adding to her shimmer. These are the sorts of things people don't get to see necessarily, but which matter. And it's very satisfying to see the work from two different perspectives.
Posted by S. Woody White @ 09/28/2002 08:42 AM PST

Well, S. Woody White, it seems as though it was you and Der Brucer who had the outstanding costumes that night. Eh?
Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/28/2002 09:34 AM PST

I agree with the Ragtime costumes. We saw the show in Chicago from the fifth row. I also love the Beauty and the Beast costumes.
Posted by Laura @ 09/28/2002 10:36 AM PST

By the way, interesting title for today's notes.
Posted by Laura @ 09/28/2002 11:53 AM PST

For sheer beauty you can't beat the original MY FAIR LADY costumes. For novelty the "Springtime for Hitler" costumes in THE PRODUCERS.
Posted by William E Lurie @ 09/28/2002 12:29 PM PST

"Ragtime" is still my most "want to see" show. I have only seen the Tony awards segment. I love it a musical on CD. When we were last in the States we were prepared to arrange our travel so that we could see Ragtime wherever but it was not on. We thus opted for NY and saw "The Producers", "Follies", "Seusical" and "The Lion King". I enjoyed them (even bits of Lion King - but not much) but would have traded it all for "Ragtime".
I don't remember much about costumes but those for "Nine" were great. Maybe I should give a mention to Lion King" here. Very impressive - but what else was there?
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 09/28/2002 02:39 PM PST

The costumes in "The Sound Of Music" looked like that has been made from old curtains.
Where are you all?
I guess my ask BK question is awaiting "justice".
No offence intended Hapgood. It is great to have you back and I do wish you all the best with your studies. As our friends in the UK would say "bottoms up" to your success.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 09/28/2002 02:44 PM PST

Tom: Thanks for the "duets"! Arrived in yesterday's mail!
I guess "my" ask BK questions suffered the same fate as years.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/28/2002 04:49 PM PST

Costumes...costumes...
It's been so long since I saw a
Broadway......but I will say that
some of the Cagelles'
costumes I saw in the
Broadway touring company of
La Cage were pretty
amazing....
Too sophisticated in fact for a
nightclub act in St Tropez, IMO
...
Some of you might like to
know that "bottoms up" is "cul
sec !" in French....and, no, it's
NOT rude !
Posted by François @ 09/28/2002 05:11 PM PST

To remain on the same
subject...."oh, Calcutta !" was
not "Oh, CULcutta" as
previously posted....
It was a play on words on "Oh,
Quel Cul t'as !"..; what a
beautiful bottom you
have.....Hapgood !!!
Posted by François @ 09/28/2002 05:14 PM PST

Now, I'm waiting for Jason to
say:
"Don't you find it funny how
François is trying to tell us......."
Jason, Allan, Ben, Freedunit....
WHERE ARE U ?????
Posted by François @ 09/28/2002 05:17 PM PST

Francois, I think everybody is resting today, from the zillion posts that they labored over yesterday...
Posted by Lulu @ 09/28/2002 05:52 PM PST

Well, Lulu, you may be right ;
"Marrying" and "divorcing"
people like that can be tiring,
as Miss Taylor could lecture
us about it !!
Now, Lulu, are those "things"
they say about you in "Don't
Bring Lulu !" -- the version I
have is by the Andrews
Sisters-- TRUE ? : )
Posted by François @ 09/28/2002 06:28 PM PST

See, Ron P. is so exhausted --
I think he had a ball yesterday (
with Cinderella !) that he typed
"years" for "yours"....
"Everything I Have Is Years !" : )
Posted by François @ 09/28/2002 06:32 PM PST

The Scarlet Pimpernel costumes are pretty. I love the hats and ruffles and cravats. And feathers!
Posted by Sandra @ 09/28/2002 08:08 PM PST

Where are you all today?
Perhaps I should be like Fosca and "have no expectations".
My dogs are named Fosca and Magnus. Fosca is of course beautiful but Clara did not sound like a good name for her. I even considered calling my male dog Georgio but thought everyone would think he was names after the clothing/perfume stuff.
Nearly two hours between the last posts. Perhaps I should be playing "the Last Post". Then again, what can you do on a Saturday night alone? (that was nonsense - it is Sunday afternoon here. Perhaps you all have lives).
Posted by Tom Guest @ 09/28/2002 08:58 PM PST

Tom seemed so lonely, I just had to post. It does seem like everyone disappeared today.
As for the topic: Ragtime was great. 42nd Street looks pretty good.
Probably the most amazing costume type things I've seen on stage are the Easter Bonnets during the spring BC/EFA fundraisers.
Posted by jb @ 09/28/2002 09:21 PM PST

Disappearing is not allowed after I worked for ten count them ten hours. As to the title of today's notes, I know not what happened. I remember thinking of a title, but I guess I forgot to type it in. I could change it right now but I've grown rather fond of "". I think that is a fine title for today's notes. Now, let's get some night owls and have some nocturnal posts. After all, I went to all the trouble of getting the questions answered (if Tom's and Ron's disappeared, submit them again - I honestly thought I'd caught all of them).
Posted by bk @ 09/28/2002 09:35 PM PST

