haines his way

10/26/2002:
"LET US EAT CAKE"

Well, dear readers, it is the weekend, and I, for one, say hooray and also rayhoo. I intend to do nothing but laze about, write, do a few errands and sit on my couch like so much fish. I may jog, I may not. I may watch a DVD or two, I may not. My goodness, I’m feeling very contrary this morning.
Before we go one step further, we have a birthday to celebrate today – so, celebrate we will. Let us all immediately put on our pointy party hats, our colored tights and pantaloons – let us all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks and let us dance the Hora all the livelong day and night, let us eat cake, let us do the Hokey Pokey and the Irish Reel. Above all, let us shout a big happy birthday to our very own dear reader, Jed who is twenty-three count them twenty-three years of age this very day. So, on the count of three let us all shout “Happy Birthday, Jed”: One, two, three – “Happy Birthday, Jed”. We all wish Jed a wonderful twenty-third year, and I have gotten him a special inscribed copy of The Randy Vicar and the Umbrella.
Well, it is always lovely to start the day with a celebration, isn’t it? And, no matter where you go today, you must wear your pointy party hat and your colored tights and pantaloons. And if someone says nay or looks at you askance, you simply say “phut” to them and turn away haughtily.
I do believe it is time for us all to click on the Unseemly Button below – after all, don’t I have excellent questions to answer? Isn’t there an Unseemly Trivia Contest question for you to peruse?

