Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/30/2003 08:37 AM PST

Happy Monday everyone!
Once again I was absent from
chat last night...most
unseemly, I know. My work
schedule has been rather
crazy these last few weeks.
Funny how I seem to have
more to do during the summer
than the school year. Ah well,
such is the plight of the
college student desperately
trying to save up money during
the summer.
Hepburn movies...first, I was
so sad to hear of her passing
yesterday. She has long been
one of my favorite actresses.
Pair her with Cary Grant, and
the effect on screen was
magic, not to mention
hilarious.
Favorite movies, in no
particular order -
Little Women, for sentimental
reasons...I grew up on this
movie
Philidelphia Story
Bringing Up Baby
The Lion In Winter

Off to finish laundry before
work...

Posted by Ann @ 06/30/2003 08:41 AM PST

Greetings from Los Angeles! BK has shared with you details of all the happenings at the Ray Courts Show, so all I will add is what a grand time it was, meeting so many interesting people. It was especially nice to meet DRs Laura and Sandra last night. We are getting together for breakfast this morning before they go the the Jason Graae recording session today (they are waiting in the car for me right now!). Tonight I head back to the East Coast, and all this will become just another memory. But a fine memory, indeed!

Posted by Susan @ 06/30/2003 08:44 AM PST

I love Lion in Winter (There'll be pork in the treetops by morning). I also really like Desk Set. The drunk scene at the Christmas party btwn KH and Joan Blondell is wonderful. Stage Door is also one of my favorites and African Queen too.

After listening to Mr. Feltham, if you're in the mood for more Internet radio, surf over to BBC Radio 3 and listen to Stage and Screen. There is a very good interview by Edward Seckerson with Charles Strouse.

Here is the link. I've split up the URL to prevent us going into Cinerama. Just cut and paste it into your browser to go there. Click on "Listen to the latest program" You will need the latest version of Real Player. If you listen to Broadway Radio Show, you should be able to listen to Stage and Screen. If you want, you can just go to BBC Radio 3 and click on the Stage and Screen link. I have also included that link after the full link.

Full Link in sections
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/
classical/stagescreen.shtml
?focuswin

BBC Radio 3 link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/

Enjoy

Posted by Ben @ 06/30/2003 08:49 AM PST

Good Morning dear readers........

I listened to the segment on Radio Wales by our very own suave, handsome, sinewy, and studly DR Ben....it is a delight! He is a great reviewer, and very entertaining. If you start at the first of the program, and you want to just hear Ben's segment, there is a place you can click on that jumps forward in the show, in 5 minute increments. Ben's section starts at just after 17 minutes, 44 seconds.

DR Kerry and I are very envious (green) that we aren't with DRs Laura & Sandra, to share in the laughter and legs, and music and eating! Oh, for DuPar's Pancakes, and then Pounded Steak! And Jason Graae !!

Favorite Hepburn:
Philadelphia Story
Bringing Up Baby
Desk Set
Lion In Winter
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
and as bonus, I have fond memories of getting to see her on stage in Coco.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 06/30/2003 09:15 AM PST

Just checked out the newest Juliana's Journal--very nice.

Chat was a lot of fun last night--although that was the place where I learned Hepburn had died. I knew it had to happen one of these days but it was still something of a shock. No matter what mistakes the woman made, she was always proud, independent and wonderfully herself. And not to mention one of the greatest actresses ever. Anyway, favorite Hepburn movies:

A Lion in Winter
Stage Door
Philadelphia Story
Little Women

There are still a lot I need to see like Bringing up Baby, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and On Golden Pond. BTW, did any of you hear about that Scorcese biopic of Howard Hughes they're filming? They cast Cate Blanchett as Hepburn, and I happen to think she'll be splendid.

Posted by Maya @ 06/30/2003 09:50 AM PST

What a wonderful time - and I can hardly wait to see the photos from the Courts show!

LA is the place to be today with all the action taking place: eating, talking, AND recording!

Yes, I think I mentioned my favorite KH films yesterday, but I will repeat myself:

DESK SET, THE RAINMAKER, and LION IN WINTER

STAGEDOOR - for the speech at the end between Hepburn and Rogers, because it turned out just the way they thought it would....

Bunny, Eleanor, and Lizzie - what wonderful women they were.

Looking at the lists, I can't really choose a favorite so I will just say, if Katharine Hepburn's name was in the credits, I usually watched it, and I don't remember being disappointed, by her anyway.

She seemed to always be an uncompromising person with the courage of her convictions.

I think I will watch DESK SET tonight and see her one more time read "Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight" as Emerac the computer spits it out.... 8-D

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 09:52 AM PST

I echo all the previous mentions of favorite Hepburn performances. On television, she was also a glorious Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, a delight in The Corn is Green and marvelous in Love Among the Ruins opposite Sir Laurence Olivier.

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 06/30/2003 10:05 AM PST

Lots of news at Playbill On-Line. Here's the link:

http://www.playbill.com/

Jane Krakowski in Sweet Charity, Jailhouse Rock as a new Broadway musical and other interesting tidbits.

