Posted by Ben @ 08/04/2003 07:10 AM PST

Oops (spoo, spelled backwards), I had no idea of the posting race going on or I would have held off posting this morning's notes. Normally I am not up quite this early, but I had to call the air conditioning people first thing to see if they'd come first thing and they say they will, before nine. But everyone should be very proud of our weekend here at haineshisway.com because we put everyone else to shame.

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 07:14 AM PST

Greetings from New York City!

-Courtesy of DR Jason's computer.

Well, I just wanted to check in and say HI! So... HI!

It truly was a lovely evening last night at Joe Allen - although we think our waiter - waiters - may have had an early curtain somewhere in the middle of our meal.

OHHH!!!! And who would have guessed that our dessert was so generously and happily "treated" by one of the most beloved stars in the theatrical firmament! We were all so surprised - and full-stomached!

I shall catch up on all the posts from Friday on once I return to Richmond tomorrow morning. Between now and then, DR Jason and I shall be venturing into The City, where we shall sup, shop and s'amuse ourselves. -I was just going for the illiteration - but I think you get my drift.

-Oh, and BK - RZ came over to the table last night... -She apparently was feeling a bit shy and restrained last time since she was with her older sister and her mother.

-And, finally... Brantley loved Melanie Griffith... But I do have to quibble with him calling her and Antonio the next Lunt and Fontanne - ?!?!?!?!?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 08/04/2003 07:30 AM PST

BK - The earlier you post the new day's notes the better, because I never know if anyone is reading the last few posts on the old notes.

Rosemary potatoes was one of my favorite stars. How nice of the Jones family to have her to dinner with you.

Before we went to the dinner at Joe Allen's yesterday we saw a production that would surely fall into the "how are they going to make a musical of that" category... THRILL ME - The Leopold and Loeb story. Although this was a world premiere the property has been kicking around for several years. A dear reader even sent me a copy of a demo recording from 1997. Apparently this production got produced because Martin Charnin agrered to direct. ANNIE it's not. This two man (plus off stage voices) show plays up an aspect of the story that has been mentioned before but not in this much detail. It's known that Leopold and Loeb had a gay relationship, but in this version Leopold is a nice guy but his obsessive love for the sadistic Loeb causes him to commit all the crimes so that Loeb will have sex with him. At the end, Leopold confesses that he wanted to be caught so they would either hang together or be cellmates together for life plus ninety-nine years. The music is just right for the story and characters although a lot of the lyrics rhyme a little too obviously. Yet one of the most chilling musical numbers I have ever seen is the number where Loeb lures an unseen Bobby Frank into his roadster. I think if it is kept intimate it could have a future off-Broadway.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/04/2003 07:30 AM PST

DR Ben, what a sweet compliment! Oddly enough (or evenly enough), I do believe I have Dorian Gray's mirror at home.

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 07:38 AM PST

Good morning all!

BK - thanks for the latest installment of the "JC Notes" - ahve a spot in my CD changer waiting to be filled!

Susan - thanks for asking. Not dreadful, but close. Only 1/2 the quartet was in the house, amking for some unusual musical sounds during "Sincere" and "Lida Rose". Our Harold Hill still having difficulty as well. After we finished, my wife joined Kyle and I for a quick dinner at a local seafood restarurant. Another cast member came in with her family shortly thereafter, whereupon she came over to introduce herself to my wife and asked why wasn't I Harold??? Nice when your fellow cast members have the same questions you do!!

Tonight is first tech (full dress tomorrow & Wed - if I ever get my costumes, that is!) Further notes to be posted.

Jason - send the names to my e-mail if you don't want to spoil it for the rest of the crew!!!

Posted by Phil @ 08/04/2003 07:42 AM PST

We're going shopping!!! I'll post more later, but this is my contribution to 100 posts today. :-)

Posted by Jason @ 08/04/2003 07:43 AM PST

Susan, I bought ALW's Japanese "Phantom..." in when I went to England. I think I got the other Japanese musicals in stores around the area (Southwest Washington State), such as Tower Records and Silver Platters. There are also (as of this moment) two different Japanese cast recordings of "Phantom" on eBay, one with no bids. BID NOW!!

Posted by George @ 08/04/2003 09:02 AM PST

My apologies DR Susan, I had forgotten that your famous face was dazzling them last night at JA, as well.

But, I am a bit confused... Bert Parks bought dessert?

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 09:06 AM PST

Ray and I bought our own dessert (Chocolate Pudding cake with vanilla ice cream and fudge sauce) and I was under the impression that everybody else did too. One sad note: AMOUR has been added to the wall of flops, although there's something right about AMOUR and walls.

Susan---
Footlight records on 12th street has a lot of foreign cast albums (including Japanese) and you can go to their website WWW.Footlight.Com to see what they have.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/04/2003 09:11 AM PST

WEL - When I read your post about Rosemary potatoes I literally howled. Unfortunately , I forgot that I was at work, and now everyone has been walking by my cubicle giving me very strange looks. Oh well, it was so funny, it was worth it.

