Replies: 58 Unseemly Comments
And don't forget, oh, no, do not forget, that tomorrow is our swingin' one year anniversary. Do not miss this event - there will be surprises and revelations and the naked truth, and we will not only answer the excellent questions you asked, we will answer the ones you didn't ask. Get ready for the most grandiliquent celebration in the history of all the Internet.
Posted by bk @ 11/08/2002 07:25 AM PST
Well - although I didn't HATE the tv ANNIE quite as much as you did - I agree with you on its shortcomings. And I am afraid of MM - though not quite as much as the tv MAME that seems to be a go.
The naked truth? The most daring thing...well I was hired to AD/SM a production of the then au courant 'Party.' During the auditions, the director also asked me to read one of the parts. After everyone had read, he asked me if we should see everyone in a state of undress. Since it was not an Equity production - this request was possible. I expressed no opinion, but I know he and I were both thinking of an earlier production in which an actor who had to take off his shoes produced a foot with 6 toes.
So - indeed 15 minutes later there we stood in all our....uh..glory. Not as bad as I thought. Of course, I wasn't cast, but the boys in the show were a fine bunch. And I promised them that I would run the tech nakey on any night we were sold out. They held me to it and a couple of times, I did as I promised.
It was scary. I did discover that I got more invitations for drinks and fun on those nights. I love show business.
Happy anniversary!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/08/2002 07:43 AM PST
Unquestionably, the most daring thing I have ever done is to make a decision that offended someone I respect and then have the guts to tell him about it directly before he heard about it elsewhere. That action may have also cost me the friendship of another person whom I care about very much. But some "friendships" are very fragile things indeed and it's interesting to see which ones collapse under the slightest pressure.
Posted by Robert Armin @ 11/08/2002 07:45 AM PST
Dear JRand...."Party!" Oh, does that bring back memories! If you had made that offer during the original Chicago run, you would have saved a great deal of money on laundry, since you would have been naked much of the time.
I was house managing a show in another theatre in the same building, and our hardest job was keeping the multitudes waiting for the last show of "Party" quiet enough to not disturb the other shows. My favorite was spotting a local rabbi waiting in the line on a Friday night!
Posted by Pam @ 11/08/2002 08:00 AM PST
Robert: At your request, I did not discuss my feelings about your decision, other than to say I found it peculiar and that I needed to ponder it. Our dear readers, for the most part, also honored your request. If you would really like me to discuss it, I shall be happy to, but not in these posts. I will not allow this to turn into a negative thing on this site. "Offended" is not the word I would use. Certainly "astonished" would be okay. We have all wished you well. I have received many e-mails on this subject, some measured, some not. How others have reacted to your daring decision is their affair. We have all enjoyed your participation on this site for the last year - for now, why don't we simply leave it at that.
Posted by bk @ 11/08/2002 08:01 AM PST
LOL - Patty. I had to keep my eyes open for video cameras and remind the audience "no photography" during the curtain speech. Not sure why we didn't have many sell-outs, although I think we had some marketing problems (not MY job, man). And it was great to see the online guys. Worst night - heavy rain flooded the venue (a basement) and we were sweeping water until 5 minutes before curtain while the audience cooled its collective heels upstairs in the lobby.
Posted by Jrand @ 11/08/2002 08:05 AM PST
BK, as always I will honor your request. You asked a question that prompted an honest response. If my remarks were inappropriate, my apologies to all concerned.
Posted by Robert Armin @ 11/08/2002 08:06 AM PST
That is....the guys waiting IN line to see the show (the cast always wanted a hunk report)...not "online" which means something different just a few short seasons later. 8-D
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/08/2002 08:07 AM PST
I never saw "Annie" on stage. The movie reeked so badly, anything would have been better.
The Disney version was delightful in my eyes and on my ears, although I had some reservations about casting choices. It SHOULD have been true to its era rather than anachronistically odd.
That said, BK, you've obviously seen better and I wish I had seen the production you now compare the TV version to.