MG, you are too kind. Thanks for the review of my review. Although as I listened to the piece live this past Wednesday (and then replayed it later so I could copy it to my hard drive), I think I'm closer to 45 minutes into the show, not 17. The timer they use on that screen is odd and it's not easy to tell where you are but it's nearer the end. I'm right after the London cast of Oliver singing Food, Glorious Food. There are three buttons to use for listening: Play, Pause and Skip 5 Minutes, that's the one to use if you want to jump ahead. Also, the show will only be up through this coming Wednesday at 3pm (EST). They keep the show available for one week but don't archive them (like Donald's show on this here site). I'll be on again July 16th (I usually have a 90 second spot) talking very quickly (it is only 90 seconds after all) about some of the upcoming Broadway musical season.

Posted by Ben @ 06/30/2003 10:11 AM PST

Yes boys and girls, I am among the living. I'm trying to rejoin the world before the parade passses by. The shutters are forest green, so expect my descent down the staircase of the Harmonia Gardens anyday now.

Favorites of Miss Hepburn's movies:

Philadelphia Story
Holiday
The Rainmaker
Adam's Rib
Desk Set

I never got to see her in COCO, but I did get to see her onstage in "A Matter of Gravity." Phoenix would not normally have been on the list of cities for that touring company, but Miss Hepburn believed that people in as many cities as possible should be given the chance to see such theatre. Robert Morse apparently learned that lesson from her and brought "Tru" to Phoenix. Yes, we get a lot of the main companies, but there are still a lot of shows that just do the usual LA, Chicago, SF, Philly, DC tours and pass us by (almost a Cy Coleman reference).

Interestingly enough, Bunny Watson's apartment in Desk Set is also used in "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" I do not remember offhand whether it was Rock Hunter's apt. or Betsy Drake's apt.

Strange what we recall, and odd what we forget (Oh, another Jerry Herman reference).

Posted by Kerry @ 06/30/2003 10:14 AM PST

I make wonderful, moist, delicious brownies. Why am I mentioning this? The recipe is from Katherine Hepburn. Years ago in an interview with, I believe, Good Housekeeping she mentioned she made great brownies. The recipe was thankfully included.

Favorite movies:
African Queen
Bringing Up Baby
Lion in Winter
Philadelphia Story
Desk Set

Posted by Jane @ 06/30/2003 10:26 AM PST

Once when Katharine Hepburn was making a film with George Cukor, and I have forgotten which one - there was a scene in which the maid comes in to announce that the house was on fire. Miss Hepburn was adamant that they would smell the smoke and that there would be NO need for the maid to make such an announcement.

Quite a stalemate ensued and Cukor finally said: "Well it must be NICE to know everything about acting AND fires..."

8-D

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 10:26 AM PST

Unfortunately, I am still a budding buff of musicals and movies older than I, and I couldn't tell you if I've ever seen a movie with Katharine Hepburn in it or not. It's quite sad that she died. But, hell, if I lived until 96, I'd be the happiest deceased person ever...that's a long time...lucky woman.

On a lighter note, bk, you have added the words "hobnob" and "unseemly" into my vocabulary, I thank you. ;)

Posted by Sarah @ 06/30/2003 10:28 AM PST

On a different topic (still movies though) this summer in NYC Film Forum will be saluting Arthur Freed and showing many of the Freed Unit MGM movie musicals. It starts on July 4th w/the 50 Anniversary screening of The Bandwagon. On July 22nd they will have "An Evening with Betsy Blair" Gene Kelly's first wife, and we also get to see all these glorious movies:

July 8: "The Wizard of Oz" and "Cabin in the Sky"
July 9-10: "It's Always Fair Weather"
July 11-12: "Kiss Me, Kate"
July 13: "An American in Paris"
July 14: "The Pirate" and "Yolanda and the Thief"
July 15: "Easter Parade" and "The Barkleys of Broadway"
July 16: "Show Boat" and "Summer Holiday"
July 17-19: "Singin' in the Rain"
July 20: "Gigi"
July 21: "Good News" and "Royal Wedding"
July 22-23: "On the Town" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
July 24: "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "The Harvey Girls"

Posted by Ben @ 06/30/2003 10:45 AM PST

KATHERINE HEPBURN FAVS...
WITH CARY GRANT (her perfect screen partner IMO):
Holiday (my favorite of the favorites)
Bringing Up Baby
The Philadelphia Story

WITH SPENCER TRACY:
Pat & Mike
Adams Rib
Desk Set

OTHER:
Stage Door
The African Queen
The Rainmaker
Summertime
Long Day's Journey Into Night (Kate's portrayal is transcendent)
Love Among the Ruins (witty script)

P.S. Hmm...In researching her films, I realized there are several early ones I haven't seen: A Bill of Divorcement, Morning Glory, Christopher Strong, Break of Hearts, Spitfire, The Little Minister, Sylvia Scarlet, Quality Street, and A Woman Rebels.
P.P.S. Just saw an interview with her on TV where she said she wrote the "you're my knight in shining armor" speech from On Golden Pond.