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 09:11 AM PST

DRs George and WEL, thanks for the tips on where to find the Japanese recordings. I can't wait to have some of my own.

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 09:42 AM PST

A brief report on MY FAIR LADY at the Hollywood Bowl last night: It was great!

Melissa Errico was delightful as Eliza. I've not seen Ms. Errico before, and I was impressed by the range of her voice, which goes very comforably from a dusky mid-range to a solid soprano. She looked good on stage, too.

I was a little apprehensive about seeing John Lithgow as Higgins, as all I've seen of his work in the last few years has been an occasional episode of "Third Rock from the Sun," and I was concerned that he'd fallen into the Nathan Lane school of acting. (You know, the mehtod of acting that offers two speeds: over the top and more over the top.) I have to say, Mr. Lithgow was near perfect in the role. His energy and charisma were just right, and he found nuance in a not very nuanced character.

Roger Daltrey was fun as Alfred Doolittle and Rosemary Harris brought some elegance to the stage as Mrs. Higgins. Repeating his turn in the recent Broadway revival, Paxton Whitehead played Pickering, which must be one of the most thankless roles in all of musical theatre.

The show was staged on the sparsest of sets, but the players were off book for this one-night only performance, and it was great to hear the score played by the sizable Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, which was led by John Mauceri.

Posted by Jay @ 08/04/2003 09:59 AM PST

Blast! Dash it all! Shucky heck!

I'm at work, and I'm miserable.

My allergic reactions to the invisible have kicked in -- sinus passages swollen, irritated/itchy feeling in eyes and nose, slight headache behind the eyes. The major relief comes when I have sneeze attacks.

I won a "Dream Girls" original 1981 window card in an eBay auction yesterday. It's a beauty. Interestingly enough, I won it from a lady who lives about 5 minutes from my office, across Lake Merritt in beautiful downtown Oakland! I'm picking it up tomorrow evening.

Sadly, I lost an original "Mack and Mabel" window card...a bid of $280 trumped my $275 in the final seconds. Sigh. Ah, well...that's more money to spend elsewhere, that's what I always say. What do any of you always say?

Book-to-film: I'm always going to agree on TKAM and "Rosemary's Baby" -- wonderful films! But a more recent "faithful" movie is the ongoing "Lord of the Rings" trilogy...both "Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" were 100% faithful to the novels and all a Tolkien fan could hope for. Other book-to-film masterpieces include "A Room With A View," "Sense and Sensibilities" and "Howard's End." IMO.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 10:24 AM PST

Probably the best case of a film taking a good potboiler novel and turning it into a grand saga is The Godfather. From pulp, real trees do sometimes grow!

Oh and Ron, thanks for your recent emails. Sorry I didn't have time to respond.

Posted by Nick R @ 08/04/2003 10:39 AM PST

How sweet of you to say that, Bill. Bless you.

Posted by Rosemary Potatoes @ 08/04/2003 10:59 AM PST

Well, the air conditioning man
came this morning. I had to
replace the motor in the main
unit - very expensive. Then, he
called me at work to inform me
that the reason that it had
been leaking water was
because the coil had rotted
through. To replace the coil
was double the cost of
replacing the motor, so this
entire mess is costing me
close to 2500 bucks - an
expense I really did not need
right now. May I just say "Oy".
May I just say "Oy" again? May
I say it a third time (yes,
Virginia, that is three oys).
Additionally, I think I have to
replace one of my tires. I think
that deserves a fourth oy, don't
you?

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 10:59 AM PST

Darn you, BK! As soon as I read "favorite book-to-film adaptations" I was thinking "Psycho!" And then you go and give it as an example. Hecky durn. I agree that it was a vast improvement over its source material. I had to read the novel for a class once (Literature and Film) and I couldn't get over what pulpy silliness it was. The film is 1000 times more satisfying than the book, even with the dumb expository ending.

My favorite Jane Austen adaptation is the BBC miniseries of "Pride and Prejudice." It's immensely entertaining, seems to capture the era perfectly without pandering to modern sensibilities, and last but not least, Colin Firth IS Mr. Darcy...*sigh*

Posted by Lulu @ 08/04/2003 11:02 AM PST

Ooooh, and I'd have to add "Jaws" to the list titled Better Than the Book. I never even finished the novel - I actively disliked it. LOVE the film.

Posted by Lulu @ 08/04/2003 11:06 AM PST

Nick R: I'm glad you got my e-mails. Frankly, except for BK mentioning he was with you here or there, I'd quite frankly thought you'd dropped off the face of the earth.

And we mustn't have that!

Glad to see you posting.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 11:15 AM PST

I had almost forgotten that we had a question today. Apparently I have had to devote too much time trying to figure out what Bert Parks was doing at Joe Allen’s last night, and why he didn’t bother to buy Bill and Ray’s dessert?

