Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 2 => Topic started by: bk on November 06, 2004, 11:59:23 PM
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Well, you've read the notes, you are now "in the know" and can proudly hold your head high, and now it is time for you to post until the parading cows come home.
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As I tried to post "yesterday", but... -I can't wait to back to the East Coast and to "my normal" time zone" ::)
As for my opinion of Follies...
I actually get the piece. My first exposure to the show/score was through the Lincoln Center concert version - it came out right at the start of my own Sondheimania when I was in high school. I was hooked even before I had to turn the first LP over. Subsequently, I started stocking up on other recordings, and even started investigating some of the cut material. I came across a copy of the original script in a bookstore. I've seen a very good and lavish(!!) community theatre production, and I saw the not-so-good and not-so-lavish Roundabout revival/revisal. OH! And I've also seen the ootleg-bay where Yvonne DeCarlo is all over the place in her solo.
I've never thought of the four main characters as "whining". Wondering what might have been, yes. Wishing they had made different decisions, yes. Wondering if they made the right decision, yes. Wondering if there really was a right decition, yes. But, whining? No... at least IMHO.
I think the key to getting the show is remembering that the action of the show takes place over the course of one evening, a few hours spent at a reunion. Yes, there are flashbacks, and there are ghosts, but they aren't necessarily part of the "time". They serve as background, motivation, explanation. We get a glimpse into why this particular night holds so many stakes and so much "investment" for these four people at that particular time.
Just how much growth can take place in one evening anyhow? Not much. An initial change of heart, yes. A realization, yes. A confronting of a past demon, yes. Saying things that have done unsaid for years, yes. And even the seed of a glimmer of hope being planted, yes. But growth? Hmm...
Yes, the ending is ambiguous and un-tidy, but that's life. These are adults that have been through a lot, and done a lot to be where they are "today". It would take more than a few hours to bring their lives full circle. Will Ben, Sally, Buddy and Phyllis start anew come morning? Will the speak to each other once they leave the reunion? Will they mend their ways? Or will they just continue their folly? Will their be a "happy ending"?
We may not get the answers to these questions by the end of the evening, but the fact that we, the audience, are left with these questions, wondering about these questions and possible answers is part of the genius of the piece.
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And as I get ready to leave Houston...
I've had a good time here. It's been a true honor and privilege to have been a part of this "team", this very esteemed team. And the cast has a been a lot of fun to spend time with too - I just wish I had spent more time with them.
Houston is a big city. With big city traffic. Ugh! *Of course, we happened to be housed the second most-congested area in the state of Texas traffic-wise, so... I wouldn't mind coming back here, but I don't think I'd ever return on my own accord.
And, I think I've stated this before, I'm just really homesick right now. As "Old Josh" says in big, "I wanna go home." -Of course, I'm heading home Monday, but then I'm trekking up to NYC on Tuesday for a few days... but at least I'll be back on the East Coast. With some real(!) weather!
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And something I've been meaning to post in the past couple of days, but keeps slipping my mind...
My favorite note given to the cast from the assistant director/choreographer:
Please watch your diction:
Ooh! Sigh! Give her your attention.
Do I really have dementia
;)
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Question: During a pointed conversation, is it polite to keep score?
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OK, that was silly. ;D
There's a convention or conference going on this weekend here in Rehoboth. Sort of tying in to the conversations from yesterday, it's a convention of... Tranvestites!
Yep, you read that right.
Der Brucer and I were over at Cafe Zeus when this came up, with a few of our friends. Collectively, we started to wonder: exactly what does one call a group of transvestites? After all, if we can have a flock of geese, a pride of lions, a pack of wolves, or for that matter a murder of crows, then there should be a name for transvestites gather together.
I suggested they be called a lift of transvestites, after their undergarments.
So, I put to everyone: what unusual words can you think of, either actual or something you're making up, to call groups of animals, things, or people?
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OK.... It's now 4:18CST... I guess it's time to go to bed - ?!?!?!?
-It's gonna be an interesting closing matinee... Hmm..
;)
Laters...
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Of course there are coveys and prides, DRSWW. Of course it's not entirely appropriate, but I suggest a group of transvestites be called a jorgenson.
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DRDANISE - Don Briscoe who played Tom Jennings and his twin brother Chris on DARK SHADOWS passed away last Sunday in Memphis......oh....well they say he did, but you know how those Dark Shadows people are....he is still around, methinks.
Howard Duff? Remember Howard and Ida in MR ADAMS AND EVE?
I just watched Hedy Lamarr in THE HEAVENLY BODY with William Powell. Some of these stars today can call themselves beautiful if they wish, but Miss Lamarr makes them look like Marjorie Main!
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LOL.....it always makes me laugh when I say, I am going to see The Invisible Man.....always funny.
I hope DRPANNI remembers to throw a coin in the fountain of Trevi (this movie comes out on DVD this week at last!).
Hmmmmmmmmm.....how about.....movies you didn't "get" the first time, but did the when you saw them again....for some reason or another.
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I for one didn't understand the physics and psychology of FORBIDDEN PLANET for years....and when I finally did, I realized what an even better movie it was!
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And of course there's always "favorite" Twilight Zone episodes!
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I'd say a drag of transvestites. We already have a drag of a cigarette, so the word's been used for amounts.
Jose makes an interesting point about whether change can occur over the course of one evening. Makes me wonder what other musicals take place in (more-or-less) "real" time. My suspicion is that Sondheim and Goldman intentionally portrayed stasis in the four major characters. Stuck in the past, unalbe to change - for better or worse, that's what they meant us to see.
Francois, I don't believe I've said a word about my life in quite some time. (Certainly, if I was being forced to see Follies and Last 5 Years, two shows I've seen twice, I might complain about it, but I'm not.) But look carefully at what happened in yesterday's posts:
We were asked to name musicals we feel are overrated, and I thought of the one rated the absolute top by many, Follies. I never said I hated the show. Somebody else said I hated the show. I understood the show perfectly. Somebody else said I missed the point of the show. That's a bit frustrating, n'est-ce pas?
It may be a subtle distinction: an elaboration of one's views in the face of other's misapprehending one's original point vs. whining. Four characters in Follies (and, coincidentally, four characters in The Secret Garden) whine about their lives - in shows that hope to be entertaining. I hope to make my posts entertaining and, consequentially, studiously avoid whining.
But one always has to read carefully. For a moment, reading the notes, I thought BK reported he'd gotten off on Hillary Duff. That would have been most unseemly.
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To say that I have been errant and truent might very well be the understatment of the year, but my schedule has been very hectic and I'm happy to have this morning to myself to do with as I please before my week begins getting crazy again this afternoon. I've been reading and catching up, but have not taken the time to post.
Anyway, today I begin tech week for a university production of Hello, Dolly tht I've been choreographing for two months. Most people I know hate tech week, but I have to say I actually enjoy it for some reason. I think it's the problem solving aspects I like to deal with this week. Also, now I'm able to just sit back, watch and take notes. The two months have been a very rough process with a lot of tense moments and I have to say I will be glad when the show is opens and I am done, which to me is kind of sad because Dolly is one of my favorite shows. Not because I think it is the greatest work of art, but I do love the score, the jokes, and I'm a big Carol Channing nut. It hurts my soul that she may prove to be difficult. Working with people on a production staff that you don't respect is a very difficult thing to do and I need to think about whether or not I will return to this job next year if the same musical director is hired again. Thank you for listening.
