Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 2 => Topic started by: bk on November 14, 2004, 12:00:36 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, you've got the rhythm, and now it is time to post until the rhythmic cows come home.
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Well... I can't think of anything to post about right now...
I need some sleep, then I can post...
Laters...
Goodnight.
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Now I've been to Rome!!! What wonderful pictures. I hope DRPANNI pounded on the gate and said hello to da Popa!
Hmmmmmmmm.....sometimes I do Director's Notes...hmmmmm....usually say something about the show and its original place in theatre chronology...and for LOVING LUCY about Lucy and her place in our lives....hmmmmmm....and I usually read the Director's Notes. If I don't like a show, usually the "notes" are very illuminating.
Well today we are going to see THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I know it is not a favorite of many DR's. But I enjoy it very much. We have seats very high in the balcony, so it remains to be seen what we will see, but I hope it is fun. And of course it is our last jaunt with soon to be Canadian resident brother-in-law Jason. So it is a very mixed feeling day.
Excited about the WRITER'S BLOCK website and ordering the book! I plan to get one copy for myself and another as a December birthday present for another DR - and YOU know who YOU are!
Very cold here this morning - 28 degrees!
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I am playing "Music of the Night" - which for some reason our first Sharpei - Autumn Memory (Mimmy) used to love to listen to. She would always lay down by the speakers when it was playing, she ignored other songs and music (Mitzi Gaynor in South Pacific used to send her running from the room).
Free for all day! A question for the DR's - did you have a doll house when you were growing up (or did your sister), and what did it look like?
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No doll house, DR JRand, but I did have a doll. Barbie hadn't gotten big then, so I had another kind of dress up doll - larger but supposedly about the same age as Barbie. We bought all the clothes that went with the doll, and then my mom started making clothes for it. Hadn't thought about that in many years.
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GRAND HOTEL: I was lucky enough to have seen it the December after it won its five Tonys in June, so all of the original cast (except David Carroll, of course) were still in it. I loved it. We saw it the first night in NYC on that trip, and the next night saw CITY OF ANGELS. Honestly, those were the two best ensemble casts I have ever seen in all my decades of going to NYC. To be honest, I thought Randy Graff was excellent in CITY OF ANGELS playing her two roles, but I still would have given to Tony to Jane Krakowski in GRAND HOTEL.
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Last night, S. Woody mentioned that he had bought the DVD of A CHORUS LINE, the movie. I have to admit that I have it, too. Got it in a cut out bin for something like $4, but I did buy it. It's still waiting to be watched, however. I don't have a HUGE desire to watch it.
I suspect today, in between bouts of accordian playing, I'll be finishing that first disc in the FRIENDS 8th Season set, and then find a movie to fill the remainder of the afternoon.
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I am playing "Music of the Night" - which for some reason our first Sharpei - Autumn Memory (Mimmy) used to love to listen to. She would always lay down by the speakers when it was playing, she ignored other songs and music (Mitzi Gaynor in South Pacific used to send her running from the room).
I can understand the reaction.
Doll houses? My sister may have had one at one time, but I don't remember it clearly. She was always too much the liberationist sort to settle down into a dolls house. (No wonder I've turned out to be the better cook.)
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It may be a while before I sit down to watch CL. Last night, I made a list of the DVDs we have on our shelves that I haven't actually watched yet, and realized I've got a lot of catching up to do.
Mind, some of the titles are films I've seen before, but don't remember clearly. I've finished the first "act" of Adam's Rib, one such title, and don't remember the opening pursuit and shooting at all!
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Good morning, all! I was a true Wuss last night and crashed around 10 pm. What a plethora of great posts last night! DRPanni, the next time you go to Rome, I want to tag along. What wonderful photos!
DRJose, I look forward to seeing you again in New York. Is there any chance of getting together Monday night, Nov 22, when I'm in DC?
I had a friend in college who wanted to do a musical based on A PLACE IN THE SUN, to be called "In a Rowboat With You." Shelly Winters is great in that, but I love her best in NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. When I was at Drama Book Shop, she called and I took an order from her one day. She'd ask what new books were out, and when I mentioned a title of some bio, she said "He's dead now, that's too depressing." She asked if we delivered, and I told her we didn't, but I'd see if any clerk would volunteer to deliver her books. Someone did volunteer, I forget who it was, and she said, "Tell me the exact amount, because I've just gone through a bad love affair and I'm really depressed, so I'm not wearing any clothes. I'll just hand the money through the door." And that's what she did.
Congrats to all DRs on 75,000 posts.
I have to go to Staples and buy blank CDs now. I have nothing else to report at the present.
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My goodness. I don’t know which the bigger shock is; the fact that I got up at 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning, or the fact that there are so few posts on a Sunday morning? Now, I am not in the habit of sleeping the whole day away on a Sunday, unless of course I am not feeling well; but, even so, 6:00 a.m. seems a bit extreme.
Well, checking last Sunday’s posts, we had about twice as many posts last week at this time as we do this week. Of course, I suppose the number of Sunday morning posts really has a lot more to do with the Saturday late-nighters than it does with the Sunday morning posters.
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I got up around 6 a.m. today, too. Just did not have a restful night. Hoping tonight will be a different story.
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So if Shelley is naked, she is depressed?
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Hmm, that is an interesting coincidence, MattH. I think my restless night was a result of my upcoming holiday show. When does your show open?
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Good morning all.
I had a doll house but I don’t remember playing with it very much. I wasn’t really into dolls—but will admit I had more than my fair share of them. I think my favorite was Thumbelina. I remember I got her because I was going into the hospital to have a tonsillectomy. She kept me company.
I turned off from Barbie dolls because I couldn’t (ok, now this is going to sound really silly) forgive myself for giving my old Barbie doll up. They had some kind of promo that you would get one of the new Barbie’s with the bendable legs, etc, but you had to turn in your old doll. I cried for weeks afterwards and wouldn’t have anything to do with the new doll.
I do remember having the Johnny and Jane West dolls. I think I enjoyed them more then Barbie. Anyone remember Thunderbolt (the horse)? And the Indian (can’t remember his name). I think I told you guys about getting the horse with the broken tail. I wouldn’t take it back because I was afraid it would go to the Island of Misfit Toys.
Jrand, I hope you enjoy POTO. I am going to see it when it comes to the TBPAC on December 11th. I hate to say it but I saw a clip of the upcoming movie version and I hated it. I was floored when I heard the Phantoms voice. Horrible. Just horrible.
I do not think I will bother to go see it when it is released.
All the lovely photos from Panni, Jane and Tom. I feel like a world traveler without leaving my chair. All I can say is, More Please!
I heard a bit of news about Chitty. Meat Loaf may be playing the child catcher! I LOVE Meat Loaf. It would have been so perfect if he and Michael Ball could have been in the show together. If they had been you would have had to pry me away from the theater. Ok, here’s a bit of dream casting. Meal Loaf as the child catcher, Michael Ball as C. Potts and Michael Crawford as either Grandpa or the Baron. Wow! What a wonderful show that would be!
Sarah Brightman was here in Tampa last night. I didn’t go to see her because I thought the tickets were a bit pricey. I decided to buy the Los Vegas DVD and enjoy the concert as many times as I like. And with my faulty sight, the DVD is the better choice. :)
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3.35am here in OZ, And what is there to read?
Not Doll's Houses here. Have a fondness for "A Doll's Life" though. Saw a "Reading" of it a few years ago. (no scripts in sight!)
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Thanks Danise - with that encouragement I'll look for another!
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Today's pic
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I was hoping to sleep a bit later today, but I had quite a bad dream and woke up from it. Yes, last night I dreamed I was at Manderley. In the dream, there were repairs being done where I was living (shades of the old house) and I was having to stay in one room with, I think, my parents. Then, I was also in some kind of school or something, and I liked someone but no one was allowed to date in this school, or see each other, and we were found out because there were spycams in the walls. At some point I figured out how to disable one of them, and I was writing a note to the person of my affection, and the woman who was the head of making sure none of this went on came into the classroom. I turned the card I was writing on over and quickly began scribbling notes about the film we were watching in the class, Black Narcissus. It fooled the woman. An interesting thing about my scribbles was that they'd turned into actual print - you know, type. Then, later, I was driving around in a very old and large car (looked like it was from the sixties or seventies). There was a lot of traffic, which was really annoying (this part of the dream is easy to understand - the traffic getting in and out of the parking structure in Burbank for the Colony Theater was a nightmare in itself). I was driving on Sunset and parked and went into some store, where I sat and waited for awhile, but no one helped me, so I left. I forgot I was in this old and large car (perhaps my real car was being serviced) and walked the wrong way, then realized my mistake and walked back and found the car. As I went to open the door, I noticed that the window was open and that my wallet was sitting on the little thing where the gear shift was. I got in, opened the wallet reluctantly, only to find my ATM card missing, my license missing, etc. I went ballistic. My cell phone was also missing. I ran to a pay phone, all the while screaming and yelling to myself. Then I woke up.