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 06/30/2003 10:58 AM PST

SARAH - As several of us recommended previously that you should not be ignorant of Broadway musical history, so too should you not be ignorant of film history. I suggest you start with some Katherine Hepburn movies. Pick some from our lists--especially those that show up repeatedly :-).

Posted by Donna @ 06/30/2003 11:04 AM PST

Hope this doesn't sound disrespectful at such a time, but as a writer, I always take it with a large grain of salt when actors claim to have written their "big speech" themselves. And I have enormous respect for performers - but I also know that many performers sometimes think they're solely responsible for the creation of their character, and can be somewhat stingy when it comes to giving credit to the other people involved.

That said, I'm also feeling enormously guilty right now because yesterday around late morning my husband and I were sitting around talking and I don't know how this subject came up, but I wondered aloud how Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn were doing. Hours later, I hear that she's dead. Was it my death ray that did the deed? I'll always wonder.

Favorite films:

Little Women
Stage Door
The Philadelphia Story
Adam's Rib

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 11:08 AM PST

Lulu--please don't feel guilty!! She was 96 years old! A sad coincidence, but a coincidence nonetheless.

Re: Playbill.com articles...hooray for Jane Krakowski playing Charity. I think she'd be much better than Marisa Tomei, who by all accounts is a pretty sorry Salome too.

Posted by Maya @ 06/30/2003 11:15 AM PST

Re: Kerry... Broadway.com has jumped the gun. It is indeed NOT official NOR definite that Kerry will be going into LSoH... More as it develops...

Posted by Craig @ 06/30/2003 11:17 AM PST

Lulu, I had just been thinking about Katherine Hepburn myself-wondering how she was and if..... Don't feel guilty-no death rays, just intuition or whatever.

I should have included Holiday with my list of favorites.

Posted by Jane @ 06/30/2003 11:28 AM PST

Lulu - are you for hire to get rid of some annoying celebrities?

Jane - will you share the recipe?

We did OGP, and I seem to think that speech is in the play script, but I can't be sure. I think I also remember that interview. One of my favorite KH interviews is the two-part one she did on the Dick Cavett show. If I remember correctly, she was dressed very informally because she had come in to check out the studio and see how the set up was....felt good about it "right then" and just told Cavett "Let's do it now, while I'm in the mood." And so they did.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 11:40 AM PST

Thanks, guys. Actually, for comedic effect, I was exaggerating my degree of "guilt" - it would be more honest to say that it made me feel "strange." But when I heard the news, I went in and said to The Hubby, "Well, it looks like I zapped Kate Hepburn with my death ray," so I wasn't really crippled with the burden of my shame or anything. :) I agree, it's hard to be plunged into grief when a 96-year-old passes (unless, of course, it's someone we know personally). We pretty much figure that at that point, it's for the best. She led an extraordinary life and her family was there for her at the end; what more could any of us wish or hope for?

Jrand: Send me a list and I'll see what I can do.

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 12:03 PM PST

Wurkin' onit.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 12:06 PM PST

Please allow me to congratulate the Mooresville school system on a job well done.

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 12:08 PM PST

hahahahaha - huh?

Posted by Jrand52 - Class of '68 @ 06/30/2003 12:11 PM PST

I love the way you all give me advice so eagerly! If I had never researched julie Andrews, then I never would have heard of/been obsessed with Thoroughly Modern Millie, then I never would have heard of Juliana's Journal, and consequently, never would have e-mailed Bruce at this site, never would have come here, and then I'd never have gotten any advice at all about anything, and I'd be a dumb teenager without a clue. SO glad I love TMM, :). Thanks Donna!

Posted by Sarah @ 06/30/2003 12:16 PM PST

Also in that Dick Cavett interview, they turned the cameras on before the actual taping began. A make-up person came up to Ms. Hepburn explaining some problem and the inimitable snapped "Don't tell me about it, just fix it!" and went right on chatting with Dick. A priceless moment.

Russ, back to the shadows again

Posted by Russ @ 06/30/2003 12:27 PM PST

Hepburn's Brownies

In her words:

First melt two squares of unsweetened chocolate and 1/4 pound sweet butter (1 stick) in a heavy sauce pan. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of sugar. Add 2 eggs along with 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and beat like mad. Stir in 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a cup of chopped walnuts-not smashed up, you know, but just chopped into fairly good sized pieces.

Now mix all that up. Then you butter a square tin (8X8 inches) and dump the whole thing quickly into the pan. Stuff this pan into a preheated 325 degree oven for 40 minutes. After that, take out the pan and let it cool for awhile. Then cut into 1½ inch squares and dive right in.

Jane again:
I double the recipe, melt the chocolate in the microwave and skip the nuts. I use two round cake pans. Unless my older son is home, as he likes his brownies well done, I cut off the outer edges just as they are barely cooked, then continue baking the rest of the batter. That way all of the brownies are moist.

Let me know if you try these and what you think? Be warned, you might eat all the brownies before they have a chance to cool.