Next week I'm moving to NY. Actually Jersey City. It will be my first time living that close to the city and I'm excited, though scared because I need to find a job for the holidays before heading west to Illinois in January. Hopefully with the holiday season coming up and my retail experience, I will be able to find something.
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Saw Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly last night. I had previously only knew the show from its cast album. I did not think much of it and had only listened to it a couple of time before putting it away. The CD does not do the show justice. The visuals and the songs are so important to the enjoyment of the show and to divorce one from another is like Liza Minnelli and David Guest when the first got married. The cast were very good with voices and everyone had their moments to shine in this revue. The actor who played the gay character of Howard (Crabtree) bio reminded me of Gene Barry's playbill bio for LA Cage Aux Folles when he mentioned that he was married with children at least five times. Just make sure that it was clear that although he was playing a gay character he was really straight. They also did not have a bio for the late Howard Crabtree which I thought was wrong.
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Good morning all!
I’ve been a busy little bee already. Supper is already in the pot cooking away!
I had a good time last night. I watched The Wind and Lion and then I pulled out my Babylon 5 DVDS and watched some of the episodes that had the comments from some of the actors/creator on them.
DRDANISE - Don Briscoe who played Tom Jennings and his twin brother Chris on DARK SHADOWS passed away last Sunday in Memphis......oh....well they say he did, but you know how those Dark Shadows people are....he is still around, methinks.
Oh no, JRand! Not the resident werewolf! I’m very sorry to hear that. Who of the cast is still left alive?
I wanted to ask you if you are buying the DVD collections of Dark Shadows. I loved the show but I regret to say that I am not. I don’t have the time to sit and watch that many shows and I think, perhaps, some things are best left to memory.
Thank you Jennifer for answering my question. I thought about that post after I went to bed and I apologize if I made it sound like I was gold digging for personal addresses. I just got in the Holiday mood yesterday while I was out and started to buy my cards when the thought occurred to me that I wasn’t sure it would be alright with some of you to send a Christmas card. Then it also occurred to me that even if I did want to send one I may not even know where to send it.
It has always been my personal tradition to have everything done the weekend of Thanksgiving. For years the day after Turkey day is the day I sit down and do all of my cards and they all go in the mail on the following Monday.
I will confess one year I made the mistake of buying all of my Christmas presents by August, wrapped them all the weekend of Thanksgiving, sent all my cards out that Monday and was miserable the rest of the holiday season. There is nothing worse for a shop-a-holic then have all of the shopping done. :( ;)
Gotta run. I have tons of work to do today. I've almost got the chainsaw assembled so I can finish up on that tree, then I want to mow the lawn, the dogs need a walk, etc, etc.
Talk with ya'll when I either take a break or sometime this evening.
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I see that the Finian's Rainbow (2004 Off-Broadway Concert Cast) cd will be release in a week + 2 from now. Does anyone know what the tracks are or saw the show and can give their opinions?
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...but I suggest a group of transvestites be called a jorgenson.
"...sen", not "...son" (Danes spell funny)
No, a Jorgensen would be a group of Transexuals, not Transvestites - right church, wrong pew.
der Brucer (A Bloomingdale of transvestites?)
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The actor who played the gay character of Howard (Crabtree) bio reminded me of Gene Barry's playbill bio for LA Cage Aux Folles when he mentioned that he was married with children at least five times. Just make sure that it was clear that although he was playing a gay character he was really straight.
[sigh] Do people still have this antiquated way of thinking? My last lover had been married for twenty years to a woman and had sired two children. That means nothing. Some people are SO insecure.
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I agree completely with DR Jose. I do not see the dialogue and songs of Sally, Buddy, Ben, or Phyllis to be whining. They have regrets, they have desires, they have longings: they express them through talking and singing. For me, that's drama.
As for the comment last night that Brent Barrett sang a love song to another man years before LA CAGE AUX FOLLES premiered. That's true; he did in DANCE A LITTLE CLOSER. And the show ran, what? One performance? Don't think too many people would have seen that happen.
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Of course there are coveys and prides, DRSWW. Of course it's not entirely appropriate, but I suggest a group of transvestites be called a jorgenson.
DRJRand54, LOL!!! ;D ::) :-* ;D
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Looking forward to settling down with STAR WARS this afternoon. Will post comments later.
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Good morning, all! Around 11:30 am yesterday morning, I had a surgical bleeding problem which threw me into a panic since my damned surgeon never returned my page. I appeared to be fighting a cold as well, so yesterday got lost in questions of kleenex, emergency room possibility, and remaining immobile to see how the bleeding went. I think things are fine today. Fingers are crossed.
FOLLIES, to me, is the most epic work in musical theatre since 1927's SHOWBOAT, and I feel every production since the original has diminished it, partly from Mr Goldman's insecurity over his book (how wouid you feel if Michael Bennett kept insisting Neil Simon should be called in to fix it?) to bad casting in later productions.
I believe that Harold Prince identified mainly with Ben, and he felt the show was Ben's story. My mother, God bless her, was very similar to Sally Durant Plummer and I believe FOLLIES is her story. It's true that the four characters spend a lot of time reliving their past mistakes and hopes, but I believe in the original production Ben and Phyllis come to some new "understanding" of their marriage and its possibilities. Buddy is still a philanderer and Sally has gone over the bend and is heading for a suicide attempt or a padded cell. There is no happy ending there, and I think that's one reason why FOLLIES is such an unsettling show: most of its audience were people of that age, and FOLLIES showed them the crack in their facades. SHOWBOAT chickened out on its ending because of its time, place, and conventions: Ravenal had to come back to give Magnolia and the audience a happy ending. Ferber either kills him off or simply lets him fade away, it's been 40 years since I read the novel.
As to the casting of FOLLIES, Dorothy Collins has never been bettered.
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I see that the Finian's Rainbow (2004 Off-Broadway Concert Cast) cd will be release in a week + 2 from now. Does anyone know what the tracks are or saw the show and can give their opinions?
Neither Amazon nor the record producer's site gives a hint of track listing.
Playbill (http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86598.html) comments on the label:
Sh-K-Boom Records was founded by Kurt Deutsch in 2000 with the mission of bridging the gap between pop music and theatre. The label is committed to giving a voice to the new generation of Broadway composers and stars. Its other cast albums are the premiere recordings of The Last 5 Years, Debbie Does Dallas and Amour.
With their interpretation of their mission, I suspect they will not be on Noel's Holiday Greetings list ::)
der Brucer
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Danise, are you able to listen to internet radio stations (besides our own dear Donald's, of course). I mention the BBC all the time and I listen to it regularly. I bring it up because on Christmas Eve the BBC will broadcast a Michael Ball Christmas Concert.