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The first thing I did when I got out of bed was go to the garage, unlock my car and make sure my wallet was safe and sound (as well as my ATM and license). They were.
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Now, might I just ask where in tarnation IS everyone?
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Jrand, I ususally find Director's Notes to be insufferable. Yours don't sound like they would be. I usually find that the ones I've read tell me about the show I'm going to see, explaining what I'm going to see, as if I wasn't smart enough to figure it out. You don't really see them in Broadway or off-Broadway shows, just regionally. I think the only time I ever saw a director's note in a program of a Broadway show (or, in this case, a tour of a Broadway show) was from Anthony Newley in the Stop the World program. I suppose he did it because the show was so strange, what with its chorus of girls in leotards, its lead in baggy pants and whiteface, its circus-like setting, etc.
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I am my own frenzy.
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I guess I'm not everyone because I'm here!
Your welcome, Tom! Now I want to go explore France myself!
I had a bad dream the other night as well.
I was in my bedroom and I heard the lady next store (who died back in May) yelling. "They tore down my house! Where am I supost to live now?!"
I woke up with my heart pounding. I don't like it when I have dreams like that. I don't know what put that in my mind.
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I've begun watching Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers on a Criterion DVD. I've never seen it, but it was recommended strongly by our very own Nick Redman. And I got some region 2 DVDs in , including a double bill of The School for Scandal and The Green Man, both starring Alistair Sim and Terry-Thomas. Looking forward to them. I also got the UK region 2 of Frank Tashlin's amazing The Girl Can't Help It. The transfer is excellent, although, annoyingly, it's not enhanced for widescreen TVs. There is a twenty minute "appreciation" of the film by John Waters as an extra, and it is absolutely hilarious - and maddeningly, the "appreciation", while shot on video, is presented in "scope' format (like the film), enhanced for widescreen as are the clips from the film that are shown. If they could enhance the clips why couldn't they enhance the fershluganah film?
What are your favorite rock and roll movies?
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My comings and goings over the course of last week have precipitated what is likely to be a very easy trivia contest for all you precious Dear Readers out there in the dark:
Last Sunday I went to Long Beach to see a production of She Loves Me, in which Mr. Stan Chandler played the role of Steven Kodaly.
Last Wednesday I went to the Pasadena Playhouse to once again see Side by Side by Sondheim, in which Mr. David Engel is now featured as the male vocalist.
On Friday, I went to Burbank to see Grand Hotel, in which Mr. Jason Graae starred as Otto Kringelein.
One more person and I'd have a complete set.
Who is that person?
What is the bond that unites these four?
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I've begun watching Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers on a Criterion DVD. I've never seen it, but it was recommended strongly by our very own Nick Redman.
The Battle of Algiers is an amazing movie. You will think you are watching what must certainly be a documentary, only it's not. Given what's happened this week in Fallouja, it's relevance to today could not be greater.
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Sorry, Jay. I'm not good at trivia.
Rock and Roll movie. I'm not sure what one of those are. Does Rocky Horror or Hedwick and the Angry Itch count?
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Well, it would have to be the fourth Plaid, Guy Stroman.
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Jay, I know you liked Grand Hotel - let's hear your take on it, so we have balanced reporting here at haineshisway.com.
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Oh, and tell more about the Long Beach She Loves Me - worth going out to see? That's a show and score I love.
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And one for Mahler.
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Well, it would have to be the fourth Plaid, Guy Stroman.
And we have a winner!
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I'm a winner! Speaking of winners, it is going to be a perfectly perfect and stunningly stunning day here in Los Angeles, California, USA.
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The first thing I did when I got out of bed was go to the garage, unlock my car and make sure my wallet was safe and sound (as well as my ATM and license). They were.
You leave your wallet with ATM and license in the car >:(
Such a trusting soul!
der Brucer
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..Have a fondness for "A Doll's Life" though. Saw a "Reading" of it a few years ago. (no scripts in sight!)
You should hear our own Penny O sing it!
(http://www.webopus.net/orloff/images/Doll'sLife.gif)
Penny Orloff (center) with George Hearn and Betsy Joslyn in the Broadway Production of "A Doll's Life" directed by Hal Prince.
der Brucer
Herewith another lovely trio:
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/2995020/46413242.jpg)
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Jay, I know you liked Grand Hotel - let's hear your take on it, so we have balanced reporting here at haineshisway.com.
Actually, we're not that far apart. I did see Grand Hotel once when it played on Broadway. My recollections of it are quite positive, but not nearly as specific as yours, Dear BK, save for Mr. Michael Jeter's performance, which was amazing.
I believe a good part of my enjoyment of the Burbank production stems from the intimacy of the Colony Theatre. Although I wish the show had been done uncut, in the form in which it was done the focus is very much on the individual stories of the lead characters, adding to that intimacy.
While the Colony's Baron (Robert J. Townsend) is no Brent Barrett or David Carroll, I did like his voice and he succeeded in conveying the Baron's noblesse quite well. To my eye, Jason did a fine job, and his chemistry with the Baron and Flaemmchen was tangible. I thought the two dancers were downright excellent. The other players, too, were quite good, but, I will agree, not as memorable in their performance as the Broadway cast. But they were good, and good performances in a credible production of a show of this magnitude on a local stage makes me happy.
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Riding back form a recent outing, Woody played our “Heigh-Ho! Mozart” CD – favorite Disney tunes in the style of the Great Classical Composers. Selections ala Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Jopin, Vivaldi, Bartók, et al. Listening to these tracks really gives you an appreciation for how much arrangements contribute to the overall voice of a composer.
How much of what I hear in “Victory At Sea” is Richard Rodgers and how much is Robert Russell Bennett?
Indeed, maybe Bennett is a great deal of the “sound” of Broadway.
IMDB (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0072021/bio) reports:
...in 1922 (Bennett) became an arranger for Broadway musicals; his productions included "Rose-Marie", "Sunny", "The Band Wagon", "Of Thee I Sing", "The Cat and the Fiddle", "Face the Music", "Show Boat", "Oklahoma!", "Carousel", "Kiss Me, Kate", "South Pacific", "The King and I", "The Sound of Music", "My Fair Lady", and "Camelot".
Are there other arrangers who should get “over the title” billing along with the composers?
Which composers should get full credit for arranging their own compositons.
Are there hidden talents – arrangers quietly ghosting with no attribution?
Der Brucer (expecting we’ll hear from one particular poster)
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Oh, and tell more about the Long Beach She Loves Me - worth going out to see? That's a show and score I love.
Me, too, as I think you know. This is only the second production of She Loves Me that I've ever seen. The first was just a couple of years ago at Reprise!
What recommends this production are the outstanding vocal and acting performances by Mr. John Bisom as Georg, Miss Teri Bibb as Amalia, and Mr. Stan Chandler as Steven.
The Reprise! production had considerably more charm, and was far more competently cast in the other parts. Long Beach sort of botches the scene in the cafe, has Arpad climb into the hospital bed with Mr. Maraczek, and interpolates "The Twelve Days of Christmas" into the "Twelve Days to Christmas" sequence.
It's not a bad production but it could be a much better one.
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Sounds like they're just ripping Scott Ellis' Roundabout production.
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TOD
As a lad my favorite “play house” was a medieval castle complete with working portcullis and drawbridge, It had battlements where I could mount my well-armed knights to defend against the attack of Evil King John. Because of all the fantasy reading I did, I was much more into Knights in Shining Armour than Cowboys and Indians – and since it was during WWII, toy soldiers were out of vogue (although I had a cousin who poured his own tin solders). If I had a Charlie Pogue in my neighborhood, we could have had hours of adventure.
On the distaff side of the family were some cousins for whom their grandfather had built a marvelous 2 story doll house – it was about 2 foot wide, 18 inches deep and a foot high.
The rooms all had wallpaper and miniature electric lights. It had magnificent hand crafted furniture imported from Europe. It was always on display at Christmas time. Imagine what it would fetch on EBay today!
Do people still set up grand and glorious Christmas gardens for their kids? Wonderful Lionel train layouts with rolling hills covered with artificial snow and grassy fields with miniature farms complete with tiny animals. (One memorable Christmas I was at an Uncle’s, playing with the trains. The locomotive ran over a stretch of track that was covered with Angel Hair which immediately burst into a ball of flame. My Uncle screamed “Fire” and grabbed the nearest thing he could reach to smoother the flames – the nearest thing being my Mother’s new fur coat! It was a truly memorable Christmas.
der Brucer (remembering all the wonderful children’s toys I used to have – hand made imports from Germany – a particular favorite was a cast iron, hand painted, piggy bank)
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I must now sojourn to the County of Orange for a big hat luncheon with The Dear Mother, after which we shall hie ourselves to Opera Pacific for a performance of Mr. Giacomo Puccini's Turandot. Report later.
