Posted by Philip Crosby @ 10/18/2002 08:09 AM PST

Today's New York TIMES finally has the Keene Curtis obit and a large picture. As I stated the other day it takes them a little time because they don't want too many obituaries the same day.

Regarding the FLOWER DRUM SONG revisal, I haven't seen it yet. If I could see AMOUR for $45 and HAIRSPRAY for $55 I'll be damned if I'll pay $65 for a revisal. However I will say this much: I could understand a new book if they were going to update it to 2002; however since they kept it in 1958, a new book seems pointless, as the old book reflected attitudes in 1958. I said the same thing about the Matthew Broderick revisal of HOW TO SUCCEED. Again, this revisal of FLOWER DRUM SONG shows how wrong the estates of R&H were to leave things in the hands of Theodore Chapin who is more interested in making money than in protecting the properties. After the recent ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (controlled but not written by R&H), the Roundabout BOYS FROM SYRACUSE and now this, it looks like we have seen the end of the traditional R&H musical.

By the way, even though the York Fall Mufti Series (JUMBO, HOW NOW DOW JUNES and NEW GIRL IN TOWN) is still two weeks away, they have just announced the Winter Series for January and it's just as good: THE GRASS HARP; A FAMILY AFFAIR and the American Premiere of Noel Coward's PACIFIC 1860.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/18/2002 08:28 AM PST

I will not use italics.
I will not use italics.
I will not use italics.
I will not use italics.
I will not use italics.
I will not use italics.
I will not use italics.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/18/2002 08:56 AM PST

DVD - Just finished "A Hard Day's Night". Net up - the first of 4 discs of "The Outer Limits"

CD at home - Billy Joel's "Movin' Out". Great vocals by Michael - a dead ringer for BJ. The band's pretty tight, and they follow the original arrangements very closely (except for "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Pressure").

In and out: new Kenny Rankin, Jane Monheit. Getting ready for Mel Torme at the Playboy Club.

In the office: Just finished "Violet", now on to Dee Dee Bridgewater "This Is New" (Kurt Weill collection). An interesting set. Who knew Weill could swing?????

Posted by Phil @ 10/18/2002 09:00 AM PST

*For those of you who do not get my previous post (seen above), then just scroll down towards the bottom of yesterday's notes.

OOPS!

CD Player:
Mamma Mia! - Playing in the pit next week.
Kevin Mahogany's "Pride and Joy" - Great jazz arrangements of 60's R&B tunes!
South Pacific RNT Revival.
Take 6 "Beautiful World".

DVD Player: Actually, these are the titles I hope to get to in the next couple of days, since I get to be back in Richmond for two weeks! I've bought all of them, and have unwrapped and de-sticky-stripped them. Now all I have to do is watch them!
Snow White - Yes, I know it came out last fall...
Beauty & The Beast
Monsters, Inc.
Wow, it's a virtual Disney Fest!
Schoolhouse Rock
Life Is Beautiful - Yes, I bought when it came out two years ago (?)... I've been busy...
And there are a few more titles I may finally get into the player.

-Hey, Phil! Do you want to have our own Richmond-based Hainsie/Kimlet get-together since I'll be back in town? If not, will you be going to the Men's Chorus Concert on Sunday?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/18/2002 09:11 AM PST

Oh, so, Phil - the other Phil - what did you think of Violet?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/18/2002 09:13 AM PST

In my DVD/TV combo, I have Pretty Woman. I've 'viewed' it every night this week, but haven't seen it yet. By the time I settle in to relax and watch it, I fall right off to sleep (as opposed to falling on to sleep, which would be most unseemly). Then I'll wake up hours later with the glare of the television screen blinding my eyes.

Posted by Susan Gordon @ 10/18/2002 09:23 AM PST

Dear Poster Susan Gordon,
Thanks.

Posted by sleep @ 10/18/2002 09:29 AM PST

A HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO JMK!

Okay, pointy party hats and colorful tights and pantaloons are de rigeur for today.

But JMK, "John Gay's tunes for The Beggar's Opera" seems a bit off, since Gay simply recycled old tunes with his own lyrics, didn't he? That was leveled at you.