Here is a link to Playbill On-Line for details.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/89390.html
The concert will begin at 12:30 in the afternoon U.S. time. It mentions 7:30pm but that's London time. If you don't know whether you can listen to it, perhaps you can find a friend who would look at your computer and tell if you would be able to listen. It's not terribly difficult if you have Real Player on your system and you're able to listen to Donald's show here, you should be able to listen to the BBC Radio 2 station.
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I agree with you, DR Elmore. While Alexis Smith stole the notices and had people screaming, it was Dorothy Collins that for me was the essence of FOLLIES: a heartbreaking and forever memorable performance.
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SHOWBOAT chickened out on its ending because of its time, place, and conventions: Ravenal had to come back to give Magnolia and the audience a happy ending. Ferber either kills him off or simply lets him fade away, it's been 40 years since I read the novel.
Results of Web search to date:
From UVA - American Studies (http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG97/showboat/sbintro.html):
The second act (of the novel) climaxes in the reunion of Magnolia and Gay as they watch their daughter, who has achieved international stardom, perform as they had years before.
I like your version better!
der Brucer
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No DRDANISE - now and then I will watch an episode on TV if they are shown, but I don't think I could sit through a bunch of DS episodes in a row.
Can't spell either....
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I agree with you, DR Elmore. While Alexis Smith stole the notices and had people screaming, it was Dorothy Collins that for me was the essence of FOLLIES: a heartbreaking and forever memorable performance.
There is a generational thing at play here, also.
When I saw Follies, it was Collins who blew me away - but, my memories of her were with Snooky Lanson on "Your Hit Parade", so the aging starlet still trooping rang true.
der Brucer (and, inspite of The Munsters, Yvonne De Carlo was still Mrs. Moses)
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THE DAILY LEVITY
A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up to the counter and says,"Hi...You know, I just HATE drawing welfare.I'd really rather have a job."
The social worker behind the counter says, Your timing is excellent.We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur/bodyguard for his nymphomaniac daughter.
You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes.Because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy her sexual urges.
You'll have a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting salary is $200,000 a year".
The guy says, "You're bull shittin' me!"
The social worker says, "Yeah, well, you started it."
der Brucer (joke sounds like some days on HHW)
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:I like your version better!
der Brucer
DRDerBrucer, thank you! He never comes back in the book, and even Captain Andy dies a tragic death falling off the boat, as I recall. I wonder if the author of that page ever read the novel?
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[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%] :) ;) :D ;D >:( :( :o 8) Page 2 Dance!!! :'( :-* :-\ :-X :-[ :P ::) ???[/move]
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Someone on this site, amongst my erudite peers, will know this answer since I don't: is it starve a fever, feed a cold OR feed a fever, starve a cold?
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Sh-K-Boom Records was founded by Kurt Deutsch in 2000 with the mission of bridging the gap between pop music and theatre. The label is committed to giving a voice to the new generation of Broadway composers and stars. Its other cast albums are the premiere recordings of The Last 5 Years, Debbie Does Dallas and Amour.
With their interpretation of their mission, I suspect they will not be on Noel's Holiday Greetings list ::)
Au contraire, Der Brucer. I've nothing but the highest admiration for record companies that devote themselves to new work. Getting a recording out there encourages the writers to write more. I've always said that, someday, somehow, Jason Robert Brown is going to write a musical I'll like. I have faith in him. And the tracks from Amour Donald has played struck me as delightful. I hope the young man who wrote the music will continue to write musicals for decades to come. What's his name (and age) again?
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Elmore, from the Straight Dope by Cecil Adams:
Dear Cecil:
My son says he has it on good authority that the phrase is "Feed a fever, starve a cold." I thought it was "Feed a cold, starve a fever." Can you tell me who's right, what it means, and who said it? --Bob White, Arroyo Grande, California
Cecil replies:
Your son thinks there's a better authority than dad? For shame. Although I realize the only way to make kids understand sometimes is to reason with them really loud.
Your version of the proverb is the traditional one, but you can find citations in the literature that have it the other way around. The idea, if not the exact wording, dates back to 1574, when a dictionary maker named Withals wrote, "Fasting is a great remedie of feuer."
You're thinking: this guy wrote a dictionarie? His medical advice wasn't so hot either. Doctors have been trying to stamp out the above piece of folklore for years. Current medical thinking is that you want to keep an even strain when you're sick with either a cold or a fever, and you certainly don't want to stress your system by stuffing or starving yourself.
Nobody's sure where the notion of feeding colds and so on arose. (It surely didn't originate with Withals.) One somewhat dubious explanation has it that the proverb really means "If you feed a cold now, you'll have to starve a fever later." A more plausible interpretation is that the feed-a-cold idea arose out of a folk understanding of the disease process, namely that there were two kinds of illnesses, those caused by low temperatures (colds and chills) and those caused by high temperatures (fever). If you had a chill, you wanted to stoke the interior fires, so you pigged. If you had a fever, you didn't want things to overheat, so you slacked off on the fuel.
Bottom line: tell your kid to chill. But I can relate. When I had sniffles as a kid the feed-a-cold thing was usually good for a few extra Twinkies. So you'll just have to forgive me if, in the delirium of a 99-degree temperature, I used to imagine it was feed a fever too.
--CECIL ADAMS
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Good Morning!
Final performance of A CHORUS LINE here in Houston this afternoon... In just over two hours... I better get ready...
Laters...
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DR elmore - Will I need to bring you some chicken soup this week?!?!?
;)
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DR mkrdl - Oohhh... New York, New York here you come! -Or Jersey City, New Jersey (Jersey, Jersey - ??) here you come!!
:D
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DR elmore - Will I need to bring you some chicken soup this week?!?!?
;)
Yes
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I'm really enjoying the Follies comments, both pro and con, and please everyone, don't take anything personally if someone disagrees, either yay or nay. This show, even in its original production had audiences divided wildly. You know my feelings, which are similar to elmore's. Especially that every production since has diminished its power and even point. When directors think that Carlotta is all about casting a seventy-plus Golden Age star they should not be directing Follies. Ann Miller, Polly Bergan, both wonderful, and both completely wrong for the role in every way. The original casting for all the Follies people was spot on in every case. In the last revival, Betty Garrett as Hattie (I LOVE the woman) was not up to doing the part - she was approaching eighty at the time. Ethel Shutta was in her early seventies I believe and was a fireball of energy. When I saw the original production, I remember thinking, look how old Alexis Smith and Dorothy Collins are. They were, of course, in their late forties at the time. Yvonne de Carlo was in her late forties, which is the AGE of her character. When you have a seventy-four year old woman playing that role and she's trying to come on to and pick up a twenty-one year old waiter, well, I don't think that's what the authors had in mind. I also remember being astonished at the ending, that they didn't tie anything up. And what I really loved about it was that it DIDN'T conform to anyone's idea of anything.