We had a few excellent questions, which I shall now do my best to answer in a lucid and forthright or forthleft manner.
William E. Lurie asks if I think the fact that the off-Broadway show, Debbie Does Dallas, has no nudity or sex will hurt or help the show. From what I’ve heard, nothing will help the show. Do I think that the nudity in the stage version of Nudie Musical (and yes, Virginia, there will be nudity) will help sell the show or incorrectly make people think it’s a porno show? Well, people would have to be awfully stupid to think it a porno show. I think the nudity, as in the film, is all in good fun and I would hope it would be accepted as such. There was some brouhaha when the film came out, but here we are twenty-six years later, and I’d like to think people know the film well enough, or that they would get with the spirit of the thing even if they didn’t. William also asks what steps are being taken in the publicity to let people know that it’s a good old-fashioned musical comedy? Too soon to know yet, but I will be very involved in all that – and believe me we will let people know in a good-natured way that it’s “safe” to see the show.
JMK asks if I’ve been reading Doonesbury this week? Apparently one of the characters has a blog or a log or whatever the hell they call it and writes a daily e-journal. I must admit, I have never read Doonesbury so therefore I cannot answer the question, oh, no, I cannot answer the question.
Steveg asks if I ever have time to watch the DVDs I buy a second or third time after your initial viewing. I barely have time to watch them a first time. But sometimes, if it’s a really interesting film or director, and there’s a commentary track, then I will.
Allan asks how many of our regular dear readers I know personally (apart from the people I met at Joe Allen). Only dear reader Susan, dear readers Laura and Sandra, and I did meet JMK when he was in town. That said, I feel that I know all dear readers personally, except for the occasional uncouth interloper.
Ron Pulliam asks if the commercial I appear in in ET was specifically made for the film or was it subbed out. It was a real phone company commercial and they did a buyout for its use in the film. It was a tad underhanded – they called us and said it was to be used in a very low budget film called A Boy’s Life. So, we all agreed to the buyout – I think we got fifteen hundred dollars – little did we know. I do have to believe that the residuals on a film like ET would have been quite nice.
S. Woody White ask what I like in my chicken soup. I just like the soup, a bit of chicken and the noodles – with the odd matzoh ball occasionally.
Tom from Oz asks if the actor who played the title role in the film Harvey also played it on stage. Isn’t the title role in the film and stage play “invisible”? I don’t know that I’ve seen Harvey in thirty years, so I just don’t remember.
Michael Shayne asks the same question as Ron regarding ET, so please see the answer up there. On the Atkins diet, am I taking any of the supplements or have I bought any of the food. No, I don’t even know what the supplements are – I keep meaning to visit the website, but for now I’m being guided by a long-time Atkins dieter. Has it been difficult to cut down on the carbs. Eating specific kinds of food all the time is always difficult because you immediately start craving what you can’t have – right now, I’m dying for bread and pasta and candy. But I haven’t “fallen” yet.
Jed asks what my least favorite subject was in school. Oh, math (apologies to William F. Orr) and science. What is my favorite bit of Monty Python humor. My all-time favorite Python bit is a spoof of Sam Peckinpah – can’t remember what it was called, but it was absolutely hilarious, one of the funniest things ever. What are my thoughts on Roger Miller’s music. I think he’s okay, fun, not brilliant.
Arnold M. Brockman asks if I think it is time for a movie or TV special of Follies. Yes, a TV version that would be faithful to the show – no changes, none of the revisions – just give me the Follies I know and love. How about She Loves Me? Well, there was that BBC thing, which I didn’t care for. I suppose so, but again, for television, so they could stay true to the source material.
Jose asks if I’d like to be a Tony voter. Nah, not really. Do I know a good source on the web regarding securing rights for songs that are going to be recorded and subsequently used on CD for public sale – and just how necessary is it to secure those rights for what is basically a vanity recording. Here’s how it works: If the songs in question have been recorded before, you don’t need to secure any rights in advance. All you have to do is fill out the mechanical royalty forms after the CD is recorded, and then pay those fees as the album sells (you may hold back for returns – and you may also ask for a special rate. Statutory rate is something like six cents per song, but publishers will frequently give you 75% of stat). There is a royalty “house” called the Harry Fox Agency, which collects those payments. If it’s a first recording, then those rights must be specifically secured from the publisher prior to the recording. Jose remembers that there was talk at one time of putting together a vocal selections book of Lost in Boston and Unsung Musicals. I had meetings with a large publishing house about it for two years, and we just couldn’t work it out – a shame, as we had tons of requests. Do I find composers cooperative about supplying music for those songs (to the public) – it really depends on the songwriters.
Sandra asks if I’ve ever worn leopard spots? I do believe that I played a Tarzan-like character in something or other, and I do believe I was in a leopard-skin thing. Laura, via Sandra, asks if I did the musical directing for the CD, Cole Porter: A Musical Toast. The musical directing was by Ron Abel, but I did produce the live album.
Angela D. asks what is my favorite cartoon character? Well, I loved the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons. I loved Crusader Rabbit and Clutch Cargo. Is that what you mean? And Daffy Duck, one of the greatest cartoon characters ever. Where did Vinnie get all those wacky middle names? I’m afraid I made them up ninety percent of the time.
I do hope I answered your excellent questions in a lucid and forthright or forthleft manner. And now, it is time for our Unseemly Trivia Contest question, which I have prepared especially for you in an oven at 350 for three hours. It is now done and I serve it for your mental delectation.
A classic play by a great playwright, it was directed by an Academy Award-winning director. In addition to its three over-the-title stars, the cast featured four other very interesting people who would go on to have very interesting careers. One of them would go on to become a major motion picture star. One of them would go on to become the star of a beloved seventies television series. One of them would go on to become a very well-known character actor in both film and television (this person also starred in a well-thought-of sixties television series). And one of them would go on to direct a classic musical and a classic play.
Name the classic play by the great playwright.
Name the Academy Award-winning director.
Name the four cast members.
Remember, DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE. You may e-mail them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com or simply use the unseemly Ask BK Button on the home page. Good luck to one and all and also all and one.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do and this is quite enough writing for one day, if I do say so myself and I do. I want to see lots of pointy party posts today – no usual Saturday fall-off. We must have and end-of-month push and make this the most popular site on all the internet, beloved by everyone with a brain or, at the very least, an elbow. Today’s topic of discussion: We forgot to do this yesterday – what is currently in your CD player, and what is currently in your DVD or video player? I’ll start – CD player, the opera of Desire Under the Elms. DVD player, a cavalcade of Carry On movies. Your turn.

Replies: 61 Unseemly Comments

Speaking of the operatic "Desire Under the Elms," I recall that there was an opera based on Tennessee Williams's "Summer and Smoke", by Lee Hoiby.
Do you know anything about this work, and was it ever recorded?
On my DVD: PICNIC, BUTTERFIELD 8.
On my CD: Brahms String Quartet # 2, Peter Maxwell Davies BOYFRIEND orchestral suite and music from THE DEVILS!
Posted by ross care @ 10/26/2002 11:08 AM PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JED!! And many more!
Posted by td @ 10/26/2002 11:18 AM PST

This is the answer for Tom from OZ that I think he was asking.HARVEY of course was invisible in both the Play and Movie.The original play on Broadway starred Frank Fay.However,during the course of the run JAMES STEWART took over the role of Elwood P. Dowd.He also starred as Elwood in the MOVIE.
Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 10/26/2002 11:23 AM PST