Phil:

Who knew Weill could swing? Well, Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin, among others.

on Flower Drum Song Redux:

A colleague down the hall at work saw it. His assessment was that the new book introduced all sorts of totally unnecessary plot elements that made it impossible to follow and that the Old Asian Stereotypes were replaced by New Asian Sterotypes. He summed it up: Why bother?

As we say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I saw H2$, as they called the revisal of How to Succeed. They made a big hoopla out of eliminating "Cinderella Darling" because it was sexist. Then they added a reprise of "How To" for SJP that was much more sexist.

And now someone is remaking the film Charade? Why? I mean, even Disney keeps redoing their classics.

Gee, I'm on a rant today, aren't I? On the good side, Joe and I caught Ridley Scott's Legend the other night and thoroughly enjoyed it. For the first time I realized that he was trying to bring Arthur Rackham paintings to life. Everything just screamed Rackham, and I love Rackham. A feast for the eye. For both of them.

So in my CD player at work is Weird Romance, because I've been listening to "Her Pilgrim Soul" over and over since it was discussed here recently.

At home, in the computer CD player (which also plays DVDs) is Laurie Beechman's "No One Is Alone", produced by our own, our very own BK. Because Donald's wonderful radio show with Lisa Richard (which you must listen to, if you haven't already) featured her "You'll Never Walk Alone" this week, and I simply had to hear the whole album again, especially in view of BK's remembrances of recording that album. Every song makes me blubber now.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 10/18/2002 09:42 AM PST

I too have 'Weird Romance' in the car (and, yes, there I was driving up the M3 motorway with tears streaming down my face). Also in the car CD-changer I have Philip Quast's new CD of his Divas at the Donmar performance; 'My Favorite Broadway - The Love Songs', including the amazing Jennifer Holiday 'And I Am Telling You ...'; the OBC of Annie Get Your Gun; the new(-ish) Babbie Green CD of her theatre songs, sung by a number of people (lovely stuff); and James Taylor's 'October'.

In the home CD I have the newly-expanded version of 'A Tale of Two Cities'. A shorter version was released a few years ago, but this is (I guess) complete. Nice in a Les Miz sort of way, with one really good song - 'If Dreams Came True'. Christiane Noll is in it.

In the DVD player - 'Singin' in the Rain' - I've done all the extras, now I'm on to the film itself.

Posted by Allan @ 10/18/2002 10:02 AM PST

Dear Jose:

I think a Hainsie/Kimlet party here in Richmond VA would be a blast -- actually there should be H/K chapters nationwide -- but we will probably not be at the Chorus event on Sunday, as it is my dear David's last day at the Symphony Designer House and we must attend the thank-you party afterwards. But another time, perhaps?

Now on the office CD player: Tony Bennett Sings Ellington.

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 10/18/2002 10:02 AM PST

In the cd player:

Anthony Warlow
Hairspray
Becky Taylor's "Dreams Come True"
Michelle Pirret's "Somewhere in the World"

In the DVD player:
Insomnia
Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure (I burned this onto dvd from my vhs.. woohoo)

Posted by Craig @ 10/18/2002 10:07 AM PST

I only recently received a DVD player for my birthday, so I don't have a wide array to choose from. My wife rented "Changing Lanes" last week, and it was pretty mediocre.

In the home CD player, I have 110 IN THE SHADE. My son (who is four years old) insisted that we play it this morning while we had our breakfast together. He wanted to hear about how "It's gonna rain a month of Sundays..." Atta boy!

In my car, I have just placed my new copy of the MGM Album, by Debbie Gravitte, my sparkling prize which I won right here at HHW! I haven't heard any of it yet, but I'm looking forward to giving it a listen over the weekend.

Posted by Dave @ 10/18/2002 11:01 AM PST

Dave -
Saw Changing Lanes in the theater. My problem was: good initial premise which rapidly lost steam and without giving anything away for those that have not seen it, I felt after certain events that I had no sympathy for either character..which made me lose interest in the final "ultimo"

Posted by Craig @ 10/18/2002 11:09 AM PST

Right now I'm listening to a compilation of The Kingston Trio (my folk side is dominant today). I also have a 2-CD set of concerts by The Weavers. I will listen to Elaine Stritch's 1954 Stritch and some Sarah Vaughan Verve re-issues.