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My comings and goings over the course of last week have precipitated what is likely to be a very easy trivia contest for all you precious Dear Readers out there in the dark:
Last Sunday I went to Long Beach to see a production of She Loves Me, in which Mr. Stan Chandler played the role of Steven Kodaly.
Last Wednesday I went to the Pasadena Playhouse to once again see Side by Side by Sondheim, in which Mr. David Engel is now featured as the male vocalist.
On Friday, I went to Burbank to see Grand Hotel, in which Mr. Jason Graae starred as Otto Kringelein.
One more person and I'd have a complete set.
Who is that person?
What is the bond that unites these four?
Is it Larry Rabin and the Plaids?
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Me, too, as I think you know. This is only the second production of She Loves Me that I've ever seen. The first was just a couple of years ago at Reprise!
What recommends this production are the outstanding vocal and acting performances by Mr. John Bisom as Georg, Miss Teri Bibb as Amalia, and Mr. Stan Chandler as Steven.
The Reprise! production had considerably more charm, and was far more competently cast in the other parts. Long Beach sort of botches the scene in the cafe, has Arpad climb into the hospital bed with Mr. Maraczek, and interpolates "The Twelve Days of Christmas" into the "Twelve Days to Christmas" sequence.
It's not a bad production but it could be a much better one.
Well, I lost on the Plaids! I guess Larry replaced Jason.
The "Twelve Days of Christmas" is nonsense from the Roundabout revival, which is the show MTI is sending out these days. I don't know if the original Don Walker orchestration is still available for rent now.
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I'll have full info in tomorrow's notes, but if someone would like to be a guinea pig and be among the first to order Writer's Block, the site is up and running right now. Simply go to www.writersblocksite.com and nose around.
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[quote author=DERBRUCER link=board=4;threadid=470;start=msg76264#msg76264 date=1100454348
How much of what I hear in “Victory At Sea” is Richard Rodgers and how much is Robert Russell Bennett?
Indeed, maybe Bennett is a great deal of the “sound” of Broadway.
Are there other arrangers who should get “over the title” billing along with the composers?
Which composers should get full credit for arranging their own compositons.
Are there hidden talents – arrangers quietly ghosting with no attribution?
Der Brucer (expecting we’ll hear from one particular poster)
Well, I don't know if I'm the one you were expecting, but I'll jump in!
"Victory at Sea" is mostly Bennett, I believe. I've never seen what Rodgers gave him, but it's always been my understanding that Russell Bennett had around 5-20 themes Rodgers gave him and that all development of this material to suit the film was written by Russell Bennett. You might enjoy the newly edited autobiography of Russell Bennett, DRDB.
With Jerome Kern, both Frank Saddler and his successor Russell Bennett would take down on paper what Kern played on the piano and then brush it up into a piano-vocal for Kern to edit. Then they would orchestrate it. The Library of Congress has the entire vocal score for SHOW BOAT in ink by Russell Bennett, with all of Bennett's vocal arrangements. I gather something similar was the case with Cole Porter.
Phillip J. Lang is the unsung hero for Bob Merrill, who plinked out his melodies on a toy xylophone. Lang harmonized and scored everything, so a show like CARNIVAL or NEW GIRL IN TOWN owes a great deal to Lang.
Bernstein, Blitzstein, Gershwin, Kurt Weill, Rodgers, Frederick Lowe, and Sondheim wrote it all out and expected their orchestrators to score what they put on paper. I've had composers on shows give me lead sheets (melody lines and chord symbols) which meant every accompaniment decision became mine.
I heard that Hershy Kay on one show had the entire orchestra in unison play the tune and when the composer yelled "what was that?" Hershy answered "Exactly what you gave me."
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Scholars argue over how much Robert Russell Bennett had to do with Victory At Sea, and how much was Richard Rodgers. This past week's Broadway Radio Show with Donald Feltham begs a similar question. The dance music in musicals is usually NOT the work of the composer of the songs.
But, in all of the above, what usually happens is that an arranger bases his work on themes by the "name" composer.
The Music of the Night - a song only a dog could love. Maybe, after Cats, this was Andrew Lloyd Webber's goal. I find its soaring bridge, with its bit of harmonic traveling, the tastiest part of Phantom of the Opera, but the part that isn't the bridge, well...
In Forget Paris, Billy Crystal says The Music of the Night is stolen from an old song called School Days. Others have pointed out that the same theme, when played in 3/4, is Come To Me Bend To Me's first few bars. When confronted with this, Lloyd Webber said he meant this as a tribute to Alan Jay Lerner, Come To Me's lyricist, with whom he'd planned to collaborate on Phantom of the Opera. I actually think that would have made a good combination. Imagine if Lloyd Webber actually worked with an experienced librettist/lyricist with a proven track record! Well, Alan Jay Lerner died (please don't abbreviate his middle name - he hated that) and so Lloyd Webber went out and replaced him with a 20-year-old kid who'd never done anything before and has done very little since, Charles Hart. You wonder how these things begin.
But we should move on, past those bars that sound like School Days and before that admirable bridge, and the "turn your head away" is a direct steal from Puccini's Girl of the Golden West. Not a note changed. But then, the Phantom lurks in an opera house, so it makes a certain sense that he should warble an opera tune...
I mean, it makes much more sense than warbling a Threepenny Opera tune (Weill, 1928, Ballad of the Easy Life) over an eight-to-the-bar pounding bass disco beat. That would be the title song.
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I'm enjoying poking around the WritersBlockSite.
In fact, I'm going to restart my computer now to make sure I don't get disconnected in the middle of enjoying it.
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What are your favorite rock and roll movies?
THE LAST WALTZ - especially The Staples, Van Morrison and Emmy Lou Harris.
TOMMY - Don't like The Who, per se, but, I have quite a fondness for the film.
VIVA LAS VEGAS - George Sydney actually got a performance out of Elvis! Or was it Ann-Margret who gave him acting tips? Either way, it's a delight from start to finish.
HEDWIG, of course is a rock and roll movie.
A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT - Roy Orbison and an all star band that has Bonnie Raitt, k d lang and Jennifer Warnes as backup singers.
THE APPLE
NO NUKES - if only for The Boss' live version of "The River."
HELP!
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? - Angela Basset is amazing as Tina Turner.
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.
Are there hidden talents – arrangers quietly ghosting with no attribution?
Because of the time constraints on shows, a lot of them have ghosting: Don Walker was so tied up with the ballet in Act Two of CAROUSEL that a lot of the second act was farmed out to colleagues. ANYTHING GOES was scored in 1934 by Russell Bennett and Hans Spialek, who both worked on THE GAY DIVORCE. The first memory I have of seeing more than one orchestrator credited is for WHERE'S CHARLEY, which had Ted Royal, Phillip Lang, and Hans Spialek. The next is MY FAIR LADY by Bennett and Lang, who also did NEW GIRL IN TOWN and CAMELOT together. Steven Suskin has been researching all the ghosting done for Don Walker in the 1950s on PAJAMA GAME, DAMN YANKEES and others.
On THE SOUND OF MUSIC and SHOW BOAT, Russell Bennett was asked to clear his calendar so there would be no ghosting. I know that Jonathan Tunick and Bill Brohn had work in the 1960s Lincoln Center revival of SHOW BOAT, but Bennett was probably tired of the show by then after having done the 1927 original, the 1928 London, the 1930s film, and the 1940s revival by himself!
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I'll have full info in tomorrow's notes, but if someone would like to be a guinea pig and be among the first to order Writer's Block, the site is up and running right now. Simply go to www.writersblocksite.com and nose around.
Done!
Love
Mr. G. Pig
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Well, I don't know if I'm the one you were expecting, but I'll jump in!
Indeed you were. Now for the tough part:
In language comprehensible to an engineer, explain the difference between "arranging" and "orchestrating".
der Brucer
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Scholars argue over how much Robert Russell Bennett had to do with Victory At Sea, and how much was Richard Rodgers. The dance music in musicals is usually NOT the work of the composer of the songs.
But, in all of the above, what usually happens is that an arranger bases his work on themes by the "name" composer.
the "turn your head away" is a direct steal from Puccini's Girl of the Golden West. Not a note changed. But then, the Phantom lurks in an opera house, so it makes a certain sense that he should warble an opera tune...