Thank you for the birthday
wishes. I'm sure my
pantaloons and such will get a
few unseemly odd looks at the
football game I'm going to this
afternoon, but I shall wear
them proudly, damn them all,
damn them all to hell.
CDs:
Bells Are Ringing OBC (still)
Haines His Way
Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
VCR: most recent was Bells
Are Ringing (just can't seem to
get enough of that show the
past couple weeks)
DVD has laid empty for awhile
Posted by Jed @ 10/26/2002 11:34 AM PST

Happy Birthday, Jed! I don't have any pointy party hats around (though I'll be getting some soon - I have a big birthday coming up myself in a couple of weeks, and I was also just offered a new TA job, a three year contract rather than a one-off, which will make a *big* difference to my finances, so I too have something to celebrate this week), but I think there's some cake in the freezer...
In my CD player right now is Audra McDonald's "Happy Songs", which I'm enjoying very much. I'm not enjoying it *quite* enough that I'm not annoyed about having to go out in a minute and spend the rest of the day in my library carrel with a very large stack of very dry books, but never mind. In my VCR - the Ben Stiller/Ed Norton/Jenna Elfman comedy "Keeping the Faith".
Posted by Stephen Farrow @ 10/26/2002 11:34 AM PST

Nope, I just checked. No cake in the freezer. Just Jos Louis flavour ice cream, which has chocolate cake bits in it.
Posted by Stephen Farrow @ 10/26/2002 11:36 AM PST

When the sun comes out...! Another beautiful day in Richmond, after a quite rainy and gray affair yesterday. But we still need the rain - and the water - so all is well. *It's also nice to have a day off AND have the weather be wonderful too!
CD Player: Mamma Mia! - Finally played my first show last night. It's one of those very simple keyboard parts, that, as I found out last night, is very easy to mess up. What song comes to mind... "What's hard comes easy..." No major trainwrecks, but there were a few, very long seconds during some of those vocal samples. Whew!
Plus.. James Taylor, "October Road".
DVD: E.T. - I only splurged on the two disc set. And Beauty & The Beast.
VCR: Some Pilates workout tape which I am really liking doing. -Sorry for the stilted grammar. And a tape of the production of The Human Comedy I did this past summer.
And just for fun, right now on my radio, NPR's World of Opera presentation of Eugene Onegin.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/26/2002 12:40 PM PST

I too am listening to Audra's "Happy Songs", the best of her 3 CDs. However I think the title is a bit inaccurate. As wonderful as her recording of it is, I don't remotely see how "Suppertime" can be considered a "Happy Song". When I first scanned over the track list I thought it must be the CHARLIE BROWN song of the same title.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/26/2002 12:45 PM PST

In the vcr: ZERO PATIENCE.
In the cd player "Boogie Woogie Christmas" - The Brian Zetzer Orchestra w/Ann-Margret guesting on a Frank Loesser composition: "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
Naxos complete recording of WEST SIDE STORY, and I urge everyone to get a hold of this one! At $7.99, what can you lose? (A SS reference).
In the dvd player:
STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, E.T. and Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN (which contains an unsubtitled Spanish actor/director commentary)!
In the car cd player: Olivia Newton John, the double disc that contains her composition, "The Tree" from the film IT'S MY PARTY.
Posted by td @ 10/26/2002 01:00 PM PST

All right, everybody off their collective butt cheeks - post now, post long, post often. We have a party going on here, for God's sake. I myself have been dancing the Watusi since noon.
Posted by bk @ 10/26/2002 02:08 PM PST

BK,
We can't post !
We're all dancing butt cheek to
cheek !
Oh, what a sight !......
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 02:19 PM PST

First day of daylight savings here and I am still not really "with it". Happy Birthday JED from the land Down
Under.
I survived (just)my visit to The Forbidden Planet last night. I think an all-time low in musical theatre.
Cd players: Philip Quast Live At The Donmar; Ella Fitzgerald "The Ballads" (from the Songbook series) and Mark Knopfler's "Screenplay". Nothing in or near the DVD player. Last viewing was a hired copy of "Rabbit Proof Fence" which I highly recommend.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/26/2002 03:07 PM PST

Good Grief! The "Harvey" question was meant to be a joke. I wondered if Invisible Rabbits were getting any work these days or if there was only one and he has retired. Oh Hm.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/26/2002 03:16 PM PST

Me, a joke ?
How dare you !?.....
Posted by Harvey @ 10/26/2002 03:19 PM PST

Don't worry, Harvey !
That's how humans treat us
now !.....Puurrrrr
Posted by Miss Vickie @ 10/26/2002 03:24 PM PST