Posted by Jane @ 06/30/2003 12:40 PM PST

Jane, great recipe - not just because it sounds delicious, but because I could hear Kate's voice as I read it! Really... "not smashed up, you know, but just chopped into fairly good sized pieces." Don't tell me you guys don't hear her saying that, too. :)

Thanks for sharing it!

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 01:07 PM PST

Jrand: I was referring to "wurkin onit," you silly Billy!

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 01:09 PM PST

TCM has pre-empted everything on their Thursday schedule to pay homage to Kate with a marathon of her movies. Click on my name for the schedule and a charming anecdote about KH.

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 01:13 PM PST

I no, Lulu, I no.

Thanks for the link...the schedule looks nearly like most of the lists posted here at HHW!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 01:18 PM PST

Note that is not this Thursday for the TMC Hepburn marathon. It's next Thursday, July 10.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/30/2003 01:24 PM PST

Oops...right you are, WEL. Sorry!

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 01:30 PM PST

...and by the way, it's TCM (Turner Classic Movies), not TMC (The Movie Channel).

;)

Posted by Lulu @ 06/30/2003 01:31 PM PST

kate the Great Movies

Lion in the Winter
Long Days Journey Into Night
Suddenly Last Summer
African Queen
Bringing Up Baby
The Phildelphia Story
Little Women
Rainmaker

TV
Glass Menagerie
Love Among the Ruins
Corn is Green

Did anyone ever see Grace Quigley or The Ultimate Solution of Grace Quigley?

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 06/30/2003 01:33 PM PST

Summertime
African Queen
Rainmaker
Philadelphia Story

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/30/2003 01:48 PM PST

Stage Door
Guess Who's Coming to
Dinner
The Desk Set (just TRY to
imagine Shirley Booth in the
part. . . )
The African Queen
___

Saw Bounce! in Chicago over
the weekend. . . I'm still
formulating my thoughts and
will post if DRs are interested.

Posted by Kurt @ 06/30/2003 02:00 PM PST

You have to ask, DR Kurt?

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 02:01 PM PST

Glad someone else remembers that fascinating Dick Cavett interview Katharine gave. I wish to heaven I had had a VCR then and had taped it because her stories and comments were priceless, not just about movies but about her early years in the theater and lots of other things. Cavett's Daphne Productions could make a mint selling a tape of those interviews if he'd just DO it! (One of Hepburn's classic commands.)

Listed my favorites yesterday, so I won't repeat them. But the lady was a formidable presence. We won't see her like again.

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/30/2003 02:13 PM PST

Well, the day HAS been given
to the Great Kate, and my
various rantings are, well. . .
superfluous to the matter at
hand.

That said:

I saw the show Friday evening,
and my first,
one-time-viewing-only opinion
is that for a show about a pair
of tap-dancing sidestepping
metamorphosing
charlatans/hucksters, this
musical is desperately
listless. So often we only
HEAR what has been going
on, and never really SEE any of
it. The large, showy New York
and Boca sequences are
indeed what the show should
be from start to finish, and yet,
long (long) periods are filled
with people reacting to what
has happened rather than
showing us. If Addison and
Wilson Mizner raced through
life at breakneck speed,
Bounce doesn't really do them
justice. The show needs a
constant chase -- real or
metaphorical. The “around the
word” sequence is
undistinguished by anything
except the constant costume
changes of the character
cheating Addison.
Rearranging furniture we will
see again throughout the
evening doesn’t approach the
velocity these lives
represented.

The device used to begin the
show did not return until the
very end of the show -- I had
entirely forgotten that the
brothers were examining their
lives. Perhaps, with more use
of the vaudville-vehicle used
so well in the two noted
sequences (footlights that
shine from below -- a very
specific look, that could go a
long way toward tying this
show together, in-1 numbers
that serve dual purposes of
comment and development,
more showgirls to underscore
the showbusiness they are
living and we are watching. . .)
the show would step into the
realm of “concept” musicals
that -- oh yeah, Sondheim and
Prince initiated and brought to
be accepted as “what’s next.”

Yes, I want more concept. No, I
didn't care for much of the
score described somewhere
as Sondheim’s most
traditional sounding; original
yet familiar. Someone pointed
out that the decision was
made not to make it a pastiche
of musical styles from the
period (or I dreamed that.)
Strange as it seems, it DID
sound like a pastiche -- of
Sondheim's greatest hits: the
Merrily vamp, the Company
brass, the Sweeney pulsing
strings.) Sondheim has written
and discarded major work in
the past only to arrive at what
sounds like the only possible
solution. Certainly, he will
again. With only one hearing to
go on, there is little to attend to
lyric-ly. The corny
mispronouciations by the
hokey Molly Brown
prospectors are not
entertaining, just dumb. This
is simple stuff, throw offs, and
I want more comment, more
examination, more depth,
more insight in what we are
hearing. It’s SONDHEIM
fercrissakes.

Merrily still contains
Sondheim’s best overture.
Overtures should set up for the
audience what the general feel
of the show to come will be.
This one is close, but
something seems languid
about it and the Mizner’s were
anything but languid.