Again, all these thoughts are tied to its original production. I can't read scripts of musicals, even in conjunction with playing their scores - it's academic, and I miss the elements which make these musicals theater - that is, the actors, the director, the choreographer, etc. I've read Follies many times, I've played its score many times. I've seen badly cast and directed and choreographed revivals. If that's all I'd seen or known I would agree with Noel. But I saw that original production - one of the most perfectly directed, choreographed and acted pieces of theater I've ever seen - probably THE most perfect. Miss Collins made you understand Sally and she broke your heart. Alexis was bitchy and scary and under it all, vulnerable. John McMartin perfectly captured the malaise that Ben is feeling. When he "forgot" the lyrics in Live, Laugh, Love it was one of the most chilling frightening moments I've ever witnessed in the theater, so brilliantly did he do it. The audience literally froze. And Gene Nelson was fantastic, and The Right Girl (a number I never liked on the cast album prior to seeing it) was a revelation, especially the dance section, which is the real character part of the song, where everything comes pouring out of him. And when the four of them (and their younger "ghosts") are all vomiting up their frustrations at the end and the stage starts to morph into the Follies - well, it just doesn't get better than that. It was also very much a show of its era - very much of the late sixties-early seventies, when the country, as well as its people, were disillusioned. Many who saw Follies thought they were going to see a show like No, No, Nanette, which was a big hit then in its revival - that's what they wanted, something to lighten the mood. It's not what they got - they got a mirror instead, and believe me it made a lot of people uncomfortable and a lot of people left the theater disappointed and angry.
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Tuesday, DW Joy Dewing opens as Mrs. Claus in Christmas Dreams, the new musical at the Grand Palace. The theatre claims to be Missouri's largest, at 4000 seats. Tickets are selling well, which means that, potentially, she'll be singing "We Need a Little Christmas" to 48,000 people a week.
As I stare at the Member Map, it seems to me none of the Dear Readers are close enough to Branson to get there and see it. But one never knows about lurkers, and I'd love a report. Anyone in Tulsa? Fayetteville? Is there no little girl from Little Rock here? (Sad if there isn't.)
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It's a bit rainy here - light, but wet.
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Tuesday, DW Joy Dewing opens as Mrs. Claus in Christmas Dreams, the new musical at the Grand Palace. The theatre claims to be Missouri's largest, at 4000 seats. Tickets are selling well, which means that, potentially, she'll be singing "We Need a Little Christmas" to 48,000 people a week.
DRNoel, good vibes for Joy on a successful run as Mrs Claus!!!!
The hardest part about revivals that that often the new team thinks they know what's wrong with the show and they'll fix it, as if the original authors hadn't confronted the same problems in their own planning. Often the rule is correct: if it ain't broke don't try to fix it. Here are some examples I can think of in the past few years:
110 IN THE SHADE at City Opera: the hottest morning of the year, and the show opened with dancing.
SHE LOVES ME at Roundabout: Arpad sings "Try Me" and jumps in bed with Mr Maraschek at the end of the number; no sense of class relationships, of employee-employer to a man who's just attempted suicide, not to mention adding "Twelve Days of Christmas" to the score in case you missed the joke in the title of "Tweve Days to Christmas."
THE KING AND I: Donna Murphy sings "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You" as she wonders throughout the Palace in her nightie. If she's got that freedom to come and go to the throneroom, why does she want a house and privacy outside the grounds?
THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE at Roundabout: everything was wrong, so why pick on that show?
THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE at Encores!: Susan Shulman and Rob Fisher turned Rebecca Luker's reprise of "The Shortest Day of the Year," which she's singing to her brother-in-law thinking it's her husband, into a duet between her and her real husband!
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES: I love Goodspeed but that revival was as bad a redo of the original as Carol Channing's LORELEI from the 1970s!
THE SOUND OF MUSIC: by setting all the indoor scenes outdoors, with one door to the house, when Maria leaves the party in Act One to return to the convent, how could she not be seen exiting with her luggage and guitar? Also, why was the Mother Abbess' office scene for the song "Maria" set in an area with workng nuns eavesdropping on the conference between the Mother Abbess and her staff?
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I very much appreciate BK's two long paragraphs about Follies. I now recall that I've seen three productions. In none of them did Phyllis (Diana Rigg, Blythe Danner, 40-something Jean Tafler) convey the hint of vulnerability "underneath" that Alexis Smith did. And I surmise those original cast portrayals must have gone a long way towards making the four leads people you care about.
As it happens, in the past hour I listened to Pat Suzuki singing I Enjoy Being a Girl from Flower Drum Song. And what unites these shows is, perhaps, their being of their times.
An old Asian-American related how freeing it was to see I Enjoy Being a Girl 45 or so years ago. Asian-Americans had long been marginalized in our culture, but here was a vibrant Oriental (the term in use back then) belting out a Rodgers & Hammerstein up-tempo, as normal as blueberry pie, as "American" as anyone. He found that very empowering, as well as sexy.
I think the song is brilliant, but, times have changed, and a lot of people are embarrased by the lyrics today. It's a shame. I was going to say I hope to see a well-cast, well-performed production of Follies some day, but, if shows are of their time, perhaps they can never have the same impact. Certainly, Flower Drum Song can't startle us the same way it did in 1958, and maybe one of the reasons I've never liked Live Laugh Love is that I've always known, in advance, that Ben will forget his words.
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When Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater did Follies nine or ten years ago, Judy Kaye was Sally, Constance Towers (in a horrible wig) was Phyllis, Walter Charles (in a wonderful wig) was Ben and Ken Berry was supposed to be Buddy. Someone else (the choreographer, maybe) played the role. Maxine Andrews and Edie Adams were in the show (I forget which parts). Karen Morrow was Carlotta and was incredible. She was sexy and you really felt that she actually had a chance with the waiter. AND she sang the hell out of the song!
[sigh] Do people still have this antiquated way of thinking? My last lover had been married for twenty years to a woman and had sired two children. That means nothing. Some people are SO insecure.
A few weeks ago I was watching the DVD of "Reno 911" and listening to the audio commentary. They had the actor who play Lt. Dangle (the gay cop who only wears shorts) and he mentioned several times his lovely and delightful wife. All through it I felt that he had to reaffirm his heterosexuality to the listeners. It just seemed too obvious.
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How many offers of Vicodan can strangers email to me?
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How many do you want? ;)
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I'm already thinking about food. Whatever shall I eat? It seems the light rain has given up the ghost and that the sun is even trying to peek through the crowds of clouds.
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the sun is peaking out here too...which means I will be forced to go and mow the lawn as it is supposed to rain the rest of the week.
Went to Walmart and picked up some more $1 DVDs...all cartoons..Toonervill, Porky Pig, Felix the cat, Betty Boob, Gumby, etc.
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As for JRand's topic: I did not get Lil Abner the first time I saw it...couldn't even sit through it, but when I watched it again this last year I loved it!
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Food is always good. This afternoon, I have to usher for a concert of local high school bands and orchestras. They're supposed to be the good bands and orchestras, but even if they're incredible, purely instrumental music tends to bore me. It's a flaw in my personality, I know. Anyway, after that, I'm going to my parents' house for tacos! Homemade (well, from a mix, but cooked at home!) tacos are always good.
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And the tracks from Amour Donald has played struck me as delightful. I hope the young man who wrote the music will continue to write musicals for decades to come. What's his name (and age) again?