But no comment about Ms. McArdle?
R
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/08/2002 08:28 AM PST
I don't know from inappropriate - and of course everyone is welcome to post here, even you lurkers out there in the dark, and even you merry searchers. Let's have more daring things, you Hainsies/Kimlets. I myself have never stood nude before an assembled throng or even an assembled thong. I do hope you are all preparing your cheese slices and ham chunks and buying whatever brand of cake you like, because tomorrow will be the party to end all parties.
Posted by bk @ 11/08/2002 08:28 AM PST
Actually, I thought Miss Andrea McArdle was splendid in her little bit. I only compare it to its source material, which really works well when it is done well. There is no need to improve upon it in that TV movie sort of way. I never saw it on B'way, but I did see both touring companies which came through LA - the first with Keene Curtis, who recently passed on - I didn't love that production. But the second one, with Ruth Kobart as Miss Hannigan and Louanne as Annie was simply superb. Miss Kobart was brilliant in it.
Posted by bk @ 11/08/2002 08:32 AM PST
I love the "Annie" score as presented on the OBC. It irks me that "A New Deal For Christmas" got shafted in both filmings. I really love that as a closing number!
I recently participated (got slam-dunked actually) in a discussion at arts.music.theatre.musicals about "Steel Magnolias." The film version, which I love, was being shredded, along with all the performers, so I thought I'd speak up in defense of the film.
One of the chief critics had seen the show off-Broadway and considered the movie a travesty that no one should see (I believe one poster said the film was terrible and that he had never seen it, as well!.
I guess the upshot is that we are all affected by the degree of exposure we have to any given property -- the more productions we have seen, the less likely we are to enjoy the eventual film version.
Or am I off base here? I'd love a discourse or two on this.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/08/2002 09:06 AM PST
Ron - so true. I stage-managed a production of SM that went on and on and featured some really fine actresses. After listening to it for so long it was difficult for me to see the movie. The timing just seemed off. And Olympia's accent is just IMHO terrible. Then I saw SM in Chicago with Anne Francis (Altira herself) as M'Lynn. That woman can act. She is still beautiful, and she was and always will be for me the BEST M'Lynn ever. I will also say that in every stage production I have seen or been involved in, the part of Annelle has been played by an actress who really wanted to play Shelby.
Posted by Jrand @ 11/08/2002 09:14 AM PST
Okay it's not question day anymore. But I have one anyway. You mentioned the show you are doing is with Penn and Teller. Forgive my ignorance, but do they have some sort of show in Las Vegas? I'm not really familiar with them. Although I think i saw them on Celebrity Fear Factor. And one of them doesn't talk. Why is that?
Posted by Jennifer @ 11/08/2002 10:01 AM PST
Susan is in Asheville. I'm in Ashland.
Posted by Jane @ 11/08/2002 10:06 AM PST
I knew someone was in Ashland. Penn and Teller do have a show in Vegas - they are very funny and their show if fun, too.
Posted by bk @ 11/08/2002 10:20 AM PST
One of the very best things I saw P&T do was on Saturday Night Live. They had all these tricks they were doing that seemed to defy gravity. Just before the commercial, the camera zoomed out to reveal that both Penn and Teller were in fact, upsidedown!
Bruce - not too sure how much you have talked with them - but the history of their act and how it came to pass is a really intriguing one...
Posted by Craig @ 11/08/2002 10:28 AM PST
The first time I saw Penn & Teller I had never heard of them (I had free tickets) and was amazed. However as their fame grew, somehow their act changed and instead of being slightly weird magicians they became nasty, obnoxious and not nearly as entertaining. I will watch the show because of BK, but now that I know who else is involved I am less than thrilled.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/08/2002 11:18 AM PST
Just saw this at Playbill on line - casting for Nine (taken from the Web site)
The full cast of David Leveaux's spring 2003 Broadway staging of Nine has been fficially revealed. In addition to the previously mentioned Antonio Banderas, the cast of women includes, as expected, Chita Rivera as Liliane La Fleur, Laura Benanti as Claudia, Jane Krakowski as Carla and Mary Stuart Masterson as Luisa.