Can I agree with Ron and BK about “Rosemary’s Potato… I mean Baby,” without having to actually like the movie? I loved the book, but I thought the movie was as dry as the paper on which the book was written. Maybe the fact that it was word for word the same as the book was the problem I had with the film. It did absolutely nothing to flesh out the characters, the story, or the locations. And I think you would have had to read the book to know who the Hell those people were supposed to be in the dream sequence.

I would have to say the first Harry Potter film was true to the book. It gave me all of the extra sights and sounds that I somehow hadn’t visualized when I read it. If we can count TV films or miniseries to the list, I would add Stephen King’s It and The Winds of War.

Oh, and Jesus of Nazareth, but I had read the book so I knew how it ended.

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 11:18 AM PST

...but I thought it was Bernadette Peters who bought everybody (except WEL and Ray, apparently) desserts? I mean, wouldn't they have to exhume and reanimate Bert Parks? A chore in and of itself, never mind getting the poor guy to shell out for sweets afterwards.

Posted by Lulu @ 08/04/2003 11:23 AM PST

As a rule I tend to prefer the books to their movie counterparts, but Bridget Jones' Diary is the exeception. I absolutely loved the movie, and couldn't stand the book. The book went so over the top that it ceased have any semblance of believability. The movie, on the other hand, was well made and well cast, toning things down enough to be credible, without losing the delightfully zany quality of the main character.
As far as good book to movie adaptions, the one that comes to mind right off is an animated film by the name of The Last Unicorn. The script stays remarkably true to the book, and the animation is simply beautiful, as is the score.

Posted by Ann @ 08/04/2003 11:25 AM PST

Sorry to hear about the expensive AC problems, BK. Believe me, I understand completely!

Posted by Laura @ 08/04/2003 11:30 AM PST

Lulu - I figured that it couldn't be Bernadette Peters because "BP" was referred to as one of "the most beloved stars in the theatrical firmament," and considering how some people here feel about Bernadette, I didn't think that it could possibly be her.

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 11:32 AM PST

DR TCB, I must differ with you regarding the first Harry Potter film. Although the special effects were, indeed, quite outstanding, I do not believe the film did the book justice. Because they obviously had to shorten or eliminate certain scenes in order to keep the film at a reasonable length, much was lost from the story line, and, with it, much of the magical quality of the tale, as well.

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 11:37 AM PST

BK - A 4th tire for the air conditioner? Is it a portable unit?

All of a sudden with no warning it started to rain. Unfortunately it happened while I was out to lunch a few blocks away from the office. I am now dripping all over the kayboard.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/04/2003 11:42 AM PST

DR Ann, I wasn't aware that there had been a movie made of The Last Unicorn. I loved the book and for years would quote a certain passage from it. Of course, I no longer can remember it, save that it was something about going through walls as opposed to doors.

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 11:43 AM PST

Maybe that's why AMOUR failed. It's gimmick was an old one.

Posted by Jay @ 08/04/2003 11:44 AM PST

DR Ann: I so agree w/you about Bridget Jones. I read the book and had to force myself to finish it. I found it trite and silly and, as you said, so over the top that it just became unbelievable. I was reluctant to see the movie but my friends wanted to see it and I tagged along and was very pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed it. Quite a switch from the book, all for the better.

We never confirmed that it was Bernadette OR Bert, now did we? Who knows, it could have been Bill Pullman or even Barry Primus. Depending on who you talk to I'm sure that someone or other would consider one of them a beloved star in the theatrical firmament. Then again, perhaps Brad Pitt was feeling puckish enough to grace our table to look into the limpid eyes of our star of the evening Susan Gordon as his lovely wife, Jennifer Anniston looks on. We have to have some mystery here at HHW ;-)

Posted by Ben @ 08/04/2003 11:52 AM PST

No, we don't, Ben!

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 11:54 AM PST

Betsy Palmer?

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 11:57 AM PST

Brad Pitt? Was he there too???? How'd I miss that!

;-)

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 12:05 PM PST

Susan - Brad Pitt was the waiter with the really bad bleach job who kept passing our table. He was our waiter at one of the earlier Hainsie-Kimlet parties only at that point he had on a black eyepatch.

Jay- Thanks for your comments on MY FAIR LADY. Melissa played the part in the early 90s tour/Broadway engagement with Richard Chamberlin as Higgins. She was having voice problems at the time and missed many performances. However she has matured into a beautiful, talented and reliable performer. If you don't have her CD you should get it. Before John Lithgow was a sitcom star he was a serious actor and he even managed to escape unscaithed from SWEET SMELL. How was Rodger Daltry?

By the way, Paxton Whitehead is one of the best unsung comic actors around. I first saw him as CHARLIE'S AUNT where he was very funny and have subsequently seen him several times. His mid-80s sitcom MARBLEHEAD MANOR contained some of the best physical comedy ever seen on television... it was almost like watching NOISES OFF (which also featured Whitehead in the original production) on a weekly basis. This sitcom also featured a pre-Seinfeld Michael Richards.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/04/2003 12:31 PM PST

Roger Daltrey seemed to be having a lot of fun in the role of Alfred Doolittle. He handled the singing and dialogue quite respectably and was credible in the role.