His name is Michel Legrand and he will turn 73 on Feb 24. I, too, hope that he will write musicals for decades to come, but actuarial tables agrue against it :'(
der Brucer
PS He wrote the score for JRand's yesterday delicacy "Ice Station Zebra".
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Won't this be fun!
Small country pleads to UN to protest it from the French Invaders!
AP Newstory (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,137849,00.html):
Ivory Coast will ask the Security Council for action against France, presidential spokesman Desire Tagro declared on state TV, adding, "We are faced with aggression by one country against another country. We are going to inform the entire world ... that France has come to attack us."
…
"Ivory Coast has become an overseas territory in Jacques Chirac's head," said Koulibaly, Ivory Coast's second-highest leader.
der Brucer
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Well, STAR WARS did look amazingly sharp and clear with not a speck of dust or dirt on that transfer. The interiors, of course, were much sharper than the exteriors, and the sound, while it can't match today's surround tracks, had been nicely refurbished and that extra rear surround speaker that Dolby Digital EX uses did have a good bit of extraneous sound popping out of it. Deep bass had also been much expanded from the old Dolby Surround audio tracks on the laserdisc.
So, nice to have it looking and sounding so good. I'd still rather watch something like THE USUAL SUSPECTS or L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, however, or a classic like THE MALTESE FALCON.
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Decided to make a batch of my famous tuna pasta salad, which should last me for two days.
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Decided to make a batch of my famous tuna pasta salad, which should last me for two days.
From Musso and Frank to tuna pasta salad - how the mighty have fallen!
der Brucer (but it beats Whacky Noodles)
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Not if you had my tuna pasta salad. It's quite yummilicious and quite addictive.
Now, might I just ask where in tarnation IS everyone? You'd think it was a Sunday afternoon. Let's get some topics, shall we?
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Oh, dear, there's no one here but us chickens. Skammen. Dear reader Panni sent me an e-mail - apparently she is the toast of Italy. I don't know what kind of toast, that's the only problem. She neglected to say if she was white, whole wheat, or rye, or maybe even Melba.
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This is supposed to be my day off from coming up with topics - so you people get off your Hillary and Howard Duffs and come up with some.
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Someone on this site, amongst my erudite peers, will know this answer since I don't: is it starve a fever, feed a cold OR feed a fever, starve a cold?
I always heard it as "Feed a cold, starve a fever", which makes the msot sense to me.
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Just read that Howard Keel has passed away at eighty-five. I saw him just recently at one of those memorabilia shows, and he looked great. What a wonderful long life he had. What are your favorite Keel roles?
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I feel like having soup!
Last night I had the most delicious Hot and Sour soup. That is what I really want. But instead I shall have pea soup, which is okay, but not my first choice.
Tonight is the premiere of My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss. I think this will be a hilarious take-off of The Apprentice.
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Feel better DR Elmore!
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Just read that Howard Keel has passed away at eighty-five. I saw him just recently at one of those memorabilia shows, and he looked great. What a wonderful long life he had. What are your favorite Keel roles?
My first memory of seeing him in a film is JUPITER'S DARLING, which I loved as a kid. My other favorite role is SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.
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Feel better DR Elmore!
Thank you, DRJennifer!
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Good Afternoon! -Early Evening!
-What a wonderful closing show! It was truly just one of those performances where everything came together. And everyone on stage(!), in the audience, and in the pit (too), got "it". There was not a dry eye on stage after "What I Did For Love". -And as soon as I started seeing the conductor start to tear up, so did I... -Actually, we started to get emotional during the last part of "Music and the Mirror".
And, personally, I also have to say that I finally got "it". What makes this show so special and so powerful.
I'd go on right now, but we're all heading out to dinner someplace... I'll be back...
Laters...
Kiss today goodbye...
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Of course there are coveys and prides, DRSWW. Of course it's not entirely appropriate, but I suggest a group of transvestites be called a jorgenson.
I'd think that would be a group of transsexuals, rather than transvestites. But an appropriate name!
I met Christine Jorgensen once, at a Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade. She was very nice and, dispite her awkward beginnings, a genuine lady.
(Der Brucer just commented, over my shoulder, that he's already responded on this. Sorry for the redundancy.)
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I love him in Seven Brides, and also in Annie Get Your Gun.
I've decided to finally watch Angels in America, which I picked up today on DVD. I'm enjoying it so far, although the writing is very theatrical, which is fine for the theater but sometimes seems jarring on film. And may I just say that I really love Mary Louise Parker.
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I also love my tuna pasta salad.
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Howard Keel = Adam Pontipee.
Just mentioned on ABC Evening News....announcer said something about..."the passing of an entertainment legend..." and up popped an ANNIE GET YOUR GUN clip....for a moment I thought Betty had gone!
:-[
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Yes, I am AWARE of the difference between transvestites and transexuals - but George did spend some time dressed as a woman before the surgery...I was trying to be funny. Didn't work, I guess.
Oh my a two hour special edition of EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER....I hate network television!
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Howard Keel = Adam Pontipee.
Just mentioned on ABC Evening News....announcer said something about..."the passing of an entertainment legend..." and up popped an ANNIE GET YOUR GUN clip....for a moment I thought Betty had gone!
:-[
Same here!
Fav roles: Annie Get Your Gun, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Kiss Me Kate, Calamity Jane (Loved him in drag) and his last big role was in Dalllas which he was one of the few characters that was able to stand up to JR.
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Yes, I am AWARE of the difference between transvestites and transexuals - but George did spend some time dressed as a woman before the surgery...I was trying to be funny. Didn't work, I guess.
I laughed!
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It used to be that one could count on many spams for Viagra and lots of different kinds of pills. But, they've been overtaken by a proliferation of spams from people trying to see Rolexes. What is THAT about?
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Evening all.
Everything hurts but the tree is down. I can’t believe I did it and I’m not missing any fingers or toes. It took longer than I thought to get the chain saw put together but when I did, I went straight to work on the tree. I didn’t get the yard mowed or the dogs walked but that’s ok.
Thank you so very much, Ben, for telling me about Michael Ball’s Christmas Eve Concert. I put it into my Outlook calendar so I will remember it.
Good vibes to you, DR Elmore. I hope you are feeling/doing much better.
I’m sorry to hear about Howard Keel as well.
Sorry to make this short but I am very tired. Have a good evening all.
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Thanks DRELMORE.
DRDANISE the HHW Lumberjack!
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While I'm on the subject, I made a serious mistake several years back regarding transvestites. I accidentally referred to them in a way that I thought was positive, but some people refused to take it that way at all.
What I did was compare the transvestites in Gay Pride parades to the clowns in other parades, such as circus parades. Thier function, I hypothesized, is highly similar. Both groups wear outrageous make-up and costumes, and are there to entertain and make us laugh.
Well, this didn't go down well at all with the Gay Left Politically Correct Police. I had called the transvestites clowns, which can also mean either a habitual buffoon or joker, or a boor. Were these GLPCP willing to listen to my use of the other definition of the word "clown"? Of course not. THEY knew that they were right, and that I was guilty of bad thinking.