Also, I second A HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO JMK!

Posted by Ben @ 10/18/2002 11:25 AM PST

In the dvd players:
CASINO ROYALE
CURSE/NIGHT OF THE DEMON
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
THE X FILES SEASON SIX
SCOOBY DOO
AUNTIE MAME
M*A*S*H TV series seasons 1 and 2

cd player:
SIDE SHOW
CASINO ROYALE
FLOWER DRUM SONG - OST - Gee, whatever happened to B. J. Baker, the vocal talent for Nancy Kwan?
Manhattan Transfer - "Pastiche"
"This is Darin"
"The Song is Mine" - John DePalma
TINTYPES - OCR

Posted by td @ 10/18/2002 11:47 AM PST

Philip: Well, I may actually see you at the Symphony Designer House if you happen to be wandering the decorated halls that afternoon. I was planning on checking it out last week, but my studio times got changed.

If not this weekend, then sometime in the future.

Any other H/Ks in the Richmond vicinity? Or at least in the two (or three) hour drive vicinity?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/18/2002 12:10 PM PST

Whoopee! The neighbors have kittens! They are totally feral, but love to romp in the front yard and use the bushes as jungle gyms. Every so often, one will poke his/her head up through the bushes and look around, very cute. It's a good thing our dogs are in our back yard, or they'd all be playing all around the neighborhood. Mama cat looks exhausted.

DVD player lately: B&tB, FNM, Hard Days Night, Star Trek TNG 2nd season. (Hey, where else can you see Mick Fleetwood dressed up as a fish?)

I'm surprised at the New York contingent's response to FDS without having seen it. When it played at the Mark Taper Forum, der Brucer and I found the new book intelligent and fun. Keeping the show set in the 1950s struck us as highly appropriate, as well, as most of the USA was very ignorant of the problems and oppression in China at the time, which sparks the action of the show. It was also a time when night clubs were popular, which gives FDS an effective setting. I suppose I'll have to visit a few other sites to catch up on the reviews.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/18/2002 12:41 PM PST

William - quite right, but outside of "Mack the Knife", what else has been jazzed up?

Jose - still contemplating. Great vocals, interesting story line. I can see why local (smaller) comapnies select it.

BK - Not everyone could vocally fill a house like John Raitt or Ethel Merman. Matter of fact, few of today's performers could survive without some type of amplification. So which performers of the early years (1900-1930) do you think would have benefitted from today's amplification / recording techniques?

Posted by phil @ 10/18/2002 12:48 PM PST

In the DVD player: was Schoolhouse Rock (I'm a sucker for anything Dave Frishberg does), this weekend will be Singin' in the Rain.

CD player at work: Sara Zahn "Witchcraft" (which spends an awful lot of time in my CD players)

CD at home: Charlie Haden/Quartet West "Haunted Heart" and Oscar Peterson/Joe Pass "Porgy and Bess"

Travelin' CD pack: ALL the Unsung Musical/Lost in Boston CDs, so I'll always have something good to listen to no matter where I am, even without planning ahead.

Posted by Pam @ 10/18/2002 12:52 PM PST

S. Woody---

There were apparently a lot of changes between the FLOWER DRUM SONG you saw in L.A. and the one that just opened here. I know that all non-FDS songs that were used in the L.A. version were eliminated and all original FDS songs that were eliminated in L.A. were returned to the score (except both versions of "The Other Generation") so there were obviously book changes as well. One critic (I'm not sure which since I read several reviews) said that old Asian stereotypes were replaced with new Asian stereotypes. Ken Mandelbaum said R&H fans will see the new version and then go home and watch the original on VHS (it's not out on DVD yet). Like the misguided BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, FDS got good reviews for the score and the cast (and unlike BFS for the design), but poor reviews for the book. Yes both show's original books needed a little tweeking, but not a complete new book. When will they ever learn?