Lee’s sets are the best part of
the evening - high concept,
unexpected, lyrical, funny. They
point the way to where this
show is headed and that kind
of constantly evolving,
devloping,
changing-what-you-think-it-is-i
nto-something-else is exactly
what the Mizner’s were. How
interesting it would be if we
could see the brothers
constanly change into different
selves (as they do in the
beginning - a brilliant device.) I
question the decision to
introduce unnecessary REAL
items into otherwise
high-concept painted sets
(specifically, a fully laden buffet
table complete with fruit topiary
and shining chafing dishes in
an otherwise two-dimensional
painted drops.) And the
introduction of a Beverly
Hillbillies wagon pulled (by the
unfortunate understudy for
Kind) around and around and
around the set. A painted
postcard motif begins the
evening telling us where we
are, then sputters out by
intermission.

The costumes, with only a
couple of exceptions, are
servicible, not bad/not
memorable, prone more to
elaboate confections for the
women, but not really telling
us anything about the people
inside them. Pawk’s red
flapper number at the top of
Act Two is less successful on
her than the wedding creation.
She tripped on trains twice
and had to pick up the dress to
move. The further into the
show she goes, the less
interesting her wardrobe.
Wearing shoes into the bed
scene, then hiding them with
bedding seems odd. Again,
the costume change the
brothers force on each other in
the beginning of the show was
clever, imaginative and
completely in keeping with the
concept of the constant
evolution the brothers enacted.

Michelle Pawk is wonderful --
a real talent. A voice that soars
and a look that knocks ‘em
dead. She is beautiful and a
delight to see again so soon
after Hollywood Arms. Gavin
Creel is charming, singing
well. However, like most of the
people we see, not all that
compelling. Again, why do we
care about a talented, yet
spoiled child who needs to
ingratiate himself to the
wealthy relative? He’s pretty,
but what does he DO?

Kind is a terrific performer,
connecting with the audience
and giving Addison a real
center. McGillin is charming,
handsome and sings
beautifully. Even so, I found if
difficult to care about the
brothers, somehow. What is it
that keeps us interested in
them? They’re dead and they
are telling us their story. Why
do we care? Why do we follow
Candide? What is the carrot
held in front of us to keep us
going on with the story? I
wanted
“traditional/non-traditional
Sondheim-ian comment. I
wanted to hear Sondheim,
Weidman and Prince to show
us what is important. I felt it
wasn’t there.

Jane Powell is lovely, sweet,
but not up to the demands of
the show.

The actors of the company
work hard at changing
costumes, but otherwise
remain unseen throughout
much of the show, and I feel
they have more to do in giving
us the reasons we are
watching this story. Who are
they? How do they boom and
bust? We know that they do,
since they tell us frequently
what happened over there.
How much better it would be if
we could see it happen. The
New York and Boca
sequences are filled with
interesting possibilities for the
actors, but if we get to see a
fully realized Dali, why do we
only get a flip-card Mae West?
Is it a costume issue?

At least they weren’t the
nameless/faceless greek
chorus of Sweet Smell of
Success.

There is a sense of danger
missing from the story. These
men led precipitous lives,
falling over the edge only to
climb their way out again and
again. This show is safely
remaining distanced from the
rim of high art.

Stop being safe.

Posted by Kurt @ 06/30/2003 02:17 PM PST

Well - there you are, folks. BOUNCE opens tonight in Chicago.

Get your tickets early.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 02:50 PM PST

Good afternoon...

I'll post more later... Just didn't want to be errant and truant today.

-Got my passport paperwork in order this afternoon. -Getting there!

And Ms. Hepburn will be sorely miseed.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 06/30/2003 03:26 PM PST

Thanks, Kurt, for your thoughts on Bounce. They're the first thoughts I've read (everyone who's posted on other boards calls their thoughts "reviews" like these people are "reviewers". Your thoughts are the first measured thougts I've read - not afraid to say what you feel or not afraid to not defend Mr. Sondheim's work simply because you are a Sondheim fanatic (most of the posts I've seen ARE from Sondheads for whom their master can do no wrong). So, as usual, the most measured non-hyperbolic posts come from haineshisway.com. You make us all proud, you wonderful dear readers.

Posted by bk @ 06/30/2003 03:28 PM PST

I have returned from my trip to Yosemite and will try to get back into the swing (and slide and teeter-totter) of things again here at haineshisway.com.

I join all of you in mourning the passing of Katharine Hepburn. Some of my favorites include (and I think they've all been mentioned already by several dear readers):

Holiday
The Philadelphia Story
Bringing Up Baby (that high pitched rapid fire giggle gets me every time)
Stagedoor (gotta love those calla lillies)
Summertime (the scene when she is waiting for her lover on the piazza is priceless)
Long Day's Journey into Night
The Glass Menagerie

and so many others.

But perhaps Miss Hepburn's greatest role was as herself. I really admire how Miss H. refused to live up to any standards other than her own. She had talent, in enormous measure, and the self-confidence to stand by that talent and do things her way. We all could take a lesson from her example.

Posted by Jay @ 06/30/2003 03:41 PM PST

Kind?