That this came up when der Brucer and I were manning the Log Cabin Republican booth at the Long Beach Gay Pride Festival didn't calm them down any, of course.
After a few of these festivals, der Brucer and I realized that this was just a part of the GLPCP behavior pattern. Every time we helped man a booth (sorry, to be correct that should be "helped person"), we would have to deal with a half-dozen people coming up to us during our two-hour shift and screaming at us at the very top of their lungs.
Now, I ask you, has anyone every learned anything from someone who was screaming at them? (Other than screamers who were mothers or drill sergeants, that is.) These people weren't interested in holding a discussion of any sort, they just needed to scream.
I didn't mind them so much, but I did think the occasional spitter was going a bit far. Worse would be when the spitter would hock a lugie. No matter how carefully I'd planned what I was wearing, the green of the lugie would never go with the color shirt I was wearing.
And, of course, the underlying message the screamers would be that der Brucer and I were siding with "those fill in the blank's who hate us!"
Now, compare their behavior with their counterparts at California Republican Party conventions. Log Cabin California regularly hosted a reception area in a hotel room at the convention center, whether the convention was being held in Burlingame, Sacramento, Palm Springs or Anaheim, and once that I can remember in San Diego. And, of course, members of the radical right would come in to down some of the booze and tell us how we were wrong to be gay. Strange, however, that they never yelled at us, no matter how much of the booze they had consumed, either at our hospitality room or previously. And I never had to worry about coordinating my shirt for the event. In fact, the only thing we had to worry about were the young women with the Young Republicans coming in and filching the creams and other beauty aids the hotels would lay out (and charge us for later if they were gone).
There was one time, in Burlingame, when we had a booth in a designated area outside the convention floor, along with several other organizations. It was the only time I was ever yelled at when attending one of these conventions. We had a supply of books, a supply of six titles in all, by various authors. We weren't expecting to sell any, of course, but it would have been nice.
As it happened, I was the only one helping man this particular booth who had read any of the books, and I was at least familiar with the two I hadn't read. Naturally, when people came up to the booth and asked my opinion about the books, I told them what I thought of them, whether one book was well written or not, and I was always thanked for giving my opinion. There were, of course, some conventioneers who simply walked by, sniffing with their noses in the air, but no confrontations, save one.
The one person who yelled at me was the President of Log Cabin California at the time. How dare I say any of the books weren't wonderful, he screamed at me.
It later turned out that he hadn't read any of them, of course. What a clown.
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Yes Legrand did a very nice score for ICE STATION ZEBRA.
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mrkdl73 good luck with your move and finding a job.
Danise I didn’t think you were gold digging for personal addresses. I also like everything done by Thanksgiving but each year I get later and later even with less to do.
Elmore it is starve a fever feed a cold, however I keep reading it is a wives-tale and you should always eat and have plenty of fluids.
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[sigh] Do people still have this antiquated way of thinking? My last lover had been married for twenty years to a woman and had sired two children. That means nothing. Some people are SO insecure.
Heck, der Brucer and I have been together (nineteen years so far) longer than he and his wife. And I'm still waiting for them to finalize their divorce!
I'm bidin' my time
'Cause that's the kind of guy I'm
There's no regrettin'
When I'm settin'
Bidin' my time.
(Assuming a Girl Crazy reference isn't out of place, considering the circumstances. ::))
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Very sad about Howard Keel...I liked him in DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS and, of course, 7 BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.
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Re the ending of Show Boat, I'd like to have seen Ravenal come crawling back, and Magnolia tell him "Frankly, m'dear, I don't give a damn!"
She's earned it!
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The hardest part about revivals that that often the new team thinks they know what's wrong with the show and they'll fix it, as if the original authors hadn't confronted the same problems in their own planning. Often the rule is correct: if it ain't broke don't try to fix it. Here are some examples I can think of in the past few years:
110 IN THE SHADE at City Opera: the hottest morning of the year, and the show opened with dancing.
What, they wanted to interpolate a song from Kiss Me Kate?
THE KING AND I: Donna Murphy sings "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You" as she wonders throughout the Palace in her nightie. If she's got that freedom to come and go to the throneroom, why does she want a house and privacy outside the grounds?
Funding for this production came from Frederick's of Hollywood, perhaps?
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Sad about Howard Keel.
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS which happens to be one of my all time favorite musicals on film.
KISS ME KATE
SHOWBOAT
CALAMITY JANE
I would like to see KISMET again. I really don’t remember it well.
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Noel please wish Joy good show vibes!
Danise I’m amazed you could even post.
elmore good health vibes!
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Oh, dear, there's no one here but us chickens. Skammen. Dear reader Panni sent me an e-mail - apparently she is the toast of Italy. I don't know what kind of toast, that's the only problem. She neglected to say if she was white, whole wheat, or rye, or maybe even Melba.
Definately a kind of white bread, specifically feherkenyer, a Hungarian white bread that is flavored with fennel seeds, both in the bread itself and sprinkled on the egg yolk and cream glaze that coats the top.
(Yes, I cheated and looked it up. ;))
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Just read that Howard Keel has passed away at eighty-five. I saw him just recently at one of those memorabilia shows, and he looked great. What a wonderful long life he had. What are your favorite Keel roles?
He was a great Petruchio in Kiss Me Kate. If Dallas had been entirely about him and Barbara Bel Geddes, I would have watched that.
Ouch, I just realized: CBS is airing a Dallas reunion tonight. This is not good timing, unless they've got a real fast editor on hand.
(And it's interesting/strange, how we were mentioning Show Boat under a different context earlier, another good role for him.)
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Time for me to finish making dinner. I'm making Beef Bourguignon for the first time, a lot of effort but it should be worth it.
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SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS would be my faourite Keel, thoughI'm fond of him in KISMET as well.
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My first memory of seeing him in a film is JUPITER'S DARLING, which I loved as a kid. My other favorite role is SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.
As I posted my regrets on the Scarlet Street boards, I, too, cited JUPITER'S DARLING. Is this a case of great minds thinking alike in a time of grief?
Mr. Keel was the epitome of masculinity at Metro.
I don't think there's a Howard Keel performance which I'm not fond of:
DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS
DALLAS (on teevee)
KISS ME, KATE
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
SHOW BOAT
KISMET
CALAMITY JANE
TEXAS CARNIVAL
and on safari with Lucille Ball in one of her later series.
I also got to see Keel in a national tour of a salute to Broadway somewhere in the 1970s.
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Question for anyone who saw Angels in America on stage: How are all the fantasy sequences handled, just out of curiousity. How much was changed for the film? It's got some very good moments, and some wonderful performances. On to Part Two.
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The fantasy sequences were handled with a mere change of lighting, nothing as stupendous as the film does.
There are some very minor changes in the film, some scenes are switched around, but very few are dropped (iirc, the actual count of scenes dropped was somewhere around five).
Mary Louise Parker is brilliant, isn't she, bK?
looks like it's only you and me right now. . . .
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Nighters, DR's...
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I agree. I think Howard Keel did great work in all his films, but I think he's the sexiest in KISS ME KATE, especially the scenes as Petruchio. My second favorite would be CALAMITY JANE.