Also positioned to tempt Banderas' Guido are Nell Campbell as Lina Darling, Saundra Santiago as Stephanie Necrophorus and Deidre Goodwin as The Lady of the Spa.
The ensemble includes Linda Mugleston, Elena Shaddow, Kristin Marks, Sara Gettelfinger and Kathy Voytko.
Jonathan Butterell is the choreographer, Kevin Stites the musical director. The design
team includes Scott Pask (sets), Victoria Mortimer (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lights) and Jon Weston (sound).
Previews begin March 11 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. Opening is April 10. The run last until June 29, 2003.
Posted by Ben @ 11/08/2002 11:22 AM PST
And this just in from a S.F.-based seller of the musically arcane and delightful, a CD of "Zenda" is forthcoming from one of the folks who worked with Blue Pear which released the cast album on LP.
And anyone here a fan of Cass Daley? Or Pinky Winters? A Daley CD is forthcoming. The Winters CD was done with Richard Rodney Bennett and may not be new...but is available.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/08/2002 11:48 AM PST
I assume that the cast of NINE have all been officially signed. As of earlier this week they were still tentative so the announcement may be a little premature. The female cast is fine. As for Antonio... well he'll bring people in who will discover Chita, Laura, Jane et. al., so obviously talent has been sacraficed for a name draw.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/08/2002 12:48 PM PST
My favorite Cass Daley performance:
Minnie in RED GARTERS..... "I wouldn't be able to look at my face in the mirror when I shave in the morning." and of course, "I said it, and I'm glad!"
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/08/2002 01:38 PM PST
Probably the most daring thing I've done was a couple weeks ago -- driving into Chicago through the bad part of town alone during a rainstorm at night. Of course, I couldn't see what I was driving through, so that was a good thing.
BK -- will we get to meet Luckie? And Dear Reader Megan will be with us, too.
Posted by Laura @ 11/08/2002 01:40 PM PST
As a positively non-daring person I don't have much in my history to report. I thought I was somewhat courageous to actually start posting here.I am not daring enough to give my opinions about "Steel Magnolias" though I did mention once that it rates along side "Beaches" for me. ..And I think very little of or about "Beaches". I derived more pleasure out of Neil Diamond's "The Jazz Singer" though that may be stretching the truth a little.
Did Ashland, Penn & Teller have a few top 40 hits in the seventies?
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/08/2002 01:50 PM PST
Yes, but are you courageous enough to watch the two films again?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/08/2002 01:56 PM PST
We saw Penn & Teller's show in Vegas last year and loved it.
Posted by Jane @ 11/08/2002 02:28 PM PST
I arranged to be a production of "Party" by David Dillon to Fort Lauderdale and in the process became friendly with its playwright. I also saw a production of it in San Diego last year which began a tour of the play. It still is quite popular and is a very funny and entertaining evening of theater. A film version is planned.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/08/2002 02:32 PM PST
Posting -- and posting for the
first time -- the RIGHT answer
to the trivia question last may
here was something quite
daring, I'd say !!!!
A way of getting noticed and
making "friends".........
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 02:34 PM PST
Do I DARE to say that I don't
know anything about "Party !"
that everyone is raving about ?
Mais quelle est donc cette
oeuvre intitulée "Party !" ?
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 02:39 PM PST
Francois:
Click on my name for more info on the play Party
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/08/2002 02:46 PM PST
No way Ron.
I liked the kids in Beaches.
Can't remember anyhting much about Magnolias. Have tried to forget Dolly, Shirley (I am a fan) and Sally (I am NOT a fan). Give me Terms Of Endearment anytime.I am not a "Party" person. I know nothing of the play. I know the Peter Sellers movie but I suspect that there is not the remotess connection.
I am off to a 6oth Birthday party tonight. It's good to hang around with young people for a change!