Mr. Whitehead was good as Pickering, but, as you know, there just isn't much opportunity in the role for him to have demonstrated his great comic skill. He did draw some good humor--in a very subtle manner--from Pickering's surprising knowledge about women's fashions.

Posted by Jay @ 08/04/2003 01:00 PM PST

I don't see why there needs to be anything cryptic about the faces at Joe Allen's....why continue with it?

Why not just identify folks?

SS -- Steven Spielberg was there?
Or was it Stephen Sondheim?

CB -- Carol Burnett?

Cannot we know the truth?

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 01:05 PM PST

Ron---
As I posted in the late posts from yesterday earlier this morning The biggest celebrity at Joe Allen's last night was that adorable little girl from THE FIVE PENNIES.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/04/2003 01:27 PM PST

Sidney Sheldon
Angela Lansbury
Kay Starr
Robert Zemeckis
Hal Prince
Jerry Herman
Candice Bergen
Brad Pitt

Posted by Joe Allen @ 08/04/2003 01:27 PM PST

Yes, I agree. This could be torturous for me. I'm the future of America! Think of your country! Tell us!

-I know, I know, lamest excuse ever...-

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 01:28 PM PST

POsted too late...but the country is saved!

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 01:28 PM PST

Isn't Kay Starr dead?

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 01:33 PM PST

....and how come there is no "SG" or "JB" listed?

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 01:35 PM PST

So much rain! Will we ever see a dry day in August?

Follies was in Ivoryton, CT. They used Goldman's original Broadway script. Their run ended Sunday.

Thursday night I taught at the annual improv retreat,

http://www.artisticnewdirections.org/retreat.html

and a great time was had by all. Every year the participants view the week as a life-transforming experience. I'm usually wary of people who say "my life is forever altered" but when so many say it, who's to argue? And this year's locale, not far from Woodstock, was a step swankier without being more costly.

Posted by Noel @ 08/04/2003 01:35 PM PST

Movie Improvement Over Book

Carrie by Stephen King. I thought the book was awful, but I reviewed it for a freebie newspaper and was really surprise. Top notch performances by Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie.

Best Book to Movie
The Exorcist

Most Disappointing
Stanley Kubrick's version of The Shining.

Posted by Michael @ 08/04/2003 01:46 PM PST

Okay --- to set the record straight, there may have been people at Joe Allen's with those initials but they were not celebrities. Our very own Susan Gordon was the biggest star in the restaurant last night. Nobody who was not at our bought anybody desserts. But the truth is, we had such sparkling conversation that there is not a celebrity in the world who could have made the night better than it was.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/04/2003 01:50 PM PST

Book to Film: "Maurice"
Book to Series "Jewel In The Crown" & "Brideshead Revisited"

LOTR Best adaption of book from such difficult source material. Seence and feel of the book remains despite the necessity for cutting characters etc.

DR Susan: Art Garfunkel sings the song from "The Last Unicorn" but I have still never seen the film listed anywhere - I wondered if they had changed the title.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 08/04/2003 02:12 PM PST

I don't read much fiction. But Larry McMurtry's Terms of Endearment was an enjoyable novel and a very fine film.

Posted by Noel @ 08/04/2003 02:13 PM PST

Boris Pasternak paid for desserts!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 08/04/2003 02:14 PM PST

Yes, Tom, but doesn't KS stand for Kevin Spacey?

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 02:16 PM PST

I think the movie of GONE WITH THE WIND is better than the book which is way too long and repetitive. It's a great read, but the movie eliminated all of Scarlett's children prior to Bonnie and shortened lots of other purple passages of the book. Fans of Ms. Mitchell's book, please don't string me up for saying this.

Posted by Matt H. @ 08/04/2003 02:19 PM PST

Well, the good news is that I
don't have to replace any tires
yet - not for another few
months at least. Although I'd
rather replace fershluganah
tires any day than replace
motors and coils in air
conditioning units.

I am glad Boris Pasternak
paid for the desserts - he's
usually such a stingy bastard.

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 02:25 PM PST

A good (I think) book to movie translation was Stephen King's "The Dark Half." The movie itself was a bit of a muddle but the the book (especially the ending--from what I can remember) was lame.

"The Last Unicorn" was one of my sister's favorite movies but I've never seen it all the way through. I bought her the video from eBay a couple of years ago. Click on my name for the imdb.com listing for it. It's still available (on VHS--it's never been available on DVD) through amazon.com and I'm sure other places. Mia Farrow was the voice of the unicorn.

Posted by George @ 08/04/2003 02:39 PM PST

Hmpf. And you had me believin ya too...

I just recieved a TMMillie window cling-type-thing which is very cute sticking to my window. I love getting "real" mail. Email is fun but real mail is much more personal. I think I'll write some letters...