First day of daylight savings
here too !-- France -- Paris, city
of lights !!!!!
are we REALLY saving
something ?...
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 03:26 PM PST

Thank God we have Tom
around those bushes here...
Woof, woof !!
Posted by Magnus and Fosca @ 10/26/2002 03:28 PM PST

What's going on here ?
Has this site been taken over
by animals ?
... and where's the cake ?
I WANT cake !!
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 03:29 PM PST

This place has gone to the dogs... doggone....
Posted by Lassie @ 10/26/2002 03:34 PM PST

Oh, btw, Joyeux Anniversaire,
Jed !
My, 23 ... it's been so many
years since I was 23 !
You're just a baby ! In arms ?
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 03:35 PM PST

He's a tramp, but i love him...
Posted by Lady @ 10/26/2002 03:36 PM PST

Any furs around ?
Posted by Cruella @ 10/26/2002 03:37 PM PST

Haven't spotted any !
Posted by Pongo @ 10/26/2002 03:38 PM PST

You know what ?
I'm happy !
Posted by Droopy @ 10/26/2002 03:44 PM PST

No, you're NOT !
I'M Happy !
Posted by Happy @ 10/26/2002 03:45 PM PST

Yes, he... atch, atch, atch! ...is !
Posted by Sneezy @ 10/26/2002 03:46 PM PST

Goosh, it's true !
Posted by Goofy @ 10/26/2002 03:46 PM PST

Oh, what a cute little chair !
Posted by Snow White @ 10/26/2002 03:51 PM PST

What's this turning into ?
Disneyland ?
Posted by Grumpy @ 10/26/2002 03:53 PM PST

Yes, we're right behind you !
Posted by Doc @ 10/26/2002 03:54 PM PST

I just won't say ... a word !
Posted by Dopey @ 10/26/2002 03:54 PM PST

Hello to everyone from cold and rainy Chicago! I have spent the last several days driving and I'm glad to be out of a car!
Happy Birthday to Jed!
In my cd player now (in the car) is Lyn Larson's organ music cd, which kept my calm as I drove into Chicago during the rain and dark last night.
Posted by Laura @ 10/26/2002 03:55 PM PST

Words, words, words !!
Posted by Eliza Doolittle @ 10/26/2002 03:55 PM PST

Laura, are you a good witch or
a bad witch ? Which witch are
you ?
Posted by Glinda @ 10/26/2002 03:57 PM PST

JED: At about your age, I became aware that I was finally thinking for myself. Birthday's Best Wishes To You!
IN MY CD PLAYER: "What Am I Here For?" Susan Krebs. This is Susan's second CD and it's has some (IMHO) great tracks. She knocks you out with her rendition of R&H's "Ten Minutes Ago" with a driving Latin beat. She's even penned a song for the album called "You Bother Me." Susan is a Cabaret West Member. She'll be at The Vic in Santa Monica on Oct. 31. For all the info, click on my name to go to our Calendar.
RICHARD HARRIS: I once saw Richard Harris. I was waiting to go into my voice lesson when he came into the lobby with his then wife, Ann Turkel. I remember the contrast they represented...Ann with her dark brown hair and deep suntanned skin and Richard, who was a vision in white - white clothes, white skin and white hair. He was so attentive and courtly to Ann, explaining this and that and showing her around the studio. He was a definite presence. Good actor, too. I especially liked the quirky "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway."
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 10/26/2002 04:17 PM PST

Well well well (that is 3 wells, and not a FRANK WELLS either!). I am afraid that I am going to have to charge all of you with copyright infringements.
love, Jeffrey Katzenberg
Ooops. I mean MICHAEL EISNER!!!
Posted by Michael Eisner @ 10/26/2002 04:31 PM PST

Mikey, you DO check this site
too ?
You sure do need the money
with that Winnie-the-Pooh trial
is going to cost you !!!! A
bundle !!
Well, I've got to fill a ... GAP !
Posted by Paul Pressler @ 10/26/2002 05:16 PM PST

Sorry, Mikey!
you know how bad some
secretaries can be.... This one
is French, and her is Minnie;
can you believe, Minnie !!!!
it should have read:
"with WHAT that Winnie....."
Well, got to run to Disney
California Adventure for a
drink.
Hey, care for a Gap Store
there, Michael ?
Posted by Paul Pressler @ 10/26/2002 05:20 PM PST