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/08/2002 03:08 PM PST
Darting, huh? Well I thought that it was quite daring of me to sing "sonny Boy" a capella as the opening to the second portion of a cabaret; in that same cabaret, I dared to sing "Goin' to Heaven on a Mule;" but alas, had no dancing pork chop trees or watermelons to acheive the same effect as Busby Berkely and Al Jolson did with the same song.
As for "the naked truth," I loved that show! Tea Leoni pre David Duchovny. Holland Taylor. Oh, not, tv? Fine, NAKED, naked truth? For the production of Terrance McNally's "AND THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT" I had to pose for a series of photographs which would be used onstage as a slide show at a climactic moment. The photo shoot included nudity; the slide show was definitely shocking.
(There was also that time around 3:00 am when a bit of p.d.a. - public display of affection - was taken a little too far for common decency, on a bridge's steel structure...but, that's a tale not to be told outta school, right?)
Posted by td @ 11/08/2002 03:33 PM PST
Sorry, the first word in the previous post should be "Daring."
But I have played Strip Darting in my time, not to mention Strip Trivial Pursuit :-)
Posted by td @ 11/08/2002 03:34 PM PST
Strip Darting?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/08/2002 03:51 PM PST
I'm sorry to say I'm a decidedly
undaring person. Well, as far
as things to be discussed on
a family site such as this, that
is. Something I've got to work
on, I think.
Back to chunking ham and
slicing cheese!
Posted by Jed @ 11/08/2002 03:57 PM PST
Thanks Michael ! I'm going to
explore that link...
Right now I'm listening to the
last cd by jazz singer Dominic
Alldis -- Watch What Happens,
the songs of Michel Legrand --
that he just gave me ! "My"
hotel is hosting the gentleman
with whom I chatted for a few
minutes.... He also sings Noël
coward and Bill Evans and
play piano.....
Strip Darting: I guess it's not
the stripping but the darting
that might hurt.....
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 04:07 PM PST
Make that:
He also sings Noël
Coward.............and NOT
chickening Christmas: that
woud be QUITE unseemly !
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 04:10 PM PST
I have done several daring things in my life some of them amusing, some of them not. I will mention one of the amusing ones.
I was in a play in 1980 that called for the 3 characters in the show to take off all of their clothes. None of us had ever done this before, but we said..OK let's put on a show.
One of the actors was a good friend of mine and so we were comfortable stripping down naked in front of each other. As comfortable as you can get in that situation. During the "undress rehearsal" I was sitting on the couch and he had positioned himself so his foot was on the back of the couch. I had a line I had to deliver and as I turned to see him there was his "member" practically poking my eye out. What I did next was daring because I wasn't sure how he would react. When it came time to say my line, I grabbed onto "it" like it was a microphone and delivered my line. It definitely got his heart started and our stage manager was rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter.
My friend was not offended in the least.
Posted by Dennis Clancy @ 11/08/2002 04:42 PM PST
I guess the most daring thing I've done was last night when I fenced this guy named Kyle after his hyperactivity medication had worn off.
Posted by Sandra @ 11/08/2002 04:42 PM PST
Loved the chickening Christmas. That is indeed my sense of humour.
I wonder if I should introduce the idea of strip darting to the birthday party tonight. It might be more seemly for TOMORROW'S celebrations.
TD. A memory jog. A p.d.a. on board a ferry boat (Sans Andrews Sisters)was a touch daring for me.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/08/2002 04:57 PM PST
Great image there Dennis.I was tempted to write "was it a pubic broadcast" but have decided not to.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/08/2002 05:00 PM PST
William E. Lurie: Don't watch this show because of me - I really don't have anything invested in it at all - I'm just doing a job, having occasional fun, but it's really what it is - and if you've found Penn and Teller obnoxious recently, this is NOT the show for you.
Are we not all jiggy with all these posts? I am, and that's the naked truth. Are we all preparing for our spectacular party tomorrow? I am, and that's the naked truth. I do have to decide whether I will push the answers to your excellent questions to Sunday, so that tomorrow doesn't get TOO unwieldy, although I'm in an answering excellent questions mode. We shall see.