By the way, I just realized that the abbreviation for FLOWER DRUM SONG is the name of a popular douche!

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/18/2002 01:17 PM PST

Craig,

My problem with "Changing Lanes" - and everyone who saw it with me echoed the same sentiment - was the entire movie was based on foolish decisions that were made very early on in the movie, which could very easily have been remedied. To me, a movie is more interesting if I can identify with the plight of at least one of the characters. In this case, I found myself saying, "I would never have done that. Only an idiot would do that." As such, I couldn't sympathize with anyone.

re: VIOLET...
I won this from MTI, and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it right away. I normally wouldn't like a show that has such an obvious "rural" tone to the music, but Tesori fleshes out the structure with such strong melody that much of it is irresistable. And the finale, including the reprise of "Promise Me, Violet" is beautiful.

Posted by Dave @ 10/18/2002 02:12 PM PST

The car CD: Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge

DVD with TV: Beauty and the Beast

Computer DVD: The First Nudie Musical

Computer CD: John Trone and Craig Rubano: Finishing the Act

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/18/2002 02:37 PM PST

William: Interesting run-down about the changes from the Taper to the current FDS. Are you planning on seeing the current version yourself? Your insights, compared to those of paid critics (who too often, I feel, base their writing on how clever they can be), would be very interesting.

As for FDS and the names of products, this does give new meaning to the phrase "A hundred million miracles," don't it?!

Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/18/2002 02:41 PM PST

CDs: Bells Are Ringing (OBC)
Lost in Boston IV
She Loves Me (OBC)

DVD: The First Nudie Musical
Fiddler on the Roof

VCR: Last night's "CSI" which
I'll probably watch tonight

Re yesterday's notes...
How could I have left off the
Domingo/Patinkin "Man of La
Mancha"??? Sweet Jeebus,
what a horror!

Posted by Jed @ 10/18/2002 03:13 PM PST

Oh, I forgot - I, too had LIB IV in my car player. I hadn't heard it in quite a while - I'm really fond of this volume and I'd forgotten how much fun it is. I'm crazy for Alet Oury's If I Can't Take it With Me I'm Not Gonna Go (which, if I may humbly say, blows Sally Mayes' version right out the window - Miss Mayes "discovered" the song on LIB IV and decided to appropriate it for her own solo version of LIB on some one-off label), and I adore Karen Morrow's Ballroom songs. Thirty Weeks of Heaven is wonderful, too, thanks to our very own Brent Barrett and Klea Blackhurst. Even though I let Brad Ellis, the musical director, take the arrangement credit, those who know me can probably tell that ninety percent of the arrangements are mine own. A lot of these songs were just melody lines with chords, no arrangement at all - no vamps, no repeats, no nothing. Thirty Weeks of Heaven was like that - just four verses, exactly the same. I wrote the vamp, and gave the song some form and made sure it built to a climax. And that, dear readers, is why I love doing arrangements - too much fun.

Posted by bk @ 10/18/2002 04:05 PM PST

In my portable CD player at work: the new CD releases of "The Nervous Set" (this CD is actually in my player), then "Ben Franklin in Paris" and "Movin' Out" will be next in line.

In my DVD player attached to my TV: Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."

In my computer DVD-ROM drive: "The Muppet Movie." I'm making my own CD of the complete soundtrack. Well, it'll be all of all of the songs and bits of dialog, just for continuity.

Posted by George @ 10/18/2002 04:29 PM PST

Somehow my post from a few hours ago did not appear. Censorship perhaps. My copy of FNM arrived two days ago but had been openened and inspected by our customs officers. I suspect that saw the name and address of the sender and were worried about corruption of pure Australian citizens.
I forget about Dear Reader Sandra's fencing expertise. We just paid to have our back fence repaired after it had been somewhat damaged by a falling tree. We need to keep the Kangaroos out of the garden. Sandra could well have given me good advice.