McGillin?

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/30/2003 03:50 PM PST

I'm back from my maiden
voyage to NYC! My mother and
I had a wonderful 4 days in
Manhattan, doing the whole
tourist bit (she hadn't been
there in 20 years herself), and
had a truly faboo time (despite
the ungodly heat/humidity of
Thursday and Friday!!!).

Got to see Hairspray, Gypsy,
and Urinetown, and found
them all quite enjoyable in
totally different ways. With
Gypsy, it's just such a
wonderful show that the
material makes up for some of
what might be lacking in other
aspects of the production. I
enjoyed Bernadette's Rose
more than I expected. It
certainly isn't a great fit for her
vocally, and hers will not go
down as one of the great Rose
portrayals, but I found her take
on the character totally ok and
she made it work for her.

Hairspray was absolutely
delightful. I don't think I've ever
seen a more "crowd pleasing"
show (and, my goodness, it
was a wonderfully appreciative
audience). A fantastic energy
to the show, a number of good
laughs, and simply wonderful
performances. Hard to beat
Harvey's delivery of a line such
as "Hold Mommy's waffles."

The unexpected surprise of
the trip was Urinetown. I've
had the CD for over a year and
have always enjoyed the
music, but the performance
totally blew my expectations
away. I don't remember ever
laughing so much, or so
consistently, at a show. I
wonder how it will translate to
larger venues on tour, but at
the Henry Miller I found it to be
a purely marvelous show.

Oh, and we did sup Friday
evening at Joe Allen. Wish I
could enjoy their giant
scallops on a regular basis!

Must be off now to rehearsal
(I've been recruited recently for
a 7-line stint as a Sound of
Music Nazi with the summer
stock company I've been with
since '98... first dress tonight).

Posted by Jed @ 06/30/2003 04:17 PM PST

Okay, dear readers, it is war. Earlier today, Mr. Craig Brockman went to All That Chat and posted that the next entry in Juliana's Journal was up. And, for the second time in four days, they removed the post. Their reasoning for this is that Craig posted too many updates re haineshisway. This is, of course, nonsense. He hasn't posted anything since the Tisdale interview went up. He purposely waited to post just for that reason. Now, the people who operate that site obviously have a bug up their butt cheeks about me and this here site. And yet, if you peruse the board you will see multiple posts, AS ALWAYS, about websites and all manner of things. They don't allow multiple updates? Well then, whatever are we to make of the endless Seth Rudetsky Seth's Chatterbox updates (I have no problem with Seth or the updates), what are we to make of the endless David Kenney updates re his radio show, what are we to make of TB Admin's own endless updates about the Amour party and CD giveaway. Apparently it's okay for some but not for others, specifically us. Well, this really does seem like censorship for personal reasons, since we have never gone on their website and posted anything untoward about them or anyone else. They are babies, and they think they have some kind of power and I am here to tell you that this is not right and we must fight these devils. They cannot have two sets of rules - one for most people and one for people they don't like. So, if you frequent that board, let's post about this and say how stupidly unfair they are behaving. Bombard them with posts. And what I may do is call Mr. Michael Reidel and give him this story because I happen to know he would LOVE to take them on and this might just be the ammo he needs. Go to it.

Posted by bk @ 06/30/2003 05:13 PM PST

What a woman, Kate Hepburn...truly an original.
SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER
ON GOLDEN POND
SUMMERTIME
LONG DAY'S JOURNEY
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
PHILADELPHIA STORY
THE RAINMAKER
THE AFRICAN QUEEN
THE LION IN WINTER
ROOSTER COGBURN
THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT
PAT AND MIKE
Actually, there wasn't anything or any performance I disliked...

Posted by KT @ 06/30/2003 05:20 PM PST

My Lawdy Lawdy Dear Readers --

Please send us a cold front, an ice storm, a tsunami, a downpour....anything !! We are in the midst of an extended spell of weather hanging around 111 to 113 degrees, day after day. Oh yes, at least sometimes the nights drop down to 85 !

I would even welcome Bruce's singing bird, if it would bring a good long rainstorm with itself. I have to keep telling myself, "at least we don't have to shovel snow for months."

It's enough to make a gentleman perspire (or glow).

Posted by MusicGuy @ 06/30/2003 05:22 PM PST

HUZZAH !! Good for you esteemed BK --

Give 'em hell, damn the torpedos, let me ride shotgun, to find the whites of their eyes they would have to actually be human, Tora Tora Tora!!

I tried to read that strange site once, and found it very dry and uninviting. So I'm not surprised at their antics to Craig.

Remember, my little valley mensch, it is the jealousy toward this, the most popular site on the entire internet!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 06/30/2003 05:28 PM PST

MusicGuy and the rest of you out there, our temps in Oregon have come down from 101 to a mere 85. During the heat wave I kept telling myself "at least I'm not in the humid east coast anymore". I do hope you have air conditioning, something I didn't have there for my first 13 years.