I'm feeling quite random today, so this post doesn't really do much but take up space. Sorry.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 02:59 PM PST

NLA - No Lulls Allowed.

Actually, The Last Unicorn is
available on a region 2 dvd.

I am sincerely thinking about
getting some Ben and Jerry's
Coconut Fudge Chip Almond
ice cream - just 'cause it will
cheer me up while I think
about my air conditioning unit.

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 03:01 PM PST

DR George, don't forget that heartthrob Jeff Bridges did a voice in The Last Unicorn, too! I think that may just be a selling point to Our Susan. ;)

Posted by Lulu @ 08/04/2003 03:01 PM PST

BK: Go for it!

Posted by Lulu @ 08/04/2003 03:02 PM PST

Sarah - I forgot to mention that
you are very tall. Tall is what
you are. A strapping tall girl in
swishy shorts. You are not as
tall as me, however, or even I,
however. I am two inches
taller than you when I stand up
straight, and I am four inches
shorter than you when I
slouch. That's a Jewish thing.
We both look wonderful in
swishy shorts, though.

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 03:03 PM PST

Hey, NLA - No Lulls Allowed.
Get off your collective butt
cheeks and let's get some
postin' goin' on, shall we? We
need a pick-me-up. Perhaps
everyone can tell about their
swishy shorts.

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 03:52 PM PST

Yes, yes, I am tall. Apparently I'm not done growing yet. And it's a burden too, as I have to find tall guys to date. And high school guys aren't too tall yet, so I have to be picky and choosy. And heels are the devil.

My swishy shorts are purple and they look ravishing on me. Which is quite a feat, as most people do NOT look too smashing in their swishy shorts. I also have black and blue adidas swishy shorts, but they have become too worn from XC practice to wear.

Spearmint gum is good, as is leftover lasagna and home made salsa...

Question: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 04:02 PM PST

Yes sir, Mr. BK, sir. Lulls are the enemy indeed.

I'd salute if I were militaristically inclined. :)

Major problem here: My right eustachian tube (the tube joining the throat and the ear) is blocked, or at the very best, simply aggravated to being very narrowed causing me much discomfort and pain on that side of my head. Ouch.

The nurse I saw at the CLSC (Medicare at work for a two hour wait) told me to wait five days or so but otherwise I might have to get an incision in my ear to release the pressure. Double Ouch.

I need all of you to pray to your respectful Gods and Goddesses and send good thoughts my way.

Hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight. Normally I sleep only my right side but it's just too uncomfortable. I am officially exhausted. :(