DRNoel, Russell Bennett was always very tactful about his collaboration with Mr Rodgers, and I think Rodgers both liked his work and his tact. I think Bennett's the best of all: his orchestrations are like a jeweler's satin box for the music, it all plays well, and seems effortless. I think it's a tribute to Bennett as well that he's the only orchestrator whose photo hangs on my friend Jonathan Tunick's walls, and I think Jonathan's the best there is right now. He sets the standard for all of us.
As to dance arrangers, they always get credited, but some of them, like Trude Rittmann, were skilled composers who turned the composer's themes into magic for dance: her arrangements in BRIGADOON are amazing, and her hornpipe in CAROUSEL based on "Blow High, Blow Low" and the weaving theme is one of my favorite sections of the score. Did you know that around 90%, if not more, of the ballet "Small House of Uncle Thomas" is hers?
Now to Lloyd Webber, POTO takes place before GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST was ever written, possibly before Puccini ever started writing, so I guess Sir Andrew likes GIRL better than FAUST, which is the opera featured in the Leroux novel.
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I'm hoping to catch the Grand Hotel which is being revived at the Donmar Warehouse when I'm in London.
Last night I stopped by Amoeba to pick up BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE. They were having a $4.99 close-out on a lot of tapes. I picked up ZULU, GOLDFINGER, the film version of NICKOLAS NICKLEBY, an old TV movie of DAVID COPPERFIELD which I first saw in the seventies with a whole host of British stars like Olivier, Attenborough, Ralph Richardson, Edith Evans, Ron Moody, Michael Redgrave Cyril Cusak, The Young Visitors, and, the most interesting of all, Noel Coward's IN WHICH WE SERVE and which only cost a $1.99!
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Regarding BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE - did anyone at all feel a bit squeamish at seeing Michelle Lee and Lainie Kazan getting along so well at the premieres? ? ? Two Gittels for the Seesaw, says I. ;)
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Rock and Roll movie. I'm not sure what one of those are. Does Rocky Horror or Hedwick and the Angry Itch count?
Danise, let me join your confusion.
I would think "Rocky Horror" would count.
I would add "FAME!" to the list.
How about "Blackboard Jungle" -after all it did usher in the era of Rock and Roll.
"Back to the Future"
And surely Lucas' paean to Rock and Roll "American Graffiti"
(although I enjoyed the Elvis movies, and the Beatles as well, they would not make my "favorites" list)
(I assume movies of musicals like "Grease" or "Bye Bye Birdie" don't count.)
der Brucer
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Indeed you were. Now for the tough part:
In language comprehensible to an engineer, explain the difference between "arranging" and "orchestrating".
der Brucer
This is a question I get a lot and I find it difficult to answer; I didn't do it well in my unseemly interview, and I'll probably do it badly here as well. The arrangement determines how the music/song is presented to the listener in terms of accompaniment, mood, style: the arranger on "Heigh-Ho Mozart" is rewriting the accompanying music, sometimes altering the melodies, to sound like various composers and little of it sounds like the way you've generally heard it performed, either in the Disney films or popular versions over the past 60 years.
Orchestration's a different ballgame since it may entail some arranging (there's some arranging in Ravel's orchestration of "Pictures at an Exhibition" since he doesn't always score what Mussorgsky wrote and often arranges extensions), but the craft of orchestration is to turn a piano part into something that will be played by a group ranging from a combo to a symphony orchestra. Sometimes the arranger is also the orchestrator, but most of the things I did for BK were arranged by the good, the bad, and the ugly (I mention no names!) in the cabaret world and I then scored what they gave me based on how the number and its arrangement struck my senses.
I regard orchestration as a craft, similar to tinting a black and white photo, turning a monochromatic piano sound into a myriad of orchestral colors.
Arrangements I love: Ives' Variations on "America" for organ
Britten's "Variations on a Theme by Purcell"
Anything Nelson Riddle did
Orchestrations: Ravel's Pictures at An Exhibition
Stokowski's Bach pieces
William Schuman's scoring of Ives' Variations on "America"
Britten's Variations on a Theme by Purcell
Anything Nelson Riddle did, along with Russell Bennett, Frank Saddler, Victor Herbert, Don Walker, Jonathan Tunick, Larry Blank, Hans Spialek, Red Ginzler, Irwin Kostal, and Sid Ramin, and a ton of unacknowledged gentlemen who helped them out.
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Well, it would have to be the fourth Plaid, Guy Stroman.
I finally know the answer to one of the trivia questions, and you have to answer it before I can. Phooey. :P
Well, fellow Dear Readers, I can hardly believe it, and yet it is true. I have been reduced to actually doing my homework. It's a take-home test about the shift from Old English to Middle English. And then I have an in-class test on Early Modern English. I think my teacher actually expects me to study.
As long as we're sharing dreams, I dreamed last night that my fencing instructor all of a sudden started speaking with an Italian accent. I woke up thinking, "Where did that come from?"
And then I realized that I have to write five term papers in two weeks. :o
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The order went through so everything is working well. So, now everyone can order. If you're thinking of not ordering through the site and buying the book at the stores, I'd only say that I'm not certain if I'll have CDs at the stores or not, and also the book will cost five bucks more plus your local tax at the stores.
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Good Afternoon!
...I guess I had forgotten just how comfortable my own bed is - and how relatively dark my bedroom is too (my bedroom is in the middle of the apartment, so my windows look out onto the building next door) - I actually stayed in bed until about 3:00! Whew! I do remember getting up briefly around 9:00... Then 11:00... Then 1:30... Then... What?!?!? 3:00!?!?
...And now I'm watching "The Ring" on Cinemax... Good Morning!
???
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No more guinea pigs who want to be amongst the first to order?
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Now, whatever shall I eat, I wonder? I'm ready to eat something - perhaps I'll make some posta or even pasta, or perhaps I'll go out and bring something back with me, like some food, for example.
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I regard orchestration as a craft, similar to tinting a black and white photo, turning a monochromatic piano sound into a myriad of orchestral colors.
That registers.
Let's see if I got it:
Right-hand only on piano - the song (melody)
Full-out two hand piano with brigdes, runs, and Liberace funny-business - an arrangement (Long live Roger Williams)
Multi-instrumental rendition with ruffles and flourishes, and maybe even echoes of other melodies - a complete orchestration (Long live Jonathon Tunick and Larry Moore)
der still-larnin' Brucer
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...And now I'm watching "The Ring" on Cinemax... Good Morning!
The entire Ring? Must be at least 17 hours of opera-watching. If I were you, I'd get out and get some exercise instead.
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Okay, okay! I just ordered the fershluganer book! Am I the first?
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The entire Ring? Must be at least 17 hours of opera-watching. If I were you, I'd get out and get some exercise instead.
Or drunk.
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Der Brucer was the first, and you are the second. The first ten people who order will get something very special written in their books.
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Hmm, that is an interesting coincidence, MattH. I think my restless night was a result of my upcoming holiday show. When does your show open?
NUNCRACKERS opens December 2nd. I don't think the show was my problem. We are actually in very good shape, quite the opposite from the production of SOMETHING'S AFOOT which was a shambles from the word "go" until two days before we opened when, all of a sudden, people actually started knowing their lines and lyrics.
Actually, I've been trying to catch some sort of little illness that my body has been fighting with some difficulty. I've mostly stayed in yesterday and today trying to ward off whatever this is that's trying to get me down.
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Multi-instrumental rendition with ruffles and flourishes, and maybe even echoes of other melodies - a complete orchestration (Long live Jonathon Tunick and Larry Moore)
DRDerBrucer, you have no idea how flattered I am to be linked in the same sentence with Jonathan; he's the ideal to which I strive, and a lovely man to boot!
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The "Twelve Days of Christmas" is nonsense from the Roundabout revival, which is the show MTI is sending out these days. I don't know if the original Don Walker orchestration is still available for rent now.
When I did She Loves Me about five or six years ago, we were one of the first companies to do the show after the Roundabout revival. When they sent the perusal materials, MTI sent a copy of the original p/c score, but a copy of a partially(?) revised script. So, we go into pre-production, planning, etc... And then a few months later when the actual materials arrive at the theatre, lo and behold, the Roundabout revival logo is plastered all over the parts, and the parts are indeed revised to reflect the revival changes and revisions. What happened to "Tango Tragique?" Why is "Days Gone By?" altered? Needless to say, we had to go back through some of our pre-production preparations and start re-shuffling things.
Well... We contacted MTI to see if we could get a hold of the original materials. No luck. Ah, well...
I don't mind the new version, but I do wish the original was still available. I'm just surprised all the various re-use rights for the orchestrations and arrangements were able to be worked out.
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I am making myself pasta. Of course, then I'll be pasta and I shall look funny. I do hope I'm able to make myself back into me.
