Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 3 => Topic started by: bk on September 10, 2005, 12:10:21 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, you are on the prowl for FLUFF STRANDS, and now it is time for you to post until the cows come home - they, too, are on the prowl for FLUFF STRANDS and won't come home until they locate some or at least find out what in HELL they are.
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I think MBarnum may have interviewed Fluff Strands. He made some great movies in the early 50's.
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And the word of the day is: BELLICOSE!
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"The Card" was flop musical. I saw it in its first week. Jim Dale was great. I think the score is better than many others too.
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George couldn't take the FLUFF STRANDS anymore and has vacated the premises.
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And now - Dino at the piano.
I think I shall stay up until one or so, just to get in some posts, since I'll be gone most of the day today.
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I also like the score of "The Good Companions" but did not get to see it.
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I think MBarnum may have interviewed Fluff Strands. He made some great movies in the early 50's.
Yes, he was in some pictures with Sonny Tufts.
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Well, tonight was opening night of CHARLEY’S AUNT. There is nothing like plying your opening night house with food and wine before the show, to get them in the mood for a comedy. Thanks to my son, Jed’s, delivery; the audience started chuckling from his opening lines, and they didn’t stop laughing until two (+) hours later. A great start to the run (sorry Jrand), but let’s hope we can keep it going.
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I think "Fluff Strands" was the code name for a naval exercise in the Pacific. Of course that may have been a navel exercise in the Mediterranean.
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Good news indeed TCB. Your cyber genes are showing.
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Congrats, TCB. That is a funny show. I bought the script when I was prepping for "Where's Charley?" and aside from some characters being combined, it is very much the same except with music, of course.
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George couldn't take the FLUFF STRANDS anymore and has vacated the premises.
I haven't vacated just yet. I had to read the Notes before I started reading today's posts. :)
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That's what fluff strands are! The lint from one's navel. I always tell TPunk I am saving mine to make her a sweater in a few years.
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BK, on what site was THE FLY review?
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Congratulations, TCB!! I hope you have a great run!
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I saw a play in London called THE VILLAIN'S OPERA by Nick Dear which was a version of The Beggar's Opera set in London's current East End. The Lovely Wife and I loved it. But it was playing to half houses and I don't think either the critics or London audiences enjoyed it as much as we did.
There is a play I read by Peter Shaffer called Gift of the Gorgon that's one of the best plays I've read in the last dozen years. But after it's initial run, I've not see a hide nor hair of a production.
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Pogue, our Buccos and Reds met tonight, and my squad came out on top. Unfortunately, a recent swoon has made the Pirates one of the NL's worst teams and we fired our manager. Your Redlegs have actually made some improvements in the second half, and the crime of it is if they were in the NL West with the Dodgers, they would be like, 3 games out of first place in that miserable division.
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I have a link to the review in the last of the posts from yesterday's posts. It's the Home Theater Forum - but the direct link is in the posts from yesterday - just check the last page. You will love this fellow's interesting command of language.
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And a very happy haineshisway.com birthday cheer to occasional dear reader Donna, she of Cabaret West, who I hope will be at our partay tonight.
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TOD: I really liked JAMES JOYCE'S THE DEAD, but I shall never even hear its music again, as there is no cast album.
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TOD: I really liked JAMES JOYCE'S THE DEAD, but I shall never even hear its music again, as there is no cast album.
Our very own BK produced Emily Skinner's solo album and at least one song from the show was recorded! It's not the whole score, but it's something. :)
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And it was a duet with her Side Show and The Dead co-star, Alice Ripley!
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I must listen to Emily's album again, as I remember liking it when we finished it.
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"Ballyshannon." That's the song.
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And a Very Happy Birthday to occasional dear reader Donna!!
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There was a good song that Walken sang called "Our Three Graces," and his casual style suited it quite well.
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FLUFF STRANDS, baby, FLUFF STRANDS!
BELLICOSE, baby, BELLICOSE!
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Thank you, Tom(s) and George. Since my son is probably still out celebrating his triumph this evening, rather than posting at HHW, I guess I will head off to bed. I have MY FAIR LADY rehearsal at 10 a.m.
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We've got us a late-night quorum on the forum.