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It is almost impossible to plan Sunday evening TV watching during football season as overruns throw the schedule completely out of whack on CBS and Fox. Neither COLD CASE nor ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT came on at the scheduled times tonight due to long football games.
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I have no clue what my next DVD movie will be. I have lots to pick from on the to-watch shelf, but I haven't made any decisions yet. Let's see where the magic fingers lead me tomorrow. For right now, good night
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Der Brucer decided we should watch Henry VIII on Masterpiece Theater tonight. I can't say I'm all that impressed with this interpretation of the events of his life. There's a lot of galloping about on horses, and a lot of galloping about at breakneck speed in the screenplay. It's like the producers hired the caterers from Amphetamines "R" Us.
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Oh my a two hour special edition of EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER....I hate network television!
I had been on a bit of an Extreme Home Makeover for a few weeks, only in that Ty Pennington is pretty easy on the eyes and he always manages to remove his shirt on each episode. But, Oy--that voice! I couldn't put up with that for two hours, either.
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Sorry, I didn't realize anyone watched Extreme Home Makeover with the sound on.
::)
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I saw Howard Keel in "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers," and like him very much. This show was my kids' favorite movie when they were little kids.
It has been raining off and on today -- great for wildflowers, if it keeps up.
That's about all I have to say for today.
DR Danise: I would love to receive a Christmas Card from you! Email me at DearReaderLaura@cs.com
And, DR Danise, how is your mom doing?
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I, Tony Dale, enjoy receiving Christmas (or any seasonal) cards, too! Email me at hilton1@nauticom.net.
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Good Evening!
Back from Jalapeno's - nothing like some Tex-Mex and some margaritas after a closing performance. -However, I just opted for some tamales and something called a "Carmen Miranda" which was basically an ice cream sundae a la Mexican. It was quite dee-lish. Vanilla ice cream in a cinnamon-sugar tortilla "bowl", topped with fresh fruit (grapes, strawberries, blueberries, etc.. even raspberries!), drizzled with dulce de leche and chocolate sauce. The fresh fruit really helped to "lighten" the dessert.
There was some more crying after the dinner... And we're all going to be seeing each other tomorrow morning as we load our stuff on the bus to get to the airport - all of our flights leave within 30 minutes of each other.
The whole pouring out of emotion kind of caught everyone off guard this afternoon. Including myself. As I mentioned previously, right after "Music and the Mirror" finished, you could sense the sense of "this is our last show" in the air. -And the band really rocked today too during "Music and the Mirror" - and that was with a sub trumpet player in today too! -Oh, and the crescendo into the instrumental section of "At the Ballet".... WOW! Very moving.
I also think the fact that Eric, our Richie, was out of the show also was on everyone's mind. The initial diagnosis is that he tore a muscle. Unfortunately, depending upon what his doctors say back in NYC, it could be anywhere from two to six months of no dancing for him - or at least no strenous leg activity. We're all hoping that his recovery is speedy.
For myself, all these thoughts just started going through my mind as soon as I started playing the intro to "What I Did For Love". How would I feel if I had to stop playing piano today? What would I do? How would I really feel about it?
But I also started thinking about all the wonderful places I've been, all the wonderful things I've done, and all the amazing people that have come into my life as a result of my music, my talent, my hands... WOW! That really got the waterworks going.
"No regrets, can't forget..."
The true magic of theater.
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Congratulations DRJOSE on a great A CHORUS LINE finale.
I am trying to decide if I want to leave this job tomorrow and face the uncertainty of no income for however long it takes.
GRRRRRRRR.....I don't think I will be able to take it much longer, anyway. So why prolong it and make myself unhappy every morning? Thinking....thinking...thinking....
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DR Jose, I always enjoy your stories about being a musician. And I enjoy your stories about food, too.
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~~~~~~~~~~~
Decision vibes for JRand
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And I had a combined "Duh! (smack myself on the forehead)"/"Six Degrees of Separation"/"Small World" moment tonight at the dinner tonight...
So, I'm sitting next to the conductor, Fran Liebergall, and we're all trading various war stories about this show and that show... and this show and that show... She brings up the tryout period of The Goodbye Girl in Chicago... "What show? The Goodbye Girl?... Hey! Tammy Minoff just did the show I was doing out in L.A.!" OHH!!!!! DUH!!!! -Smacked myself on the forehead... :o
So... I've been working side-by-side with Fran for the past five weeks, and I knew that she had been Marvin Hamlisch's assistant since A Chorus Line, and that she had gone on to work on his other shows including They're Playing Our Song, and, of course, The Goodbye Girl. We've even talked about all those shows over the past couple of weeks, but it wasn't until tonight that I made the whole Tammy Minoff connection!?!?!?! So.. I tried calling Tammy, but I kept getting her voice mail.... something about her cell phone getting stolen - ?!?!? But I left a message, and, hopefully, her and Fran will able to touch base in the next couple of days.
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DR Jose, I always enjoy your stories about being a musician. And I enjoy your stories about food, too.
Aw shucks! Thank you!
I just wish I had more food stories about Houston, but... However, I guess it's good that I didn't have that many food stories from here since I didn'y do as much walking as I did when I was out in L.A.
However, I'm heading to New York on Tuesday... And I've made the dinner reservations already for the week, so... Stay tuned!
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Congratulations DRJOSE on a great A CHORUS LINE finale.
I am trying to decide if I want to leave this job tomorrow and face the uncertainty of no income for however long it takes.
GRRRRRRRR.....I don't think I will be able to take it much longer, anyway. So why prolong it and make myself unhappy every morning? Thinking....thinking...thinking....
Not to prolong your agony but... What line of work are you right now again?
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Hmmm... So I'm almost done packing. Got my clothes in the luggage. Just need to get all the small stuff sorted and put away. Thankfully, I did not accumulate that much stuff while I was here.. actually, only a new pair of cross-trainers, two t-shirts, some socks and a baseball cap - nothing bulky. And I've been stuffing various little things in the nooks and crannies in my clothes luggage. Hopefully, when it comes to packing my two carry-ons, I won't have too much trouble squeezing everything in.
And TLC is showing the "They Really Hated It" episodes tonight of "Trading Spaces". And the "Black and White" one is on now. ::)
Hmmm... And maybe I am getting a little hungry again... just a little.. ;)
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Question for anyone who saw Angels in America on stage: How are all the fantasy sequences handled, just out of curiousity. How much was changed for the film? It's got some very good moments, and some wonderful performances. On to Part Two.
All the stage tricks on Broadway appeared to be just that, tricks. You could easily see the wires on the angel, and each bit of business reminded you that you were in a theatre. The most spectacular bit was the sudden Hebrew letter flambé.
I can't speak of script changes, but Justin Kirk's interpretation of Prior was completely different than Stephen Spinella's on stage. First off, Kirk is rather handsome. Stephen conveyed the impression that he's a drag queen because only with all that make-up on does he look the least bit attractive. His nudity during a doctor's examination was one of the most shocking things I've seen in my life. The audience gasped. It was like having an emaciated concentration camp inmate right in front of you. Stephen's Prior always had an air of desparation about him, not necessarily related to disease. He was a nudge and a nag, and extremely funny.