Posted by Emily @ 08/04/2003 04:06 PM PST

~~~Good vibes to poor, sickly Emily!!~~~

I'm just back from a simply wonderful day of shopping with DR Jose. We both spent a great deal of money, he spent more than I did, and was even serenaded by a cashier at Macy's (she sang "Turn Back Old Man" from Stephen Schwartz's GODSPELL). We also found these wonderful shirts made by Nike that feel like you're not wearing anything, while in reality, you are completely covered up! I got one...he got two.

We had a lovely lunch at the Applejack Diner on Broadway and 55th and that's when we headed for Macys, which is a ZOO! I'd never shopped there before. I can't imagine being there around Christmas time.

After Macys we went to K-mart so I could get some new socks, and then it was time for Jose to leave. I saw him off to his train and then tried to get on the uptown E train so I could get home. Apparently there was so much rain that the E was flooded going uptown past 42nd Street, so I had to take the C to Times Square, where I picked up some Ollie's Noodle Shop take-out, and I hopped on the 7 train to Queens. Well, I didn't really HOP...more like DODGED my way to the train platform. Ben and I have come to the conclusion that people simply do not know how to walk in New York. I really feel like if people would just keep in mind that there is ALWAYS someone behind you in NYC, then things would be fine. There wouldn't be anymore stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, or walking incredibly slowly in the dead center of the sidewalk, or carrying your umbrella with the pointy end sticking out behind you where men, in particular, could possibly lose their manhood. Its lunacy and I think people should have to have a license to walk on the sidewalks of New York.

Anyway, enough ranting. I'm off for a bit to finish my fried rice.

Posted by Jason @ 08/04/2003 04:18 PM PST

Oh my gosh. It's been decades since I last thought about my eustachian tubes.

Probably the last time was Biology II.

The next thing you know, somebody will have me worrying about my medulla oblongata...

Brrrrr.....

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 04:20 PM PST

I thought you lived in Brooklyn. Why would you take an uptown E train to Brooklyn. I thought the E ran fro the World Trade Center site in Manhattan to Jamacia Queens wiothout going anywhere Brooklyn.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/04/2003 04:29 PM PST

Take the A Train.

Posted by Duke Ellington @ 08/04/2003 04:30 PM PST

I was out last night taking a few college buddies from the campus anime club to a show in Dillon's featuring songwriters Steven Lutvak and Amanda Green - it was wonderful because I haven't visited my "extended family."

Posted by Kit Lo @ 08/04/2003 05:01 PM PST

Ha cha!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 05:03 PM PST

*takes out the fix-it-all medicine*

Here you go Emily, take it with a spoonfull of sugar.

"A spoonfull of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down, medicine go down. Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down, in the most delightful way!"

And thats enough MAry Poppins to last me a year or ten.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 05:05 PM PST

What's with this Ron Pulliam guy stealing my act?

Posted by Jimmy Durante @ 08/04/2003 05:05 PM PST

Goodnight, Mr. Durante.

Posted by Mrs. Calabash @ 08/04/2003 05:08 PM PST

Sarah is tall? is she Plain and Tall? if so, there's the making of a musical ;)

JASON - I can only imagine what you ordered.. chicken fried rice perhaps? Ironically, OLLIE's is the very first place our own Ms. Kerry Butler suggested we go for lunch on Saturday... but instead we dined at the Europa Cafe on 42nd.

And lastly, but most importantly... JULIANA'S JOURNAL has been updated with a new entry.. everyone should check it out....

Posted by Craig @ 08/04/2003 05:27 PM PST

Hahahaha no. I am not plain. I am far from plain. I am the most non-plain person out there.

Except for Dennis Rodman. He is just wacked.

Posted by Saraj @ 08/04/2003 05:36 PM PST

Apparently I am Saraj now. Interesting, I thought I'd be notified.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 05:43 PM PST

I just read the latest entry in Juliana's Diary and it was wonderful, as always. However, I was curious about one thing she wrote. She was saying how grateful she was for the advice and friendship of people in the business, but when she mentioned Guy Haines, she put his name in parenthesis. I wonder what she meant by that?

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 05:46 PM PST

L.A. Times review of last night's MY FAIR LADY:

http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/cl-et-miller5aug05.story

Posted by Jay @ 08/04/2003 05:56 PM PST

Take the A train and get off at B flat.

Posted by Darlene Edwards @ 08/04/2003 05:57 PM PST

More posts than there are stars in the heavens. Only two more days until GYPSY opens. Phil - I am sure there are people who will see both your MUSIC MAN and my GYPSY!

DR Jose and DR Jason loose in NYC! Oh my, if only I could join them. Jason, I will wait until you return from the Poconos on 8/12 to send your tape. I also have a surprise DVD to include!

A waiter with a bleach job AND an eyepatch - just wanted to be noticed, I guess.

Mr BK chose a lot of the best book to movie transfers...certainly ROSEMARY'S CLOONEY er BABY was terrific. I think I would also go with T.E.B. Clark for the 1958 version of A TALE OF TWO CITIES, and Eric Ambler for A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.

Worst adaptations: VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, Helen Deustch and Dorothy Kingsley; and THE FOUNTAINHEAD by Ayn Rand written by Ayn Rand!

Improvement on a book, I would almost have to agree with GONE WITH THE WIND, at least it gave a nice precis of the events; and Ranald MacDougall for his screenplay for QUEEN BEE from Edna L. Lee's novel.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 08/04/2003 06:06 PM PST

I know there are some Disney fans here, so I just wanted to mention that Wal-Mart has the special edition DVD of The Love Bug for $14.44. The list price is $29.95 (even Deep Discount DVD can't beat their price) and it's a two-disc, remastered set with tons of extras including documentary, the "Susie the Little Blue Coupe" cartoon (you'll remember it!), audio commentary by Dean Jones, Michele Lee and the late Buddy Hackett, and lots, lots more. Well worth it! And hey...who doesn't love Herbie? :)