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Regarding BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE - did anyone at all feel a bit squeamish at seeing Michelle Lee and Lainie Kazan getting along so well at the premieres? ? ? Two Gittels for the Seesaw, says I. ;)
Well, the movie made clear that the two women were dear, close friends, so it didn't bother me. I've certainly had friends here in town who got roles that I wanted (my best friend got Linus in CHARLIE BROWN just a few months ago).
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Thanks for the info about SHE LOVES ME, DR Jose. I had no idea the revival materials is what MTI now provides. SHE LOVES ME was another show that a friend of mine got in instead of me (I wanted Sipos.)
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OK, "The Ring" just ended... What was all the fuss about? -I probably should have pulled out my Wagner CDs instead... Ah, well... Some suspenseful moments, but the whole movie could have been edited down boy another 10-15 minutes... I may have to rent the Japanese original now just for comparison's sake. Or not.
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OK... I think I'm going to bundle myself up and take a walk... Maybe get some dinner while I'm out too. We shall see.
Tomorrow has to be a cleaning day for me. For the apartment. The "new" bathroom looks great, but there's still a lot of dust on the shelves, the molding, the top of the door, etc. Unfortunately, my roommate did not clear the shelves in the bathroom before the fixes started, so I'll have to ditch some of my supplies and wash off some bottles of shampoo, mouth wash, etc. Ah, well... The kitchen is also due for a major top-to-bottom cleaning. Hmm.. And then maybe I can start cooking again!
Laters...
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OK, "The Ring" just ended... What was all the fuss about? -I probably should have pulled out my Wagner CDs instead... Ah, well... Some suspenseful moments, but the whole movie could have been edited down boy another 10-15 minutes... I may have to rent the Japanese original now just for comparison's sake. Or not.
DRJose, rent SCARY MOVIE 3. It made more sense to me than THE RING ever did. I still don't know what hapened, but I wish that ugly longhaired mess had stayed in the well and out of the picture.
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Three count them three orders so far. First ten people will be very happy they were first.
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BK, I just ordered the book! Am I the fourth??
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Love the music clips. Can't wait for the whole thing! ;D
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I turned off from Barbie dolls because I couldn’t (ok, now this is going to sound really silly) forgive myself for giving my old Barbie doll up. They had some kind of promo that you would get one of the new Barbie’s with the bendable legs, etc, but you had to turn in your old doll. I cried for weeks afterwards and wouldn’t have anything to do with the new doll.
The real lesson they were trying to give you girls with the promo had something to do with white slavery, I suspect. ::)
My sister didn't trade in her old Barbie. She did, however, wash the doll's hair once...and all the hair fell out. Poor thing looked like Susan Powter, only this was way before Susan Powter.
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I think the only time I ever saw a director's note in a program of a Broadway show (or, in this case, a tour of a Broadway show) was from Anthony Newley in the Stop the World program. I suppose he did it because the show was so strange, what with its chorus of girls in leotards, its lead in baggy pants and whiteface, its circus-like setting, etc.
Ah, yes, a chorus of girls in leotards needs a great deal of explaining.
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What are your favorite rock and roll movies?
Bye Bye Birdie is up there, even if it is faux rock. But it is sincere.
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George is fourth.
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First international order!
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I just had problems - too many connections message - logging back on !! Must be the most popular site on the internet.
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Just had something strange happen: I got booted off HHW! The message I was given was "too many connections."
The gremlins are having fun again, I guess. :-\
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Just had something strange happen: I got booted off HHW! The message I was given was "too many connections."
The gremlins are having fun again, I guess. :-\
I've never had that happen. :o Only once have I gotten the message while trying to log on, but not afterwards.
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I just ordered "Writer's Block" (I was the fourth!) but now I must leave my house. I'm hungry and want to go to Blimpie's. On Sundays only, they have a "buy one, get one free" deal! So, I shall purchase a sub sandwich for lunch (I'll eat it there so that I can refill the drink before I leave) and get a free sandwich for dinner! Isn't that exciting? Isn't that just too too?
I also realized not too long ago that if I leave off tomatoes and pickles and mayo and mustard from the to-be-saved-for-dinner sandwich, the bread doesn't get soggy by the time I eat it in the evening...which is a good thing. Anyway, be back soon (an Oliver! reference).
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What are your favorite rock and roll movies?
The Commitments
Rock 'N' Roll High School
A Hard Day's Night
Help
The Rose
Purple Rain
Woodstock
The Mayor of Sunset Strip
This week, Live-Aid the Concert is finally being released on DVD and I can't wait. I was there at JFK Stadium in Philly, and aside from some badly taken pictures, I have no record of that day.
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OK, I'm running out of reasons why I can't work on my term papers. Any suggestions? So far I've used up:
1. I'll do it when M*A*S*H is over. (It's not on today because it was bumped by some football game. I hate when they do that.)
2. I'll do it when I'm done with this take-home test. (I wasn't fooling anyone with that one.)
3. My thumb hurts too much. (It doesn't any more.)
4. I can't do it without a copy of _(fill-in-the-blank)_. (I checked out or my mom bought me all the books and stuff I need.)
5. I'm too hungry. (I've eaten a nice array of food, junk and otherwise.)
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Herewith another lovely trio:
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/2995020/46413242.jpg)
Y'know, I wish you'd tell me when the beard needs trimming. :-\
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Page four dance...Something from Barber of Seville, perhaps?
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They still have Blimpie's? I used to eat those all the time when I lived in NY.
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The real lesson they were trying to give you girls with the promo had something to do with white slavery, I suspect. ::)
My sister didn't trade in her old Barbie. She did, however, wash the doll's hair once...and all the hair fell out. Poor thing looked like Susan Powter, only this was way before Susan Powter.
Your sister was the wise one. I actually think it was a great way to make the old dolls a collectors item.
Thank you all for the kind words about my lip. It is healing. The problem is/was my having such a small mouth and my unreasonable fear of having my mouth covered. I freak big time because I feel like I'm suffocatng if I can't breath through my mouth. I know that's not true. I can breath just fine through my nose (when I have to) but I can't help the panic I feel.
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Favorite rock & roll movies?
HELP
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
BYE BYE BIRDIE (I agree with DRSWW)
SKI PARTY (Leslie Gore sings "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows")
All the Annette Beach Party movies
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Favourie Rock N Roll movie "It's Trad Dad" - Chubby Checker, Gary U S Bonds, Del Shannon, Gene Vincent, Gene McDaniels, Helen Shairo and Craig Douglas.
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The Music of the Night - a song only a dog could love.
With all the dog lovers at this site, is this a wise thing to say?
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They still have Blimpie's? I used to eat those all the time when I lived in NY.
Ask, and ye shall be websited. (http://www.blimpie.com/)
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For those who need to know: Today (Tomorrow!) is Petula Clark's birthday.
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I shall do my book ordering direct, face-to-face with the manufacturer. Like the sampling of music clips though!
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Do people still set up grand and glorious Christmas gardens for their kids? Wonderful Lionel train layouts with rolling hills covered with artificial snow and grassy fields with miniature farms complete with tiny animals.
I still do. Every year, on Thanksgiving weekend, I go to the House of Mom and set up Santa's Wonderland.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/103_0314.jpg)
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Arrangements I love:...Britten's "Variations on a Theme by Purcell"
All right, a follow-up question: would you consider any (Most? All?) works in the Theme and Variations field to be arranging, rather than actual composition?
(BTW, among my favorites in this area are Britten's Variations and Fugue on a Theme of henry Purcell, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Variations, a.k.a. the second act of Song and Dance. (But I've lost track of how many other composers have writen variations on Paganini's A minor Caprice.))
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And, because we are Catholic (though perhaps not as reverent as some)...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/103_0315.jpg)
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I am making myself pasta. Of course, then I'll be pasta and I shall look funny. I do hope I'm able to make myself back into me.
I hope you're not making yourself a stuffed pasta, because none of your clothes will fit. :'(
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Garfield at the First Christmas! Nice touch Dan.
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All right, a follow-up question: would you consider any (Most? All?) works in the Theme and Variations field to be arranging, rather than actual composition?
I believe there's always some composition work involved in arranging, but Britten, Brahms, and Ives are also master composers, something Sir andrew will never be, and the Theme and variations situation is a knotty one. As opposed to arranging "Moon River" for Liz Callaway, which is a simpler job of composition and arranging, Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme of Paganini is a masterpiece of composition, as are Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Haydn, the Ives, the Britten and others. Others I love are Mozart's variations on "Ah vous dirai-je Maman, which Dohnanyi also used in his piano-orchestra variations. However, Beethoven, Britten, Haydn, along with Vaughan Williams, Holst, and others also arranged English folksongs, all different and all interesting, and all involving compositional skills (Britten's "Ash Grove" succeeds a lot because of Britten's bi-tonal skills in handling the emotions of the song). Brahms arranged German folksongs, even wrote a song for mezzo-soprano and viola based on the German carol "Joseph lieber, Joseph mein." Now I'm rambling. does this make any sense?