Thanks BK
I just asked what were your three favourite Randy Newman FILM songs and which 3 (not necessarily Newman's) oscar losing songs did you think most deserved to win.
Thanks
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 09/28/2002 10:05 PM PST

Thanks JB
Nice to know I am not alone. (no-one is alone).
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 09/28/2002 10:06 PM PST

Alone again, naturally. (Gilbert O'Sullivan reference-what do I win?)
Sorry, but I'm off to bed.
Posted by jb @ 09/28/2002 10:28 PM PST

NO, you're not alone guys !!!
7:30 am -- Paris time ! --
30 more minutes and I'm
off...........to see the wizard !
BK: where do you get all that
stamina of yours ?
Thanks TOM for your email !
Ain't we a great family ?
Uncle Tom from the land of OZ
and his two amazing dogs !
See you next thursday night !
Posted by François @ 09/28/2002 10:30 PM PST

I think if there's no title between the quotation marks, then there's nothing to click on to bring up the link to the notes when they go to the archives. May I suggest, perhaps, calling the notes "!" or "?" or maybe even ","
Posted by Laura @ 09/28/2002 10:32 PM PST

Good night, jb !
Pleasant dreams !
"Rockabye your baby,
With a dixie melody !"
"Dodo, l'enfant do,
L'enfant dormira bien vite.
Dodo, l'enfant do,
L'enfant dormira bientôt."
Posted by François @ 09/28/2002 10:35 PM PST

Hello All! Sorry for the late posting - all day rehearsal, then a trip to IKEA, then a few hours putting everything together that I bought at IKEA... and Voila!
Hey, François! -Isn't that the tune that's referenced in Debussy's "Jardins sur la pluie"? N'est-ce pas?
As for costumes... There were some pretty fantastic dresses this summer during the Sondheim Celebration. Randy Graff's Charlotte truly had some wonderful creations. The mistress' dress in Passion had to be one of the most extravagant splurges for about two minutes of stage time. And speaking of Passion...
I received the following e-mail from Dan Felton today - he was in the casts of Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Passion. I believe I mentioned in an earlier post the Men of Passion calendar... Well, here it is in the flesh! A truly one of a kind souvenir, and a great way to raise some money for BC/EFA.
*
Hello all Passion people!
Hope you are all doing wonderfully and that life is treating you well!
Just wanted to let you know that the full-color, fully autographed (Sondheim included) Men of Passion Calendar went onto the Ebay auction block yesterday for a 10-day auction with all proceeds going to BC/EFA. You can view the auction at the following link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1566546853
Please let anyone and everyone you know who might be interested in bidding on this one-of-a-kind Sondheim item to check out the auction and make a bid. ALL proceeds go directly to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs. I will keep you posted on how the bidding is going - write or call me if you have any questions or concerns.
Dan Felton
**
Oh, bk: Any chance you could still dig up that hidden track of "Send in the Clowns"?
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 09/28/2002 11:44 PM PST

Francois, I just asked Tom if his "dog" was a dingo and told him everyone in the U.S. thinks dingoes eat babies.
I didn't know he had two dogs. You got the picture of the dogs, and I got a picture of the fence he installed to keep the dogs "in" -- possibly to keep them from being attacked by all the gorgeous birds that flock to his yard...and create all those gorgeous views around his house.
It's got to be tough living in such circumstances....with a large, pristine lake not too far away, and so much idyllic ambience as to make angels weep.
My consolation is that all those birds don't wait for paper to be put down! : )
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/29/2002 12:12 AM PST

Dingoes don't eat babies! They're a type of boot advertised in kids' comic books. If you wear them into the locker room after the big game, OJ Simpson will give you an autographed picture of himself, because "nobody puts leather together like Dingo!" (Only catch is, he signs it "OJ Dingo.")
Francois, dahling, I can only pull a Tallulah and claim both that "everything you hear about me is true!" and "if half of what you've heard about me were true, I'd be dead!" Make of that what you will.
Posted by Lulu @ 09/29/2002 04:59 AM PST

These here notes were not listed in the archives which is what I have bookmarked for this site (it saves clicking on the unseemly button), so didn't get to these notes until today by going through normal channels.
Costumes: I loved the costumes for "La Cage," the revival of "Man Who Came to Dinner," "Will Rogers' Follies," and I liked the loud cartoony costumes in the revival of "Guys and Dolls." (The colors were appropriate there, unlike the neon colors that seem to be used for so many shows these days.)
Posted by Kerry @ 09/29/2002 08:22 AM PST

Didn't mean to be a nag or complainer, but that was my hunch about the importance of a title for these notes.
We're off to church, and then to see a local production of Into The Woods.
Posted by Laura @ 09/29/2002 08:46 AM PST

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

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