Posted by Lulu @ 08/04/2003 06:08 PM PST

So she told her friend, who was staying with her in Brooklyn, to take the D train when returning from Manhattan that night.

"Can you remember that?" she asked her friend.

"Sure," she replied. "D for dumb."

But when it became late at night and there was no word yet from her friend, she began to worry. Finally, at eleven o'clock the phone rang.

"Where are you?" she asked her friend.

"I'm in Coney Island," came the reply.

"Coney Island? The D train doesn't go to Coney Island."

"The D train? I took the S train."

"You were supposed to take the D train. Remember? D for dumb?"

"Oh, well, that explains why I took the S train: S for stupid."

(No groaning, please. This really happened!)

Posted by A Girl in Brooklyn @ 08/04/2003 06:17 PM PST

So...what happened to the CHAT?

Weren't we supposed to have one this evening?

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 06:32 PM PST

My contribution to today's pursuit of 100 posts..

Well, FOREVER PLAID closed last night, after a wildly successful run. We are all a little sad to see it come to a close, and many people have suggested other venues where it might continue. Who knows what the future might bring?

The show got quite a bit of local coverage, including two articles in the local paper (plus the review), which are still online as of this writing. We were also featured on local radio and television.

The best part of the experience was the reaction of the audiences, who absolutely loved this show. It's difficult not to, I suppose. The show is so well constructed, the audience has to love the characters by the end of the evening, and the music is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Of course, I am also thankful for the fact that I never burned myself swallowing fire. ;-) Thanks for the helpful tips from a couple of DRs. You know who you are...

Next up, I have RAGTIME to look forward to this Fall.

Curious note: I got an email yesterday, announcing the formation of a new local theatre company. For their premiere production, they have chosen "American Buffalo", by David Mamet. Now, I love David Mamet as much as anybody, and I truly love this play, but my very first thought upon reading this was, "What are you, f***ing crazy?" Anybody else?

Posted by Dave @ 08/04/2003 06:33 PM PST

The Love Bug is the first movie I ever saw at Radio City Music Hall. That along with the Easter Extravaganza for some ungodly price like $5.00.

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 06:37 PM PST

I don't know, Dave. Why not let the audiences know what you are about up front. Don't lure them in the door with Sound of Music and Charley's Aunt, and then hit them between the eyes with Mamet later. This way they know where you are coming from, and they can't feel later like you misled them.

Posted by TCB @ 08/04/2003 06:44 PM PST

Dave -- glad that FP went well. I hope you have photos to share with DR Sandra!

Posted by Laura @ 08/04/2003 06:56 PM PST

Hey! NLA- No Lulls Allowed (to quote the great bk)

Where ARE we all? Are we just waiting for the next person to post? Because thats what I like to call LAZY, my dears. Post away, I'll start a topic.

OK here's a game that goes like this. I say a random sentence like, "I TOLD you that he didn't like bananas." The next poster has to write the question that my sentence answers, such as "Why won't he eat with the other monkeys?", sa well as another random sentence.

Hopefully your ideas will be more creative then mine. I'll start.

I swear I didn't mean to, it just fell off!

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 07:50 PM PST

Mentioning Radio City Music Hall reminded me of the first movie I can remember seeing there: OPERATION PETTICOAT with Tony Curtis and Cary Grant.

Jason, your FOREVER PLAID group had the same reaction our group did: enthusiastic audiences (we had many repeat attendees who brought friends back with them) and lots of coverage. And I corresponded with some other Plaids for awhile. But one goes into others shows and eventually, the thrill fades a bit. Still one of the most precious memories I'll ever have of being on stage, and among the highlights of my life truly was doing that show. The only others that compare for me were A CHORUS LINE (forming the line and marching forward toward the audience while they were cheering was a special thrill) and doing so many different types of things in AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND.

Posted by Matt H. @ 08/04/2003 08:19 PM PST

I am tired.
Hanging lights, and working with the
lighting dfesigner, is hard work.
Particularly when it is followed by a
reading of plays by students, and
you have about 2 hours to learn 5
songs, which stretch your range
pretty far, and then you have to sing
them all, since not one song without
your character has been written. And
then you have costume fittings for
the whole cast.
I'm going crazy,

Maya: Northwestern has no "Musical
Theatre" major. They do have a
certification program, and I will try to
get into that. And many thanks for
your congratulations.
I don't know from movies made into
books. Sorry.
I do know that I am terribly sorry to
have missed the party last night.

Posted by Hapgood @ 08/04/2003 08:22 PM PST

LOL . . Sarah, you're a riot!

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 08:23 PM PST

And we missed you, too, DR Hapgood! That goes for all East Coast H/K. No excuse next time!

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 08:27 PM PST

G'nite everyone!

yawn!

Posted by Susan @ 08/04/2003 08:28 PM PST

I never actually meant for that game to work, I would have been surprised if it had. Too "juvenile" for you fine folk.

DR Susan: Am I a riot? I'm supposing the good kind, which means no shoving. Don't you DESPISE people who shove? I always shove them right back, whether it was intentional or not. It gets me in a little trouble here and there, but hey, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. (If that actually happened, the whole world would be blind and toothless. How strange would THAT be?) That was a line from Fiddler on the Roof, I think. I did that show when I was in seventh grade. I had no lines, I was a dancer, which means chorus with one extra scene and a pretty skirt. Where was I?

Oh yes, riots. Those are never fun. And I LOATH people who shove.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/04/2003 08:33 PM PST