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BK, I've been listening to Guy Haines' new CD and I like it more and more! Just had to share. ;D
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Page Two Dance (and it isn't even 1:00 a.m., yet!)...The Guy Haines Shuffle:
[move=right,scroll,6,transparent,100%](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000ALMTYO.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg)[/move]
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Happy Birthday Donna
not be confused with Dion's Donna or Donna from "Hair" or Richie Valen's Donna.
And I'm sure not Gene Pitney's Donna who means heartbreak
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Or Donna Summer. ;)
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Yes, the Guy Haines CD seems to grow on people, like a fungus.
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With enough Fluff Strands in your navel your Belli would be cose.
Sorry.
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Well, I will shortly toddle off to the bedroom environment to get whatever beauty sleep I can.
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Yes, the Guy Haines CD seems to grow on people, like a fungus.
Then there's a fungus among us. :D
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FLUFF STRANDS - that's the title of my next novel.
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As my dear cyberfather reported, our opening night for Charley's Aunt was quite a success. Gotta love the energy supplied by an opening night audience (and I'm sure the wine didn't hurt any). Everything was crisp and tight and we all seemed to hit our stride right from the top. Now to see if we can keep it up for our twelve remaining performances!
...DG Ann's review will surely be posted after she sees the show next Saturday night.
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Congratulations DR Jed.
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Good job, Jed! ;D
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As it approaches 4 am on the eastern coast of the United States of America, I am signing off. But I want it known that I am back. Oh yes. Back.
Does the actual Guy Haines CD have an interesting booklet, or just basic info? Since I went the itunes route I wonder what I'm missing.
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You're missing a lot, Rodzinski! Every song has a little paragraph saying where it came from, why it was chosen, etc., and an introduction by BK, himself. And, of course, all of the credits. And photos of Guy Haines...but, as usual, never his face. Only the back of his head, his shoes and his hands. He has a very nice watch, too!
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The booklet is fun Rodzinski. Reminds me of the enjoyment I used to get from reading the notes on Ben Bagley's albums.
Check with Elmore.
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As someone who still loves LPs and their artwork and notes, I think I shall not go the Itunes route again, unless it is something extremely rare.
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Well, goodnight Rodzinski, Tomovoz, Jed and BK...and three guests. I, too, am going to bed.
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As someone who still loves LPs and their artwork and notes, I think I shall not go the Itunes route again, unless it is something extremely rare.
I won't either. I bought the new Linda Eder recording of "Bernstein's Peter Pan" and I want to read the liner notes and find out who sings in the chorus (if they list them...I think I read that they don't) and which characters sing which songs...none of that is provided by iTunes. :P
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Good night all.
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Good Morning!
...For the past hour or possibly two... Or maybe just a little bit more than that, Joshua and Sarah (Sara - ?) have been sitting outside my bedroom window talking. And talking sort of loudly. Well, they're sitting on the steps which lead down into the unit, which means they're facing towards the front door - and towards my window. Again, they're not talking loudly, rather they're talking passionately.
Apparently, Joshua is 35 and Sarah (possibly spelled Sara) is his younger sister (not sure of her age). Joshua is a frustrated actor here in New York City. He used to work a lot of Dallas. A lot of his friends here in NYC keep booking work. He's not. So, Joshua has been venting to Sarah/Sara about his frustrations, hopes, dreams, etc., in regards to making it as an actor in NYC. Well, more precisely, Joshua would prefer to make his living as an actor, to make enough money from acting jobs in order to make a living.
Sarah/Sara has been listening, and giving her opinions every now and then. Sometimes she's asked for her opinion, sometimes she is not.
Etc., etc., etc.
In a sense it's kind of comical - just that I'm "witnessing" this conversation. In another sense, it's very annoying since they woke me up, and I was hoping to get a few more hours of sleep. So...
I could just open my blinds and peek out at them, but that would be too easy... :-\ Instead, I'm going to put my shoes on in a few, and walk outside and down to Pathmark since I need to pick up a few toiletries for my trip in a few hours.
And in a strange twist, I actually think I may have come across this guy, Joshua, at one time or another. The voice sounds familiar, the hair looks familiar (when I did look out one of my windows he was turning towards his sister, so all I was seeing was the back of his head). And now I'm wondering if he'll be heading down to SETCs too in a few hours. Stranger things have happened.
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Oh...
I'm up, I'm up!
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...And I guess they're oblivious to the light going on in the window just a few feet away from them...
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...And Joshua is also having girlfriend issues. Mainly, that he doesn't have one...
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...Hmm... So I've put on my Williamstown Theatre Festival t-shirt... and heading out...