Posted by Jane @ 06/30/2003 05:32 PM PST

Okay, I've posted over at ATC, so feel free to join in the fray. Do it quickly though, because I don't suspect they'll keep it up there very long, or they'll come in and really try to do a number on me and this website.

Posted by bk @ 06/30/2003 05:48 PM PST

By the time I posted, the whole thread was gone...along with my response...never even made it onto the ATC board....LOL.

They must really be eagle eyed.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/30/2003 05:57 PM PST

Do not feed the jealous animals. They wish they had the intelligent readers/posters that HHW has.

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. We do not want them to come here and disturb the force.

Posted by Zookeeper @ 06/30/2003 06:01 PM PST

McGillin?

Howard McGillin (Phantom of the Opera) who is playing one of the brothers in Bounce

Kind?

Richard Kind (late of Spin City) who is playing the other brother in Bounce

Posted by Ben @ 06/30/2003 06:08 PM PST

Yes, the thread was down in record time. I received a form e-mail fromt them explaining why the thread was taken down and it's a true hoot - very Orwellian in tone, if you get my drift. I wrote them a response, and depending on what they have to say (I suspect it will be ignored) I'll post what they sent me as I think you'll all find it very amusing. I just don't take to this two sets of rules stuff very well, and what they're doing is personal and petty and unnecessary. We'll see how far they'd like to take this, because as Miss Molly Brown once said, "I Ain't Down Yet".

Posted by bk @ 06/30/2003 06:24 PM PST

BK - All That Chat isn't worth all that stress. The only thing the site is good for is the weekly update of upcoming CDs, DVDs and books and as far as I can tell, that is done by Max Preeo (they don't say he writes it but they thank him at the end). It's a shame their readers don't get updated on what's posted in other sections of this here site, but if their readers were of a higher calibar they would be reading this here site to begin with. Have you asked Broadwaystars.Com to link individual interviews and other features as they are posted? They link most other theatre sites and have linked some things from here before.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/30/2003 06:47 PM PST

That site causes me not one moment of anxiety or stress. They merely operate with different sets of rules for different people and this seems to me very wrong indeed. Here is what I posted:

This morning Craig Brockman posted a link to the latest entry in Juliana A. Hansen's journal of her experiences in the national tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Last week a post of Mr. Brockman's re this same thing was pulled, and he was told that he was doing too many links to my website. This is, of course, nonsense. He posts occasional links when we have a new interview with someone he thinks would be of interest to musical theater fans, and he's posted twice re Juliana's Journal, which many of your readers found and continue to find a delight. As I peruse this board I see multiple links to multilple websites multiple times, including your very own repeated links re the Amour party. I suppose my question is - is their one set of rules for some people and another for people you don't care for? It's not as if Mr. Brockman posts about haineshisway.com daily or even weekly (it has been three weeks since our last interview and he hasn't posted anything in those three weeks except the link to Christianne Tisdale's interview and the ongoing journal at the end of last week), a total of three posts, I believe, in five days. I found VJ's little rant about the interview I did with broadwayworld.com very strange (that thread ultimately disappeared but only after someone criticized VJ for his post) and I find it strange that these current posts which contain links to relevant musical theater interviews and journals keep disappearing.

Why, color me confused.

Rather than address legitimate issues, they removed the post and sent me this classic of Orwellian prose:

As per Talkin' Broadways Subscriber Agreement - "T.B. Admin is required to remove all posts which question why another post was removed or which seek to justify or explain why a post should not have been removed." - Your post has been removed from All That Chat.

I mean, this is a board that purports to be an open and free place to have links and discourse for all matters theater (mostly musical theater). Posts in which people say the most awful things about others, posts which are clearly written with agendas, those are allowed to stay. When one of the owners, VJ, posted an incoherent diatribe about my interview on broadwayworld.com, that post was allowed to stay. However, when someone posted a defence of the interview and criticized VJ for his post, why what do you know, the whole thread magically disappeared. I'm simply going to take this little amusing feud public if I can. It's about time someone at least identified what is really going on there.

Posted by bk @ 06/30/2003 07:05 PM PST

WEL

Actually.. James Marino and his crew over at Broadwaystars DOES link to the interviews here at HHW...

Posted by Craig @ 06/30/2003 07:38 PM PST

Thanks for the BOUNCE comments. They were most interesting. No need to look for tickets. The show has been "deeply sold out," to quote VARIETY.

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/30/2003 08:22 PM PST

DR BK sez: "...most of the posts I've seen ARE from Sondheads for whom their master can do no wrong..."

Well, there are a bunch of Sondheimites who've seen it and have posted thoughtful, well rounded reflections on Sondheim.com, showing both postive and negative reactions. Oh, and I do know where a few tickets can be found for the evening performance on July 5th. We bought a block and a few haven't found a home yet. (face value, of course.)

As for that other site, yes they have different rules for different people. If you kiss their ass, you can libel anyone in the industry that you please. But if you call them on their nonsense, you're deleted.

I have a hoot of an email exchange from them, showing their extreme incompetence.