Kerry has been listening to Art Garfunkel. How wonderful is his voice. Sometimes his Cds are a little bland and the choice of material not great but "oh that angelic voice".
I am listening to "Violet" this morning. I may have a C & W day.
In my Cd player (other than violet). Dionne Warwick (best of double), Soundtrack of "Ice Castles" and Robert Goulet's "Broadway" album.
DVD has "Billy Elliot" which is such a delight.

Maybe this time this post will arrive.

Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/18/2002 05:21 PM PST

What we all need is LIB Five. And more Unsungs.

I miss the delights of a new BK production.

Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/18/2002 05:23 PM PST

Woody---
I'd like to see it and if it is at TKTS some time I probably will. Their discount tickets are $65, a little high and $20 more than discount tickets for AMOUR. Even HAIRSPRAY (before it opened and they knew what they had) were only $55. NYC gets a lot of Asain tourists, and they are the ones who will keep it open at any ticket price.
It certainly wasn't theatre fans who kept CATS or OH CALCUTTA going!

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/18/2002 05:29 PM PST

No censorship here. I don't know why a post would disappear, frankly. I mean if some uncouth interloper came and posted something I deemed offensive to you dear readers, I might pull it, I suppose, although it's happened before and I've let it be because we always have such sport with uncouth interlopers, don't we?
Once upon a time we even had ourselves a handy-dandy uncouth interloper spy here at haineshisway.com, who would report on things. Even then, I knew and I just let it be, because in the end, who gives a flying Wallenda? Evil is as evil does, whatever the hell that means. Now, let's have a burst of posting here, shall we?

Posted by bk @ 10/18/2002 07:48 PM PST

My first post here! (Long time reader).

CD player (Home)
Jamaica
Merrily We Roll Along OBC
Cabaret '98
Irma la Douce
Assassins

CD player (car)
Hairspray
Wild Party (La Chuisa)
Radio Gals
Do Re Mi (Encores)
Zorba w/ Quinn & La Shapiro Gravitte

DVD
Amelie

Posted by Dallas @ 10/18/2002 08:11 PM PST

Flower Drum Song - They did continue to re-tweak the book between L.A. and New York. I just spoke with a friend who was at both opening nights, and his biggest complaint was that the show lost a lot of the charm it had in L.A. And, frankly, I think the only way the show could/would work today is if it is charming. And as much as I appreciate Hwang's "mission", from what I've read, it does sound like he was trying to make a Flower into a Carousel.

Although, I have to wonder if the production had gone ahead as originally scheduled, and not had so much time between stints, if things would have been different.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/18/2002 08:27 PM PST

Welcome Dallas
BK. I was not serious about the censorship. Some times the post just seems to get lost in cyberspace. My morning post may still be outside my window being blown hither and thither (and possibly yon) by a spring breeze that has just sprung.

Dallas mentions the DVd of "Amelie". It received marvellous press here and it lasted quite a while at the movies. My partner loved it but it really left me cold. I'm usually the one that likes the French movies. I try whenever possible to get the subtitles rather than the dubbed language versions. It is amazing how soon you forget you are reading rather than hearing.

Which brings me to: Where is our errant Frenchman?
Tonight is my big night for watching FNM. If I aam absent tomorrow I am probably in shock.

William L's post reminded me of the Wonderful "Oh Calcutta". NOT. I went to see it in London. It was mostly boring and very schoolboy in humour. Quite forgettable. And I now remember nothing of it except that it was.

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/18/2002 08:36 PM PST

Errant Frenchman ????

Who can that be ?

Ohhhh, Tom, don't tell me
Amélie left you cold.... like so
much fish, maybe ?!

It seemed so British in its
humor, to me !

I have FNM, but NO dvd
player.... yet !!

My cd player recently had visits
of Debra Byrne, from the land
of Oz -- thanks Tom ! --, Nine,
the wonderful London concert
version ( The overture is a
feast to the ear !) and Rick
Nelson when he was still
Ricky.......................

A musical weekend to all !!!

Posted by Francois @ 10/18/2002 09:13 PM PST

Tom,

Hope you did not forget to feed
your cat today !!

Did you notice ? S. Woody's
neighors -- who must be cats
!!! -- had kittens !!!

Posted by Francois @ 10/18/2002 09:16 PM PST

Oops -- oups, in French !