;)
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DR JANE
I wonder how you liked a Tofu stroganoff.
Enjoy the rest of your trip! Look forward to many photos from the trip.
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And also
Look forward to a plethora of photos from the CD launch party, dear bK.
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Good morning and once again good night.
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Congratulations on the successful opening night, DR JED, his cyberfather DR TCB and DR Ann!
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Good morning to all. I'm at work which is usual for a Saturday morning in September or October. I'm listening to BBC 3 and the Bremer Foundation awaits.
I shall return.
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Good Morning!
Well... When I stepped out of the front door to the semi-surprise of Joshua and Sarah/Sara, I sort of ended up stepping on my own punch line. Or stepping in something. ;)
Basically, right after greeting them, I mentioned to them that the window "right there" was my bedroom window. Then I made some sort of incoherent comment about how I'm 37 - remember, Joshua is only 35 - and it took me a few years to finally get up to NYC, and that I just booked a Broadway show. -However, I'm not really sure that that is what Joshua wanted to hear.
Hmm...
???
;)
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OH! WOW! Only 7:40am on a Saturday morning, and we're already starting Page 3... On a Saturday!
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Hmm... What to dance? What to dance?
Maybe just some nice stretching since it's still so relatively early on a Saturday morning. Although, I guess T'AI CHI could be considered balletic at times.
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It's another gorgeous morning here in NYC. The walk to the PathMark was brisk and refreshing. I didn't mind being up so early (relatively speaking).
Lots of restocking going on at the grocery store. Lots of endcaps getting arranged. New sale signs being posted. And customers at the cash register already "fighting" with the cashiers, sale flyers in hand, showing them that that box of cereal is indeed on sale as of this morning...
As for myself, I picked up some mints (I'm partial to those Eclipse ones, Winterfrost) so that my breath will not be offensive to the auditionees when they sit next to me; some granola bars to sustain me during the hours of auditions; and some Drake's Devil Dogs, because... well, just because. -And they were on sale too! ;)
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OMG, it's not even 8:00, and I think I've solved the main part of the trivia contest already. What am I going to do with the rest of the morning?
Re earlier posts: Has anyone else already used the joke that the reason Guy Haines grows on you is because he's a "FUN-GUY"? Or was that the basic gist of BK's fungus joke earlier?
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On the walk back from the grocery store, I stopped at one of those hole-in-the-building restaurants - the ones with the counters right at the sidewalk - and picked up a bagel with a schmear, and two donuts. I was hoping to give the donuts to Joshua and Sarah/Sara, but they were gone by the time I got back. Ah, well... Guess I'll leave the donuts for my roomies.
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OMG, it's not even 8:00, and I think I've solved the main part of the trivia contest already. What am I going to do with the rest of the morning?
Well... There's always the rest of the trivia question.
;)
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And now I'm just trying to think if Joshua lives in my building. There are only three other units, and I believe I've seen the other occupants. Or maybe I haven't.
I was able to glean from their conversation that Sarah/Sara lives in Washington Heights - 185th and Ft. Washington, I believe. And now that I think of it, well, process it, I don't think Joshua lives in my building since he wasn't sure at all where his sister lived when she mentioned where she lived. Hmm.. I wonder if one of Joshua's ex's lives in this building. Or maybe they just picked a random stoop to sit on.
Hmmm... Guess I'll never get the answer to those questions...
;)
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Yeah, I may try to stretch the trivia question out a bit.
Topin of the Day:
Flop Play - Joan Rivers' FUN CITY - I adored her and the play, bless its mean-spirited heart, but it was shellacked by the critics.
Flop Musical - THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE GOES PUBLIC - I didn't particularly like the show, but it's one of those instances where the Sunday Times critic (Canby) really liked it while the daily Times critic hated it, and it bothered me that the Sunday times critic had no impact.
Flop Revival - GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES - I just have a block where KT Sullivan is concerned, I just love her, and I loved Geroge Dvorsky, and on and on. And it was my first real exposure to the show, so I was grateful that it was done at all.
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Speaking of the Alamo (and people were in last night's postings), a movie that I think is vastly underrated is VIVA MAX starring Peter Ustinov. It's a bit shaggy in its filming, but its basic story (a general tries to recapture the Alamo in the 1960's to impress a woman) was so moving to me. And a musical title theme that is simply amazing, IMHO.