Posted by bk @ 11/08/2002 05:27 PM PST
Tom,
Actually, I think Dennis --
Dennis and the penis -- was
on PBS:
pubic broadcast....sex!
So much for good taste, but,
hey, I'm French!
NO excuse, just an
explanation!
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 05:39 PM PST
A p.d.a. --- I'm learning stuff
here tonight! --- on board a
ferry boat.... has a nice ring to
it, I find.
WITH Andrews Sisters
WOULD have been even more
daring! Beat me to the bar,
daddy!
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 05:44 PM PST
I intend to wear my "What Is It ...Fish!" T-shirt tomorrow in celebration.
Hope the "Sup" with Laura, Susan and Megan is a delight.Don't trip over your pantaloons. I must now check my atlas to see if Phoenix is on the same planet as LA.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/08/2002 05:46 PM PST
BK is taping a new episode of
Charlie's Angels in Phoenix?!
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 05:52 PM PST
Am just playing Barbara Cook - The Disney Album. How many sleeps to go Ron?
Thanks Francois. I must have missed the fine print somewhere. At least there are two of us here on HHW.
I thought the Phoenix was something to do with dead birds - not dead TV shows. Maybe it is in full plume and I missed it.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/08/2002 06:41 PM PST
The most daring thing I've done (excluding everything before 1978-- which excludes a lot) I guess would be jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet. I'd always wanted to go skydiving but just never quite got around to it until this last year. I ended up loving it so much and being so unafraid that I did it again 8 weeks later. The best part is I'm doing it again a few weeks from now... this time on my own. Typical of me to not be afraid of something that many people would be---while normal everyday things are the things that throw me.
I'm cooking up the ham chunks and cheese slices for tomorrow right now. I have my pointy hat and pantaloons freshly starched and ready for the big party.
Posted by Kerry @ 11/08/2002 06:57 PM PST
Kerry,
I don't know if I may be "heavy"
for a moment here, but
skydiving reminds me of
something terrible that
happened to a somewhat
famous -- for other reasons
--guest of "my" hotel a few
months ago...
Can't go into details but that
man was US champion in this
field, even jumping from
towers, in different places of
the world; he was 39 ....
Sorry, but I still have to get over
that !
On a lighter note; well, yes, a
Phoenix comes back to life
from its own ashes....and
that's what Charlie's Angels
did: it turned into a full length
film, a few months back!
Posted by François @ 11/08/2002 07:14 PM PST
The most daring thing I've ever done didn't involve skydiving, nudity, or grabbing hold of one of those body parts that changes colour and size (but there's no telling what's in my future...)
In 1998, I quit my job, packed up my home in London, got rid of about half my belongings, put half of what was left into storage, said goodbye to my parents and friends, and got on a plane to move to Canada, a country I'd visited once for two days five years before (and not the city I moved to either), where I didn't know anybody. It felt like jumping off a cliff - and I don't regret it for a moment.
Posted by Stephen Farrow @ 11/08/2002 09:21 PM PST
It's a little after 12... well.. 12:25 to be exact here on the east coast.. so may I be the first to say
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE, GUY AND ALL OF US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Craig @ 11/08/2002 09:23 PM PST
Congratulations Bruce, Guy & all you wonderful loyal Kimlets. I shall now drink a Diet Coke toast to us all and sundried.
Have a wonderful day everyone.(A special thank you to Mark B.).
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 11/08/2002 09:29 PM PST
Most daring thing, hmmm...
I remember when I had received Stephen Sondheim's address, and since I was heading up to New York... I knocked on the door labeled "Sondeim", and his assistant, Steve Klar, answered the door. I said I had some things (a letter, a copy of a program, etc.) for Mr. Sondheim, gave them to him, and a few days later received a wonderful reply from him. It took a few hours for my heart to stop racing.