(Can you tell I thought Justin Kirk was completely wrong for the role?)
Look at all the American dramas on Broadway over the past 35 years or so, and I doubt you'll find any play as good as Angels In America. It's a stunning achievement
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I had been on a bit of an Extreme Home Makeover for a few weeks, only in that Ty Pennington is pretty easy on the eyes and he always manages to remove his shirt on each episode. But, Oy--that voice! I couldn't put up with that for two hours, either.
Hmmm... I don't think I've seen a full episode of "Extreme Home Makeover" yet. But I have seen plenty episodes of:
"Trading Spaces" with Faber Dewar, Joe Farrell, Carter Osterhouse, Doug Wilson, Barry Wood.
"While You Were Out" with Evan Farmer, Andrew-Dan Jumbo and Jason Cameron(!).
"In A Fix" with Marc Goldberg, Mark "Sparky" Bartolomeo, Justin Brown and James Lunday.
"Clean Sweep" with James Saavedra and Eric Stromer.
And even "What Not To Wear" with Clinton Kelly.
;D
-Those listed above are just my own personal faves. You and your friend and your colleagues may have different "opinions". For a listing of all the "options", just check out:
http://tlc.discovery.com
;)
And then there is Alton Brown and Tyler Florence on The Food Network...
Now if I could just get my cable system to charge me only for the national networks, TLC, FoodTV and BBCAmerica...
:P
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DR Penny O - Did you get my corrected e-mail? Any chance I'll be able to see you in NYC on Tuesday?
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Saw Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly last night. I had previously only knew the show from its cast album. I did not think much of it and had only listened to it a couple of time before putting it away. The CD does not do the show justice. The visuals and the songs are so important to the enjoyment of the show and to divorce one from another is like Liza Minnelli and David Guest when the first got married. The cast were very good with voices and everyone had their moments to shine in this revue.
Agreed. Both of Howard Crabtree's revues depend a lot on the costuming. I think companies are even able to have access to the original "blueprints" to the costumes. The whole dinner theatre sequence had me literally bowled over with laughter when I first saw it. And even the second and third times too! "I've got hunch...." ;)
And some of the songs are surprisingly poignant and touching and sophisticated. -And, boy, is that Darren/Bewitched number tricky to teach, sing and play!
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OH! And another small world story...
The actress playing Judy was on the First National (Max Company) tour of The Producers for a while. Her name is Melissa. Well... When I subbed in for The Producers (Max Company) the week before coming to Houston, I remember seeing charts for "If You've Got It, Flaunt It" in B-Flat in the book. And across the top in big red letters was written "Melissa"... Well.. So, after another light bulb moment, I asked Melissa if she did "If You've Got It, Flaunt It" in B-flat - which was the key of the "Melissa charts". Well... She said, "Yes"
Ah...
I can see said the blind man!
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And then I'm talking with Richie who played Mike in this production... He was in Saturday Night Fever on Broadway. Well... He mentioned his conductor one time, Martin Axe. Well... Martin Axe has been on tour with Mamma Mia! for the past three years. With the second national company. The one I've subbed in for a couple of times. And the one I just happen to sub in two weeks before heading to Houston (the week before I subbed in for The Producers. Well...
It's a small, small world...
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And then there was that guy at the bar...
Oh, well...
Maybe...
Nevermind
;)
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What I ushered for this afternoon was SOGO: Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia. Music education is VERY important. These kids performed some fairly complicated music. After that I went to my parents' house for tacos!
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Tacos at my parents' were good, as usual. Anyway, I got home from my parents' just in time to see "Desperate Housewives." I love this show...this and "Lost."
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Finished with the Angels in America DVD and must now write the notes. I think we need a frenzy right about now. I pigged out on my tuna pasta salad (although there's plenty left for tomorrow) and I also had a hot fudge sundae.
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Wow, twenty posts from now I hit a new plateau.
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And one for BK!
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Not too long after I got home tonight, my housemate came home (he was taking some square dance lessons). After a bit, he asked if I had seen his cat Ebony, and I said that I hadn't. I hadn't...she usually stays in his room until he gets home. He couldn't find her. We looked around the house. I looked in my bedroom (which had been closed, but I looked anyway). Anyway, we didn't find her! I don't know where she could be. When I left this afternoon, he was still home and the cat didn't get out with me. So, hopefully she's just hiding somewhere and hasn't left the house. She's never gone outside since moving here.
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I went to IMDb to see what movies Howard Keel (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0444476/) was in. I realized that these are not just my favorite roles of his, these are the only movies of his that I've seen:
"Annie Get Your Gun"
"Show Boat"
"Kiss Me Kate"
"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"
"Kismet"
I'm deprived (but not depraved, I'm sure).
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Now I must end my "fre." I have some training tomorrow at work and I must be there BEFORE 7:00 a.m.! Who in their right mind starts work at 7:00 a.m.?? I don't ususally even wake up before 7:30. AARRGGHH!!! So, goodnight all. I'm going to need all the "Wake Up In Time And Get Everything Done That Needs To Be Done Before Leaving For Work" vibes that I can get. ::)
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Hey, Oz, we need a fershluganah frenzy!
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I have finished with the notes and am still trying to think of a topic.
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I'm myopic on the topic.
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And then there is Alton Brown and Tyler Florence on The Food Network...
Ah, yes, Tyler Florence, eye candy in residence...
And he isn't married...
But he was...
dang...
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Have a safe trip home, Jose.
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The Beef Bourguignon came off fairly well. It would have been better if I'd used a better wine, and if I'd waited to add the pearl onions to the stew during the last ten minutes. (I was following the recipe. They melted.) But all in all, the outcome was pretty good.
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What IS Oz doing just sitting there like so much fish?
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Now to start planning tomorrows dinner. A kitchen slave's work is never done. ::)
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I am so excited to reach a new plateau, even if I won't reach it until tomorrow morning.
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I have no idea why he's not posting, BK. Unless one of his birds has logged on in his stead, and can't figure out how to work the shift key and type at the same time.
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Oh, the pups all enjoyed the Beef Bourguignon, too. (Saves on washing the bowls, y'know.)
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And now he's just up and disappeared. Very unseemly if you ask me and even if you don't ask me.
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Are we past our minimum posts yet? I keep forgetting how many we need.
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How about now?
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I'm very tired and I shall hit the hay as soon as I post the new notes. I do hope the hay doesn't hit back, but the hay has been known to be very feisty.
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Or now?
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I have no clew about minimum posts. I'm just trying to figure out why Oz left without so much as a Hello.
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Are we there yet?
No.
Are we there yet?
No.
Are we there yet?
NO!
Are we there yet?
NO!!!
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If I was really feeling my oats I'd try for the new plateau this evening. Of course, if I was really feeling my oats the oats might slap me.
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The grandlads and I love playing that word game when we're driving. :D Der Brucer loves it, too; their parents won't let them. :(
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Go ahead, feel them oats! Give 'em a good feel, make 'em turn into mush!
:o
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I think we're there yet.