In ONE of my cd players: Let's
Hear It For Uncle Scrooge --
not out yet !
In one of my dvd players : Mary
Poppins, The Return -- work in
progress, not out yet....
In my car ; Brother Can You
Spare A Dime? songs by Bing.
Posted by Michael Eisner @ 10/26/2002 05:26 PM PST

Michael !
Smile ! You're on Candid
Camera !
Say " Cheese"
That's the SPIRIT !
Posted by Jeffrey Camemberg @ 10/26/2002 05:30 PM PST

Jed,
Are you having some CHEESE
cake for your Bday ??
Posted by Mickey M. @ 10/26/2002 05:32 PM PST

Francois, why so reticent to post aujourd'hui?
I've only just logged on today. Had a very nice afternoon snooze (getting ready for standard time). This morning was a rush of buying gas, taking clothes to cleaners, getting coffee, getting a haircut and buying groceries. It's amazingly draining to do so many personal things for oneself in a single morning!
In my CD player are two Anthony Warlow CDs and the 2-CD "Phantom of the Opera." On deck are "The Green Berets" and "Scaramouche" -- the latest two offerings from the Film Score Monthly CD club.
I hauled out my stereo LP of the "L'il Abner" soundtrack last night. QUITE A SOUNDTRACK!!!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/26/2002 06:08 PM PST

Well, it was cute for one or two posts, but we don't want people to think we are OUT OF OUR MINDS here at haineshisway.com, do we? I mean, we are OUT OF OUR MINDS here at haineshisway.com but not THAT out of our minds. So, let's post about fun and interesting things - like what's in our collective CD and video players and any other old thing that is on our minds. Any more cartoon characters or animals or Disney or Dreamworks execs show up around here and I will bitch-slap them from here to eternity and back again (which means, I suppose, that they'll end up "here"). Love you all, madly.
Posted by bk @ 10/26/2002 06:25 PM PST

Well, we are in the midst of watching the video of Robert Altman's "Cookie's Fortune". It is a highly entertaining movie, and Charles S. Dutton is particularly good. Robert Altman is a good director, but I find his pictures somewhat hit-or-miss. I generally prefer the funny ones (M*A*S*H, Brewster McCloud, Gosford Park etc.) to the serious ones (McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Nashville, etc.) Maybe I just don't have the necessary patience for the artier stuff.
Speaking of Charles S. Dutton, word on the street is the he and Whoopi Goldberg will appear soon in a revival of "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", with him as Levee (which he played in the original 1984 production) and her as Ma Rainey. I can't wait.
Posted by Hapgood @ 10/26/2002 06:38 PM PST

Here Here BK, (and there there!)
Right now I have just watched 2 episodes from my new Mad About You season 1 dvd set that I purchased today. One might think I would watch them in order. but nay.. they would be wrong. I just finished watching the one with Jerry Lewis playing a billionaire... I had ALMOST forgotten how much I loved this show.. Very funny stuff...
In my CD player is a compilation of songs by two Aussies Dean Bryant and Matthew Frank who had a show at the York this past year called Prodigal. Dean sent me various songs from various shows he has done down under.
Also in my CD player (I was feeling ecclectic today) is a show called "Meat Street" - which is quite amusing as well...
Posted by Craig @ 10/26/2002 06:39 PM PST

All these posts from Disney and Dreamworks is prepoppor... prepossississ... well, it's just plain silly.
Posted by Porky Pig @ 10/26/2002 06:52 PM PST

Ron,
What do you mean "reticent" ?
I've been posting all, well,
most of the stupid posts
tonight -- BK, says silly (Silly
Symphony),no cute.... and BK
is NOT amused, so, NOW, I
AM reticent..........
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 07:37 PM PST

Francois. I knew that!
There is a thread over at rec.arts.theatre.musicals about Anthony Warlow's rendition of "Losing My Mind" with some pretty preposterous comments about how a man shouldn't sing this song! Of course, his supporters popped up to reassure everyone.
Check it out!
My favorite Warlow: "Anyone Can Whistle" -- haunts me.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/26/2002 07:43 PM PST

It's that ridiculous daylight
savings time thing that turns
me looney (tune!)...
I've got to work 13 hours in a
row, instead of 12...
Oh well, could be worse, right?
Right now, I do have Erich
Kunzel and the Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestra --
recorded in 1987 -- playing
Broadway music.....
I don't have a dvd player, I don't
have a TV set, I don't have a
car, I don't have a budget for
any of those.... I've got plenty of
nothing, and nothing's plenty
for me ! Sounds like
something I heard before, not
you?
No, my name is not Porky, I
mean, Porgy......
Oh, yes, recently bought and
played that "new" Best of
Capitol Years: Judy Garland,
with 4 songs of Maggie May I
had never heard before...
MAGNIFIQUE, as the would
say here...
Hey, Hainsies, hey, Kimlets,
your turn....
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 07:52 PM PST