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Oh my gosh, I forgot all about the gardens under the Christmas tree! Like I've said before, Christmas was the time my Dad was in his element. We had a garden every year!
I'll have to try to dig up some photos but I fear they among the ones destoryed in the accident a few years back. But they live forever in my memory and I'll never forget them.
I remember all the plastic animals we used. One year, I sat at one end and sent the animals by train to my dad on the other side of the tree. For good or ill, we had a great number of pigs and baby pigs. I kept sending them around and my dad said, "NO MORE PIGS!" Of course, little angel that I was ::) , I kept sending them.
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Dan I love the Christmas displays! What a great idea!
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My copy of Writer's Block had done been ordered....I do hope I am in the first ten!!
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I remember all the plastic animals we used. One year, I sat at one end and sent the animals by train to my dad on the other side of the tree. For good or ill, we had a great number of pigs and baby pigs. I kept sending them around and my dad said, "NO MORE PIGS!" Of course, little angel that I was ::) , I kept sending them.
DRDanise, that's very funny. My mother loved decorating for Christmas, too. She started Dec. 1, and went bananas! On the decorating, too.
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Jose, have you watched your Bollywood movie yet?
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BK, did you watch your Bollywood yet?
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I believe there's always some composition work involved in arranging, but Britten, Brahms, and Ives are also master composers, something Sir andrew will never be, and the Theme and variations situation is a knotty one. As opposed to arranging "Moon River" for Liz Callaway, which is a simpler job of composition and arranging, Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme of Paganini is a masterpiece of composition, as are Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Haydn, the Ives, the Britten and others. Others I love are Mozart's variations on "Ah vous dirai-je Maman, which Dohnanyi also used in his piano-orchestra variations. However, Beethoven, Britten, Haydn, along with Vaughan Williams, Holst, and others also arranged English folksongs, all different and all interesting, and all involving compositional skills (Britten's "Ash Grove" succeeds a lot because of Britten's bi-tonal skills in handling the emotions of the song). Brahms arranged German folksongs, even wrote a song for mezzo-soprano and viola based on the German carol "Joseph lieber, Joseph mein." Now I'm rambling. does this make any sense?
My favorite set of Paganini variations is the set for two pianos composed by Lutoslawski. He eventually rescored/rearranged/recomposed the set for Piano and Orchestra (Peter Jablonsky did the premier recording with Ashkenazy conducting). The orchestral colors are a nice change, but I still prefer the original two-piano version. Unfortunately, most of the recorded versions are played a little too fast for my preference - you can't - well, I can't hear all the wonderful "inner" details. I played the set when I was in college with a studio mate. Very gratifying piano writing.
Oh, and what I find very interesting - and fun - is that most of the "Variations on a Theme of Paganini" are actually variations on the variations since the original violin caprice is a set of theme and variations themselves. The Liszt etudes are a pianistic version of the set, and the aforementioned set by Lutoslawski are likewise.
-Oh, Britten's version of "The Ash Grove"... Very simple and effective. Beautiful. "Salley Gardens" too. Now if folks could just get past the "controversy" surrounding "Little Sir William".
-And those two Brahms songs for mezzo/alto, viola and piano... I may have to pull my Brigitte Fassbender recording off the shelf... Soon... :)
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What's the sales count on Writer's Block?
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BK, did you watch your Bollywood yet?
It is sitting on top of my DVD player as I type this. Now that I actually have a couple of full days off...
Soon... I promise.. (ah, A Little Night Music reference...)
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I was lucky! I found two pictures--old and a bit faded but of the gardens we used to have.
The first picture was of the Manger that my Dad made and the second was of the log house he made.
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They still have Blimpie's? I used to eat those all the time when I lived in NY.
There are still some Blimpie's in the DC area, however, some of them are just Blimpie's in name only. They have the Blimpie's sign out front, but that's all that's Blimpie's about the locations. As soon as you step into the locations, there are these big signs informing the customers that this Blimpie is not part of the Blimpie's chain. Therefore, they don't have the same menus, the same promotions, nor do they honor the Blimpie's coupons.
???
I guess they didn't want to spring for a new sign out front and/or they know the value of name recognition.
It's like those Starbucks locations in malls that are run by the mall's foodservice company and not by Starbucks themselves.
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Here is the log cabin he made from scratch.
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So far we've got eight orders - two more can be in the first ten and will be getting a little something special in their books.
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Haven't watched the Bollywood yet - will this week, though.
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Oops.... I quoted the wrong post before... So...
Jose, have you watched your Bollywood movie yet?
It is sitting on top of my DVD player as I type this. Now that I actually have a couple of full days off...
Soon... I promise.. (ah, A Little Night Music reference...)
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-Oh, Britten's version of "The Ash Grove"... Very simple and effective. Beautiful. "Salley Gardens" too. Now if folks could just get past the "controversy" surrounding "Little Sir William".
DRJose, the controversy over "Little Sir William" should long be over, since the text was altered a long time ago. I don't know if there's even a recording of the song using the first published text. The last two complete recordings of the folksong arrangements used the politically correct "school wife."
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I forgot to say that the log cabin and the manger both were lit inside. You can't see inside the window but the cabin is fully furnished. My Mom made little curtins for it and there is a stone fireplace--you can just see the top of the chimney.
We somehow lost the Manger but I think the cabin is in one of the sheds.
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I believe there's always some composition work involved in arranging, but Britten, Brahms, and Ives are also master composers, something Sir andrew will never be, and the Theme and variations situation is a knotty one. As opposed to arranging "Moon River" for Liz Callaway, which is a simpler job of composition and arranging, Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme of Paganini is a masterpiece of composition, as are Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Haydn, the Ives, the Britten and others. Others I love are Mozart's variations on "Ah vous dirai-je Maman, which Dohnanyi also used in his piano-orchestra variations. However, Beethoven, Britten, Haydn, along with Vaughan Williams, Holst, and others also arranged English folksongs, all different and all interesting, and all involving compositional skills (Britten's "Ash Grove" succeeds a lot because of Britten's bi-tonal skills in handling the emotions of the song). Brahms arranged German folksongs, even wrote a song for mezzo-soprano and viola based on the German carol "Joseph lieber, Joseph mein." Now I'm rambling. does this make any sense?
In a "what a blurry borderline we've got here" way, yes. Throw Copland's use of American folk music into the mix, and the borderline gets pretty well erased.
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the controversy over "Little Sir William" should long be over, since the text was altered a long time ago. I don't know if there's even a recording of the song using the first published text.
For the uniformed, could you explain?
I did a websearch, and came up with the "school wife" lines. . . .
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Did I spell Manger right? It looks wrong now that I'm looking at it. My spell check says it's right but does not give a definition.
Sigh. I miss Word Perfect for that. It not only spelled the words but gave the definiton as well so if you were not sure you had the right word it would help you.
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Danise: I regularly use AOL's Miriam-Webster. There are other on-line dictionaries out there, but the M-W is what I keep handy.
And a question: where did you grow up? Because of Dan's pics, and knowing he's from the Pennsylvania area, der Brucer is thinking that the Christmas Garden might be a local thing.
Anyone else out there familiar with the tradition? With my SoCal roots, it's new to me, and I don't think Mom (Upstate New York) knew about it, either.
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DRJose, the controversy over "Little Sir William" should long be over, since the text was altered a long time ago. I don't know if there's even a recording of the song using the first published text. The last two complete recordings of the folksong arrangements used the politically correct "school wife."
Hmmm... The Hyperion set I have has the original text in the booklet... I'll have to put the CD on to find out what it is being sung.
And I think I've told this story before, but I was in the audience during a recital given by the baritone, Thomas Allen, a few years ago in DC. After singing "Little Sir William" a small chorus of "boos" started from the audience. Some people started getting out of their seats and leaving the hall. Eventually, a woman stepped forward and approached the stage, and Thomas Allen and his pianist left the stage. Well, the woman proceeded to give a history of the song - even though Mr. Allen was performing the revised text of the song. Eventually, the audience calmed down - after a few more people had left the hall (I suspect most of them had no real idea about what they were "protesting") - and Mr. Allen returned to the stage to a hearty round of applause and continued his recital.
..Hmm... I just put on the CD, and Jamie MacDougall is indeed singing the original text.
I wonder if the text was altered for subsequent releases of this set - if there were subsequent releases. I know Hyperion also did a complete orchestral set, maybe the altered text appears on that recording. Although, I'm not sure if "Little Sir William" was orchestrated...
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Danise: I regularly use AOL's Miriam-Webster. There are other on-line dictionaries out there, but the M-W is what I keep handy.