Greetings from Fairfax, VA! I'm almost home safe and sound, but I did finally make it back from NYC and into Union Station via Amtrak. Poor, poor Amtrak... They've not had the best couple of days lately when it comes to customer satifaction. When I trained up yesterday, as soon as we pulled into Penn Station they announced that Metro North was having major electrical problems, and that any trains traveling further norths would be delayed for an indeterminate amount of time - and we were already running late as it was. At least I was getting off at Penn Station. And then my return train home - which happened to be running late too (DR Jason and I just got to the boarding area when I noticed that the train was still boarding) - was further delayed another hour before finally leaving the station due to a power problem, and then due to the fact that they were going to "double load" the train with passengers from the 6:00 Metroliner which ended up being cancelled. Ah, well... I ended up getting a nice cushy seat in the cafe car, and ended up "eavesdropping" on some lady at the end of the car who covered many, many topics with her friend - medical operations, law suits, her new diet, her lease, etc. -She just had one of those voices that carries... and carries... I took it all in stride, and I got a lot stuff entered into my PDA - even some backlogging I needed to take care of. In any case...

DR Jason and I had a nice day of shopping. I didn't go too overboard, but I did get some nice things, and ended up "influencing" Jason to purchase something. Oh, and we both had maiden voyages of sorts - he had his first trip into Takashimaya (I bought this cool magic 8-ball thingy, but it's not a ball, and there's no 8 anywhere on it - more like a wheel of fortune thing - a total splurge/impulse buy), and I made my first trip into H&M. -Eh... I guess I need to check out the 5th Avenue location, but I did buy some shirts. And as Jason mentioned, we then headed across the street to Macy's where we both kind of got lost in the store, but we did ride the escalators up a couple of floors - then took the elevator down to The Cellar. Then the
buying commenced.

Well - I actually still have to read most of the posts from today, but I wanted to check in for now...

And, once again, Thank You to DR Susan for arranging last night's get-together. A truly wonderful evening.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 08/04/2003 08:48 PM PST

DR Sarah: You posted the answer
"I swear I didn't mean to, it just fell off! "

My question:
"Does anyone know what happened to the left nipple on the statue of Adonis in the foyer?"

My new answer:

Because when he tries to quack like a duck, he actually clucks like a chicken.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 08:49 PM PST

Doing my part to get to 100 posts today.. wooohooo!!

Posted by Craig @ 08/04/2003 09:06 PM PST

Ooh! We're so close!

Posted by Jason @ 08/04/2003 10:24 PM PST

Have I mentioned that I feel sickly right now? I'm a little dizzy and nauseous. I don't know if its my dinner or dehydration. Perhaps I should go to bed...:-\

Posted by Jason @ 08/04/2003 10:25 PM PST

Come on, you wusses! Only FOUR more posts til we hit 100!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/04/2003 10:35 PM PST

Back home and this site has been so so so busy.
Thanks DR Jason. That bloodthirsty whale arrived safely.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 08/04/2003 10:36 PM PST

I see it is up to me to get us to one hundred posts. The fact is that posts made during the morning hours get counted for that day, despite being on the previous day's notes.

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 11:07 PM PST

Therefore we simply must get to one hundred posts or we will have shame here at haineshisway.com. What, are you all asleep or something?

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 11:08 PM PST

Very well then - by Jiggy and by Jove and by Birdie, we've done it.

Posted by bk @ 08/04/2003 11:08 PM PST

Congratulations. Another brilliant day BK.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 08/04/2003 11:34 PM PST

And just to add to the pot at 7:07am on Tuesday morning with post 102, here I am, wearing a maroon t-shirt, blue jeans (even though it will be muggy today), white sweat socks, blue canvas deck shoes and that's it.

The Ford Foundation awaits.

BTW, Music Guy and Kerry, if you read this (unlikely at least for now). We had such a great time finally meeting and greeting you both. What a special weekend we had.

Posted by Ben @ 08/05/2003 04:11 AM PST

Sending good vibes and get well wishes to Emily.

Posted by Susan @ 08/05/2003 05:32 AM PST

G'Morning everybody...

*yawn*

Posted by Sarah @ 08/05/2003 06:37 AM PST

Congratulations on 100+ posts! What a great way to start the day knowing we got to the "magic" number!

Posted by Matt H. @ 08/05/2003 06:49 AM PST

Yippee! The Sure Thing ('80s movie starring John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga) has finally been released to DVD! In a special edition, no less!

Now where the hootin' heck are Love at First Bite and Zorro the Gay Blade??

Posted by Lulu @ 08/05/2003 07:03 AM PST

Gosh, I must've missed something. Emily's sick? Hope you're feeling better soon, E.!

Posted by Lulu @ 08/05/2003 07:06 AM PST

Matt, it was me who was in FOREVER PLAID. Jason is in SCARLET PIMPERNEL and TITANIC.

I have a few photos from our production of PLAID, but they really aren't that great. I'm waiting for the "official" ones to come in.

As for the "American Buffalo" thing, well...I guess it's just that I know our local market pretty well, and I don't anticipate a large audience for this show. And often when a company opens with a show that doesn't sell, we don't hear from them again. It would be one thing if they were to announce a season, which included "American Buffalo" as part of it, along with some more audience-friendly fare. I applaud their moxie, but I'll be surprised if they are ultimately rewarded for it.

Posted by Dave @ 08/05/2003 07:12 AM PST

G'morning, everyone.

Sarah, I hope you didn't think my saying you were 'a riot' was anything but endearing. I think you're adorable.

Posted by Susan @ 08/05/2003 07:37 AM PST

It's 10:50 in the A.M. and I'm feeling not dizzy and not nauseous. Hoorah! Problem is, I was supposed to be at work 50 minutes ago and I just woke up!! So, I'll go in late and stay late. Maybe til 8:00. We'll see.

Posted by Jason @ 08/05/2003 08:06 AM PST