Losing my Mind:
that's what have been doing
tonight !!!!!
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 07:53 PM PST

Well, what would those people
say about male singers
singing female songs in the
feminine form, or vice versa,
like they do here
sometimes???
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 07:57 PM PST

I guess I'm too stupid and too
French -- redundant, right?-- to
naviguate that rec arts theater
musicals site; I can't find a
darn thing!
Why make it simple when it
can be complexe ?
And why "theater" can be
spelled two ways ?
and since when an actress is
now an actor? Since Mr
Warlow sings "Losing My
Mind" I guess......
Ahhhhh, shut your face,
François!
Everyone must be gone to
Jed's birthday party, it
seems........
Posted by François @ 10/26/2002 08:16 PM PST

I have just returned home after visiting my sister (the Anthony Warlow fan). All these posts. As Harvey would no doubt say. "Some of these posts look like they really have been pulled out of a hat".
If Warlow can't song a "Girl" song, people must really loathe the selections made by Michael Ball on his Musicals albums - That is why them so interesting.
I wonder if Harvey ever met Alice's White Rabbit. (not that Alice was possessive, though she obviously had more than a few other problems).
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/26/2002 09:30 PM PST

Remember to "fall back" tonight...
Posted by Craig @ 10/26/2002 09:57 PM PST

Okay, I have a confession to make about "girl songs."
I sing 'em.
I don't change the lyrics.
There are some that work in public, there are others that don't.
In my cabarets, I have tried to put things in perspective when I do, for instance, I sing "Bring on the Men" in DREAMERS - but, the show is all about dreams, and those who dream them - the song usually works - and I'm a six-foot-two guy singing about "have(ing) a man for breakfast each day..."
funny. sometimes.
"Ooh! My Feet!" we changed two words - waitress became waiter, her pay became his pay.
I can sing "The Story Goes On" to beat the band, but would never sing it in a cabaret setting.
In my Jolson show, I saluted the "ladies of early sound:" Ethel Waters, Fanny Brice and Winnie Lightner with "Am I Blue?" "I'd Rather Be Blue" and "Pingo Pongo."
I don't particularly think of "Losing My Mind" as a gender-defined song.
Oh, and when Sister Violet saw STEEL PIER in previews, she turned to her date when Debra Monk was singing, and said, "That's a song for Tony!"
The song, of course, being "Everybody's Girl."
I'm hardly fem. I'm not too, too macho. I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll, but, there's no tune like a show tune....
Posted by td @ 10/26/2002 10:34 PM PST

And "Here's To You" TD. Great post. So td is Tony. It is worth reading late posts. (I always do as they are mid afternoon for us down under).
Do you avoid singing "I Enjoy Being A Girl"? (I think that was Shelley Berman)
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/26/2002 11:08 PM PST

Francois, all is well, do not worry one or even two whits.
Re men singing women's songs - I once had someone audition for me, a very flitty young fellow who sang I Feel Pretty without changing one word. It was very difficult to keep a straight face, let me tell you THAT.
Posted by bk @ 10/27/2002 12:10 AM PST

But did he put his feeling across in the song?
Truly that's all that should matter!!!! : )
Sorry, Francois, that you had trouble with rec.arts.theatre.musicals, and that you have to work an extra hour tonight. That truly bites!
That used to happen to me in the Navy...I'd have duty day on the date the time changed in the Fall...and I'd always manage to be on watch...meaning I had to stand on the quarterdeck, in full uniform, checking IDs and dealing with the drunks coming in from too much fun for an extra hour.
I do not miss it, not one whit, call me a liar and I'll call you a ...well, spit!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/27/2002 01:29 AM PST

Such a late post Ron. Are you waiting for Miss Vickie to come from a night on the tiles? Purhaps!
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/27/2002 02:30 AM PST

Busy day yesterday (Saturday) I was out of the house before BK posted so here are my answers
DVD: Casino Royale
CD: Debbie Shapiro Gravitte: The Alan Menken Album (Thanks BK it arrived safely)
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 03:55 AM PST

Really off topic.....
Tom from OZ:
I upgraded from ME to XP and in doing so all the email that I saved and email address in Outlook express are now gone. Please email your address again so I can send those cds.
Thanks
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 04:10 AM PST

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