And a question: where did you grow up? Because of Dan's pics, and knowing he's from the Pennsylvania area, der Brucer is thinking that the Christmas Garden might be a local thing.
Anyone else out there familiar with the tradition? With my SoCal roots, it's new to me, and I don't think Mom (Upstate New York) knew about it, either.
Well, you have to remember, I was born and raised in Tampa, FL but my folks are both from Pittsburgh, PA. Which is why if you ever get the chance to listen to my speech (Jane will tell you), I sound like a Southern Yankee.
I say "Ya'll" with a Northern accent. :D
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For the uniformed, could you explain?
I did a websearch, and came up with the "school wife" lines. . . .
DRtd, the original English folksong is a bit of anti-semitism: Little Sir william is away at school and when his mother goes to fetch him home at Easter, he's dead, stabbed by the Jew's Wife. The first editions of Britten's arrangement used the original folk text, and it was later changed to the Schhol Wife to remove the smear. To protect Britten, I will add here that he was not anti-semitic, and when he stayed in Long Island in the late 1930s and early 40s he and Peter Pears lived with a Jewish family. I believe it was there he wrote "Les Illuminations," the great Rimbaud song cycle.
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For the uniformed, could you explain?
I did a websearch, and came up with the "school wife" lines. . . .
I was about to defer to you, Mr. Moore, but I see that you have already proffered.
???
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I forgot, Elmore can tell you how I talk as well!
Sorry, Larry! :)
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Thank you DR elmore3003. Is this something that I want to hear Sarah Brightman singing?
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DRtd, the original English folksong is a bit of anti-semitism: Little Sir william is away at school and when his mother goes to fetch him home at Easter, he's dead, stabbed by the Jew's Wife. The first editions of Britten's arrangement used the original folk text, and it was later changed to the Schhol Wife to remove the smear. To protect Britten, I will add here that he was not anti-semitic, and when he stayed in Long Island in the late 1930s and early 40s he and Peter Pears lived with a Jewish family. I believe it was there he wrote "Les Illuminations," the great Rimbaud song cycle.
...In fact, "Little Sir William" is from the first set of Folk Song Arrangements that Benjamin Britten wrote while he was in America, and they were written with and for his partner/tenor, Peter Pears. Additionally, "Little Sir William" is dedicated to Dr. William Mayer, the psychiatrist who was hosting Mssrs. Britten and Pears at the time. -And the "The Ash Grove" and "Oliver Cromwell" are dedicated to Dr. Mayer's children.
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DRJose, I went to the definitive 3-CD set of complete Britten folksong arrangements, now out-of-print, and the text is "School Wife," sung by Felicity Lott, as it is in my published volume of Britten English folksongs, Vol. 1, and in the recently published miniature score for the orchestral arrangements. If you ask me, the woman booing at the concert was needlessly rude, making a scene for nothing. Incidentally, "Little sir william" was dedicated to Britten's Long Island host, Dr Mayer, and another song in the volume, and one of my favorites, "The Trees They Grow So High," is dedicated to Bobby Rothman.
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Well, my four day holiday is over. Sigh. Off to dream land for me. Everyone have a nice evening.
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Thank you DR elmore3003. Is this something that I want to hear Sarah Brightman singing?
Sarah did record an album of the Britten folksong arrangements, and she acquits herself quite nicely, as I told her when Judy Kaye introduced us! How's that for name dropping?
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Well, my four day holiday is over. Sigh. Off to dream land for me. Everyone have a nice evening.
Sleep well, DR Danise!
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Thank you DR elmore3003. Is this something that I want to hear Sarah Brightman singing?
Actually, Ms. Brightman's recording - which I think may still be in print (EMI?) - is not that bad. Well, maybe "surprisingly good" is a better description. If you've never heard the recording before, it may be worth checking out. It's some very straightforward, simple singing. -And for better or worse, it actually shows just how "small" her voice is.
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And for better or worse, it actually shows just how "small" her voice is.
well. . .so does the London cast recording of CATS. . . . .
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DRJose, I went to the definitive 3-CD set of complete Britten folksong arrangements, now out-of-print, and the text is "School Wife," sung by Felicity Lott, as it is in my published volume of Britten English folksongs, Vol. 1, and in the recently published miniature score for the orchestral arrangements. If you ask me, the woman booing at the concert was needlessly rude, making a scene for nothing. Incidentally, "Little sir william" was dedicated to Britten's Long Island host, Dr Mayer, and another song in the volume, and one of my favorites, "The Trees They Grow So High," is dedicated to Bobby Rothman.
JINX!!!
:P
...As it turned out, the woman who came forward was on the board of directors of the Vocal Arts Society who was the sponsor/presenter of the recital. Go figure.
And I just pulled out my copy of the Folk Songs, Vol. 1, and it has "Jew's Wife". However, that copy is an older copy I found in the used bins at Patelson's. In my newer copy/edition, it has "School Wife".
So there!
:P
Can you say "E-bay"?!?!?
::)
???
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Sarah did record an album of the Britten folksong arrangements, and she acquits herself quite nicely, as I told her when Judy Kaye introduced us! How's that for name dropping?
JINX!
Well, I guess the past couple of posts have put to rest the rumors that Larry Moore and I are the same person.
;)
...Now onto the "mystery" of Michael and Janet Jackson!
;D
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So, is it now time to discuss Brahms "elevation" of some minor poets and their minor poetry through his Lied settings?
Or shall we go onto the French composers (Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc, etc.) preferences for the Parnassians and the Symbolists?
...Don't make me break out my "History of Song"!
:P
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So, I've pulled all my recordings of the Britten folksongs. I see I no longer have the Brightman recording, it was EMI, but I do have many. On Maria Jette's recording, she sings "Schoolwife," as do Robert Tear, Elizabeth Soderstrom, and Peter Pears who recorded it with Britten in Jan. 1944. Jamie McDougall and James Griffett sing the original text, which may have been a publisher's error and not Britten's. The song was first performed, according to my friend Donald Mitchel's definitive catalogue of the Britten oeuvre, in concert, Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 26, 1941, and first recorded in 1944, using the School Wife text.
Donald is Britten's executor and he says this:
"As soon as Britten realized that the text , whether historical or not, perpetuated an ugly racist myth, he had it amended to read School Wife. . . However, since copies of the original edition are still in circulation, the Britten estate has requested that all possible care be taken to ensure that the song is only performed in the version Britten wanted heard." I guess the estate isn't to happy the the Hyperion Records and James Griffett!
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You leave your wallet with ATM and license in the car >:(
Such a trusting soul!
I think your dream was telling you not to do that anymore.
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I spent all afternoon in a board meeting. ALL afternoon.
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I spent all afternoon in a board meeting. ALL afternoon.
Sounds like a bored meeting! ;D
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I want chocolate.
I want ice cream.
Hmmm...
But I think it's now time to turn the heat on for the night...
-Yes, ice cream!
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DR tomovoz - I'm NOT listening to the former mrs. alw, I am listening to the magnificent DUSTY IN MEMPHIS. :) ;D ;)
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Is this dear reader Jane's first appearance today???
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I was lucky! I found two pictures--old and a bit faded but of the gardens we used to have.
The first picture was of the Manger that my Dad made and the second was of the log house he made.
OMG--a picket fence! We had a picket fence around out platform, too, way back when we lived in Camden, NJ. My older sisters will often talk about how wonderful our under-the-tree platform was before I came along. Evidently, I liked playing Godzilla when I was a wee one, and would often run amok amid our Plasticville village. The hospital, the drive-in hamburger joint, and a number of fine homes were destroyed in my furious attack.
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Am pleased to hear it td. Can do no wrong there.
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and now, onto Netflix's delivery of EYES WITHOUT A FACE. . . .
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Well, all, I'm ready to crash. I've done enough damage for one day! Good night, everyone.
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I tried to post a few minutes ago and nothing happened. Good thing I saved it. There is no way I would have remembered everything.
Yes Bruce, I popped in for about two minutes earlier today and had to leave. :(
JRand how was Kongo? Sadly I didn’t have a doll house. I did have a little playhouse in our back yard.
MBarnum I hope Jeff gets to see a bit of Ireland and Portland during his travels.
Panni, wonderful photos.
Danise thank you for encouraging Tomovoz.
I’m sorry, I'm sure it was very scary, but I laughed when I read your dream.
Danise ;D I didn’t pick up on the PA accent, just the southern. I will have to listen more closely next time.
Dan (the Man) lovely photos to go with DERBRUCER’S great story.
Danise I’m glad you found your very special photos.
I used Word and it says a manger is an eating trough for animals.
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Oh good, it worked this time.
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Goodnight elmore. I will also be crashing soon.