Posted by Christopher @ 06/30/2003 09:46 PM PST

Kurt--thanks for the Bounce thoughts. It was interesting to see how Hapgood loved it, but you thought it needed a lot of improvement. I plan to get tickets the minute it goes on sale in DC--I guess I am one of those Sondheads to whom he can do no wrong, but I really can't see how I could respond negatively to anything with a Sondheim score directed by Hal Prince starring Michele Pawk! We'll see though...I wonder if Bounce marks a permanent return to musical comedy for Sondheim...is this the end of the concept musical?

BK--regarding ATC, I agree that they are not worth your time if they are going to resort to censorship and petty things like that. There are other ways for Craig and you to publicize Juliana's Journal and all the great things going on here aside from All That Chat. Don't give in to anger--that's probably what they want after all, to push your buttons.

Posted by Maya @ 06/30/2003 10:32 PM PST

My my my, (that is three mys) such a whirlwind of travel we've had the past couple of weeks. I think we are home now for a few weeks.

We had a lovely trip to the East Coast and had the opportunity to see "Man of LaMancha" in its last performance at the Martin Beck Theater (now renamed). Then we had a lovely time up in Maine visiting my sister, who took us to see "La Cage" starring George Dvorsky, who looked simply lovely in feathers and sequins.

Then after one busy day at home, we took off quite spontaneously for LA. It was great to finally meet DearReaderSusan (now I know why we waited in her driveway so long). We very much enjoyed watching Jason Graae record his medley. Then we hit the road (no mean feat) and just got home about 10 pm.

Posted by Laura @ 06/30/2003 11:34 PM PST

Note to DearReaderDave: How did the fire-swallowing go?

Posted by Laura @ 06/30/2003 11:50 PM PST

Budy HAckett passed away last night

www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/obituaries/01HACK.html

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 07/01/2003 03:39 AM PST

It is indeed a MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 07/01/2003 06:27 AM PST

I may have died, but while I was here I HAD A BALL!

Posted by Buddy Hackett @ 07/01/2003 07:08 AM PST

Bounce reviews from the
Chicago Tribune and the
Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/outp
ut/entertainment/cst-ftr-bounce
01new.html

http://metromix.chicagotribune.
com/reviews/critics/mmx-0307
01-stagereviewbounce,0,7503
702.story?coll=mmx-critics_he
ds

Posted by Kurt @ 07/01/2003 07:14 AM PST

Squeeze her once when she isn't lookin'

Get a squeeze back that's fancy cookin'

Once more for a pepper upper

She will never get sore on the way to supper.

Do re mi fa so la to do si do.

Posted by Marcellus Washburn @ 07/01/2003 07:25 AM PST

sniff

beep, beep

sniff

Posted by Herbie @ 07/01/2003 07:37 AM PST

BK---
In case you haven't read the BOUNCE THE GOLD WISE GUYS reviews referenced above, you should check out the Tribune one. It discusses the Irving Berlin Mizner musical and mentions the songs on your "Unsung Berlin" CD (although it doesn't credit you for unearthing and recording the songs).

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 07/01/2003 07:37 AM PST

Buddy Hackett gave me my first regular job on television in his sitcom "Stanley".

Posted by Carol Burnett @ 07/01/2003 07:38 AM PST

Thanks, Marcellus,

I now have Shipoopi in my brain and it will probably be locked in there tight for the rest of the day!

Posted by Ben @ 07/01/2003 07:55 AM PST

I know what you mean, Ben

Posted by Ethel Toffelmeier, the Pianola girl @ 07/01/2003 08:34 AM PST

Unseemly poster alert:

Howdy. Speaking as one of the banned of ATC, it does my heart good to see others saying what several of us have said all along (and there ARE several of us, sadly). All I can say is: Go BK Go. The arbitrary tactics used over there need to be exposed. You have warmed the frozen cockles of the ATC undead.

Posted by Erica/ditz @ 07/01/2003 02:03 PM PST

Ah, dear Bruce. I have a quibble with yours (re: All That Chat). By asking for (heck, even by LOOKING for) administrative consistency, you're applying logic to an illogical situation.

Allow me to help you through this: it's their site. They can run it the way they want. Apparently, they're choosing to run it into the ground. I for one wish them success in this regard.

They are the Emperor withou clothes, one by one alienating the very individuals who made that site what it once was: a fun, passionate family. I suppose EVERY family has a jackass and a mean, miserly aunt. The family over there seems to be no exception.

You're certainly MORE than welcome to sit with me as we watch what was once a beloved site go up in flames (in very much the same way the webmater's burritos go, but what else can you do on ANOTHER Saturday night alone??).

In the meantime, I continue to enjoy the HELL out of my Laurie Beechman: Songs of Hope cd. It's delicious.

XO

VERA

Posted by VERACHARLES @ 07/01/2003 02:15 PM PST

Greetings mistress

Posted by Ditz the loyal minion @ 07/01/2003 02:22 PM PST

BOUNCE tickets are CHEAP!! FYI. they have been on Hot Tix (Chicago's answer to TKTS) several times over the past few weeks (including weekend performances!).

VERA loves you all.

Posted by VERACHARLES @ 07/23/2003 11:41 AM PST