Cat-astrophe !!! Previous
message was for Ron, NOT
Tom who has DOGS, Fosca
and... I forgot ....

Nice name for a dog; I Forgot,
hey ?

Posted by Francois @ 10/18/2002 09:18 PM PST

He's back.
I can now rest.
It's Late. (a Ricky Nelson reference) I thought we had been "Stood Up". Maybe that was "Just a Little Too Much" but it felt "Mighty Good" to me. Hope the Hotel is quiet tonight Francois. .
And now where are Ron? and Jason? and Hapgood? I guess 4.am is a little early for Allan to be back from his sleep. Allan I know not of "Weird Romance" though some might say I've tried.Is it not difficult in the car?

Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/18/2002 09:25 PM PST

Last live concert by Rosemary
Clooney, recorded two months
before she left us to join Bing,
Ella & Co in musical heaven,
will be out on cd -- Concord
label, around November 18.
Yeah !!

Posted by Francois @ 10/18/2002 09:27 PM PST

The other one is "Magnus". The birds would not tolerate Cats. Possibly not he ALW one either.

Fosca is so impressed that you remembered her Francois. She lives to eat and sleep. (Sort of a "Passion" reference.

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/18/2002 09:28 PM PST

Hotel is quiet and full:

we have guests from
Scottdale, Arizona....Fort
Lauderdale and Gainesville,
Florida....England, Holland,
Switzerland.... well, all over the
world !!

Ain't that just too too ?

Posted by Francois @ 10/18/2002 09:44 PM PST

Ahhh, I remembered that there
was something "roman" to the
name !! MAGNUS : LE GRAND,
like Michel .

Well, I mentioned Georges
Wilson yesterday. He played
CharleMAGNE in a TV series
some years ago...

Hope you like French trivia as
well as the French Riviera? tra
lala ......

Woof to Magnus !!

Posted by Francois @ 10/18/2002 09:49 PM PST

woof woof Francois.
My name is from the John Le Carre novel "The Perfect Spy". Some people think my first name is Carl as in "Night Music" but not so.

Posted by magnus @ 10/18/2002 10:50 PM PST

Welcome to our world, Dallas. Hope you'll join us regularly as a poster as well as a dear reader. Lots of answers to your excellent questions tomorrow, and a review of The World of Henry Orient DVD.

Posted by bk @ 10/18/2002 11:28 PM PST

Welcome, Dallas. So glad you came out of lurkdom! Please tell us a little about yourself.

Posted by Laura @ 10/19/2002 01:03 AM PST

And another welcome to Dallas - trust me, it'll all be worthwhile!
Tom - TWO packages arrived this morning, you're too good to me! Weird Romance on its way to you ... if you see what I mean.

Posted by Allan @ 10/19/2002 02:42 AM PST

Thanks for the warm welcomes!
A little (very little) about me.

Amatuer Actor/Director/Choreographer from Illinois.

I was actually in "Sunday in the Pantry with Dinah". I played a can of creamed corn.

Posted by Dallas @ 10/19/2002 08:55 AM PST

I'm here. I'm right here! ("Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" reference).

Francois, you naughty fils!

You really must get a DVD player, and soon.

Your "guests" from Scottsdale, Gainesville and Fort Lauderdale -- all of different ages or, perhaps, senior citizens? Those locales are very popular retirement areas (although Fort Lauderdale's reputation was made with the annual influx of tens of thousands of college students during spring break).

Does your hotel allow guest to bring pets? Keeshonden, perhaps? Calico kitties?

I'm glad you set things right with Tom, Magnus and Fosca.

Of course, Miss Vickie (my calico), is pouting.

Today is my Baz Lurhmann "La Boheme" day. Will start things off by picking up tickets, having a light lunch, taking in the matinee, and then sticking around for high tea in Union Square, all with a longtime internet friend who comes to S.F. (from L.A. area) once a year for an opera weekend.

I shall be looking in on the Oct. 19th posts -- if BK ever finds his way out of the Twilight Zone and gets them up -- this evening (PDT).

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/19/2002 10:04 AM PST