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The first ten orders are in. Who will be the next ten?
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Well Mr BK - I ordered 2 copies of WRITER'S BLOCK before reading all the notes. MBARNUM - one was going to be YOUR Birthday present!
Oh well.
Mr Bk - please just send both books to me. I will give the second to the Evil Kurt as his Christmas present!
Thanks!
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Something's coming. something good....
Please wish me luck. Good wishes and good vibes from friends like you mean a lot and will no doubt make a difference.
MWAH
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DRJANE - I only watched about 20 minutes of KONGO and couldn't take it. However, just before that was the wonderful DODSWORTH with Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton, and Mary Astor. What a terrific movie!
Loving the Christmas pictures! And the doll house/castle stories. Poor Barbie - I remember the Trade-in, but I don't think my sisters took theirs in. Their hair was in bad shape and they had ballpoint pen underwear drawn on them by someone! ?????
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I'll order the book tomorrow.
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[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/move]
good vibes to dRKERRY! ;D
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Of course Kerry.
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DRDANISE - I POTO. Gary Mauer was very good in the lead....wonderful singer and actor. Rebecca Pitcher as Christine was not QUITE up to him, but she was fine. Tim Martin Gleason is probably the weakest Raoul I have seen, but he was okay. Kim Stengel was okay as Carlotta but really missed a LOT of the comedy in the role that I have seen others play. She got some laughs, but I have heard BIG laughs at some of the lines she threw away. Everyone else was okay - the chandelier was the smoothest operating one I have EVER seen, and Patti Davidson-Gorbea and Kate Wray were OUTSTANDING as Madame Giry and Meg!
I think you will like it!
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[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]! ! ! ! ! VIBES OF GOOD WISHES TO DR KERRY ! ! ! ! ! [/move]
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JRand guess I recorded the wrong movie. I think I will pass on KONGO-thanks for the tip.
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YW DRJane.
I didn't realize it was a remake of Lon Chaney's silent film WEST OF ZANZIBAR.
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Kerry good wishes and good vibes for something good.
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JRand I didn't know that interesting fact. It almost makes me want to watch the movie now.
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DRDANISE - I POTO. Gary Mauer was very good in the lead....wonderful singer and actor. Rebecca Pitcher as Christine was not QUITE up to him, but she was fine. Tim Martin Gleason is probably the weakest Raoul I have seen, but he was okay. Kim Stengel was okay as Carlotta but really missed a LOT of the comedy in the role that I have seen others play. She got some laughs, but I have heard BIG laughs at some of the lines she threw away. Everyone else was okay - the chandelier was the smoothest operating one I have EVER seen, and Patti Davidson-Gorbea and Kate Wray were OUTSTANDING as Madame Giry and Meg!
I think you will like it!
Cool - I didn't realize Patti-Davidson Gorbea was out on the road again! Yet one more former Richmonder!
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I have just been having fun listening to the songs on www.writersblocksite.com. I will order the book tomorrow. :)
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DRJOSE - she does a great job in one of my favorite parts of POTO - Madame Giry!
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I’m super tired which seems to be my normal state these days. Have I mentioned we miss our king size bed? The queen bed in our guest room just isn’t big enough for the four of us to sleep comfortably. Only 4-6 weeks more before our bathroom is finished and we can return to our bedroom. Everything that needs to be ripped out has been. The frame for the new whirlpool tub is in. For me that will be the best feature of our new bathroom. :)
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Excellent vibes and xylophones to dear reader Kerry.
All orders that come in by one in the afternoon my time will get shipped tomorrow.
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Howdy, folks...! Just had a spare few minutes and thought I'd drop by to say hello and assure everyone that I am still alive. The Met season is in full swing now and between that and my suddenly and inexplicably full social calendar I've been incredibly busy. When I got home from seeing CINDERELLA at City Opera today I realized that I have had something to do every single day for the last three weeks and all of this week is booked, too - including Sundays, which are usually my day of rest. Oh, well...I'm seeing a lot of theatre, which is wonderful (most of it, anyway - I'm seeing BROOKLYN on Tuesday night, so there goes 'wonderful.')
MTI is still there and so am I. I've decided that I'm going to try to avoid a second year there if at all possible. I'm going to hit every audition I possibly can in the spring, though I know I'll take a huge pay cut and I'll lose my benefits if I leave MTI. Oh, well. I'm not sure I could work there another year and maintain my sanity.
Nothing worth reporting has really happened in a while. I think I'll be moving in January to a new apartment, which excites me more than I can tell. The mice have been galavanting around this place for the last couple of months and I'm ready to ditch them. The new apartment is lovely - three bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a full-sized kitchen, living room and dining room with a magnificent view of the Manhattan skyline. I'm very excited.
No news on the dating scene. Oh well.
Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say hi. I'll do my best to get back more often - things are slowing down (sort of) at MTI, so maybe I'll try to sneak online and post from time to time...
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Nice to see DR Jason after a long absence.
COLD CASE had a very interesting gay-themed story on tonight that was, as is often the case with that show, very poignant with its resolution.
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Mr BK I hope you understood the disposition of my order. Tried to email you from a couple of different accounts and both bounced back to me.....
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Hi Jason!
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...Don't make me break out my "History of Song"!
I can hear/see it now: What If Jose, at the piano, were to break into his "History of Song!"?
:-*
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Well Mr BK - I ordered 2 copies of WRITER'S BLOCK before reading all the notes. MBARNUM - one was going to be YOUR Birthday present!
Oopsy! Well, darn...that would certainly have made a swell birthday gift! Now I remember you posting about getting a copy of it for someone's birthday but it just didn't even register in my mind that I would be that person...but I think that is very nice of you anyhow! :D
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JRand 54, DODSWORTH is a favourite movie of mine. Has one of my favourite lines: "Love's got to stop somewhere short of suicide."
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I had never seen DODSWORTH all the way from the beginning and it was so very good. Still had some true things to say - human nature wise - of course the book is very good. I didn't realize I would like Walter Huston as much as I did. And outstanding production values as well. 1936 was a good year for Sam Goldwyn productions!
MBARNUM....now I have to find you something else...LOL!
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Time for to go to bed - Tor Johnson, THE UNEARTHLY.
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Jrand, got your e-mails - don't know why they would have bounced, although I must say things that are going via this site aren't reaching my aol account where they're supposed to go. This happened a while back and we took the safeguard of copying those e-mails to my adelphia account, so I am getting everything. aol is too weird .
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Actually, if you want to insure I get e-mail, just send direct to haineshisway@aol.comremovespamola
Obviously, remove the "removespamola" from the address.
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Just saying hello, then back to packing. Tomorrow morning the movers come. I won't have internet until Tuesday, so see you then.
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Quite a lot of theatre-going this weekend. Started with opening night of Cam Jansen, by not one, but two, Kleban Award-winners. Very amusing and energetic. There were a couple of songs I didn't like, but I suspect it's the producer who insists everything be up-tempo and driving.
Six short plays by the Lightning Strikes company sailed by. They've officially announced that their next production will have incidental music (including two songs) by yours truly, so I better finish that soon.
Tonight was brief readings of five different musicals. At least it was supposed to be, but songwriters Kim Oler and Allison Hubbard didn't understand that, so, instead, they just sang songs from three of their musicals, Harriet the Spy, The Enchanted Cottage and Buddy's Tavern. My goodness, there's an extraordinarily high quality of invention and craft in their songs. Their work is so human, so true-to-life, so moving. If I see red when schlock succeeds, it's because true artists like Oler & Hubbard remain obscure
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Never heard of Oler and Hubbard. I've heard of Old Mother Hubbard and L. Ron Hubbard, though.
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Uh oh, it must be The Time of the Wussburger.
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And yet we have five GUESTS. Welcome five GUESTS who are not WUSSBURGERS. We're talkin' about anything and everything.
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Just read a review of an LA screening of "Phantom".
Good costumes and sets - Minnie Driver got laughs. Everything else........... Moulin and Chicago style cutting etc. Bad bad bad.
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Can you print some highlights (or lowlights) of the review?
Welcome NINE guests. We're talkin' about anything and everything, not necessarily in that order.
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Hey, Iris, e-mail me - I'm comin' to NY!
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Source: very indirect..
Phantom movie:
"Chaotic and Frantic"
"Just a mess"
Biggest casting mistake - Gerald Butler
Emily Rossum - "deer in headlights". "never seems flesh and blood"
Not quite as bad as "Batman and Robin"
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Well, I think I'm seeing it in a week or so.
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Welcome six GUESTS. Whaddup dog?
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I suddenly got very tired.
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New notes in two count them two minutes and then I shall hit the hay.
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Is it just me or has this been a rather incredible Sunday?
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Is it just me or are we going to reach 200 posts tonight?