*And everytime I drive to New York, I drive past his house on the way in and on the way out. And the times I haven't done that, I something very inconvenient usually happens. Superstitious?
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 11/08/2002 09:30 PM PST
Tom and Francois
It was more like Cable Access. I'm flattered that you equated me with PBS. I have given up my penis grabbing days on stage. However there is "Puppetry of the Penis." I read recently that they were having auditions. It boggles the mind as to what one would have to do.
Bruce: Maybe you could add me to "First Nudie Musical" :-)
I won't be posting or anywhere near a computer tomorrow. I want to take the opportunity to say
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! to Bruce and all the other Hainsies/Kimlets on this site. Let's party!!!!
Posted by Dennis Clancy @ 11/08/2002 10:46 PM PST
One of the most daring things I ever did was go Hot Air Ballooning. It was my 40th birthday and I decided to celebrate in a big way. I saw this ad in the newspaper and called the company. It was a family-owned weekend business run by this couple and their son. They flew two balloons. The husband and son were the pilots while the wife followed the balloons in a pickup truck on the ground. I had to go to Perris, California and be there by 3 o'clock in the morning. Because it was located in an open space with very few street lights, it was very dark when I arrived. Then, as I turned the bend, I saw the most wondrous sight. Dozens of colorful balloons in varying degrees of inflation all lit from within. It was otherworldly!
Once the balloons were inflated, we hopped into the basket and "took off." I expected to feel the wind on my face and was surprised that there was none. The son, who was the pilot of my balloon, told me it was because we were going WITH the wind not against it. It was also very quiet. Most of what I saw was flat land with a few buildings and some houses with swimming pools. I was a little disappointed I didn't see any birds. Each of us got to pull the cord that stoked the fire to make the balloon rise. One time, we got pretty close to the roof of a building and the power lines near it. That's when the son told us that he had been in an accident once and hit some power lines. He then rolled up his sleeves and showed us the burn scars on his arms. "Ohmigod!" I thought to myself, "What did I get myself into!" Eventually, we landed--which is an event in itself. We kinda "scudded" to a stop--landing then rising then landing and rising again. Everybody got out of the basket and helped hold it down until it was still. Then we all set about folding the balloon, putting it in the basket and then loading it onto the pickup truck.
At this point, the husband and wife pulled out a bottle of champagne and poured everybody a glass. We toasted to our safe landing and then they told us to get in the pickup truck. They drove to the top of a hill where there was a large gazebo and fed us a sumptious buffet lunch! There was a guestbook for us to sign to note our impressions of the trip. There were other guestbooks there too going back 10 years! People wrote poems, drew pictures and even left some souvenirs as part of their note.
All in all, a most memorable birthday. When I got home, I fell asleep and dreamt I was flying!
Afternote: A few years ago, I got a letter from them saying they had retired--but not from the wonderful memories they had of all the interesting people they had met.
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 11/08/2002 10:47 PM PST
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HHW.COM!!!
The most daring thing I've done: Moved to New York City with a measley $3000 in my pocket. I'd never been to New York in my life...so I got off the train in Penn Station and had no clue where the hell I was. Much like Stephen...I don't regret it a bit.
Posted by Jason @ 11/08/2002 10:59 PM PST
It's 14 sleeps, by my count, Tom!
In military lingo, that's 13 and a wake-up!
"The Second Star to the Right" is my most favorite on that album!
"The Dunwich Horror" is on AMC with the young Sandra Dee in one of her last films and a young Dean Stockwell, also in one of his last films as "young" Dean Stockwell. Music by Les Baxter. Mighty Creepy! With all those American-International production values, too!!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/08/2002 11:33 PM PST
Am I dreaming?
It's 10:02 a.m. on THE BIG DAY...and the new column isn't up yet? Does that mean BK isn't up yet? Worse yet, since my post last night, no one else has posted.
Did everyone go with the rapture and leave me behind??????????
Aughghghghghgh!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/09/2002 10:01 AM PST