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Hmmm...
So.. What if it does turn out that I run into Joshua down in Charlotte over the next two days during SETCs? Hmm...
Sounds like book in the making, or at least an outline.
;)
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Good morning, all! HOW'S IT HANGING, BARNUM? will be the title of my next book.
I cannot believe at 8 am, we're on page three! I'm debating whether to work on the chart for Faith Prince or to go into the office and play Sherlock Holmes with Ira Gershwin and Harold Arlen. This Arlen concert in Chicago is getting its cast together: so far, Stuart Ross of The Plaiids is directing, and they've signed Christine Ebersole, Ron Raines, and Noah Racey. Yesterday, the folks at the Humanities Festival confirmed ny being in Chicago the last week of October for the Nov. 4 concert and rehearsals.
Also, yesterday, I got lost in a huge restoration question on "You're A Builder Upper" and I'm still pondering decisions and the fallout: which intro of the two existing ones and second sung refrain in C or F since I have two choices in the full scores?
Maybe I'll stay here with Miss Prince.
I got an email from DRJoey, who's been suffering from a dead computer and its repair for the past two weeks. He says he'll be back soon and sends everyone his regards.
DRJose, have a safe trip and get back to us New Yawkers ASAP.
TOD: I;ve seen two shows that deserved runs out of the many shows I've seen that did deservedly die immediately: BIRDS OF PARADISE at the Promenade and RAGS with Teresa Stratas, which was a mess in Act Two but deserved a run because there were too many wonderful things about it to give it a longer run.
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And speaking of books, I do hope to be one of the first fifty orderers of "Rewind", and I should be able to place my order sometime Tuesday morning. (-Meaning after I get paid on Monday. ;))
I was among the first couple of people to order the Benjamin Kritzer books as well as "Writer's Block" - even if it did take me a few months after receiving to read them. And enjoy them. I just don't want to break my streak of getting those sparkling extras.
And if I end up getting a bonus (which usually does happen lately :)), I'll see about splurging on the Kritzerland CD releases too. I just haven't bought that many CDs at all over the past couple of months, and the few that I have bought have been in relation to offers for work, potential projects.
Yes, I've sort of been watching my pennies over the past couple of months due to the move, but while packing up things, I came across way too many CDs that were still wrapped in plastic, never opened. And I vowed to get them unwrapped and played. I've made some headway through that pile, but there's still quite a few to go.
-But I have a feeling that once I receive "New Guy In Town" and/or "After the Ball" and/or "Stage/Together Again" and/or the Jones/Schmidt disc and/or Kevin Spirtas' single, I'm sure they'll find their way to the head of queue. Or at least the top of the pile. ;)
*However, if it turns out that when I order "Rewind" on Tuesday - or possibly Wednesday... ;) - that I'm not among the first 50, well, I guess that's a good thing too, if you get my drift. -And I think BK gets my drift in that regards.
:)
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5:30am here on the west coast and I'm up I'm up!!! It's cold this morning. So, I lit some candles at my desk, read the notes and am contimplating attacking the trivia, but most pleasurable of all, the new Harvey Schmidt is playing and I'm finding it quite enjoyable!
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As for the Topic of the Day...
Well, I haven't seen that many flops, but the few that I have deserved to flop. So...
However, I did see the small-scale "revival" of Rags that American Jewish Theatre did a couple of years ago - Ann Crumb and Crista Moore were in the leads. I thought that should have moved on to bigger and better places. In fact, during The Golden Apple rehearsals, I got to talk to Ann Crumb about that production. She mentioned that it was supposed to move, Lincoln Center was going to pick it up. It was on. It was off. It was on again. But then they, Lincoln Center, decided to pick up Falsettos. And the rest, as they say, is history.
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Well, my alarm just went off... ;)
Time to pack. Which shouldn't take too long at all.
Laters...
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5:30am here on the west coast and I'm up I'm up!!! It's cold this morning. So, I lit some candles at my desk . . .
DRMatthew, are you singing "mi chiamano Mimi" as you work in your garret?
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DRMatthew, are you singing "mi chiamano Mimi" as you work in your garret?
Well, I just heard a window being slammed shut in the apartment complex, so I've just stopped singing.
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On the subject of internet reviewers, most sites designed specifically for DVDs have these teens or twenty-somethings doing these "reviews," and they are indeed infuriating to read.
Nothing turns me off faster that to begin reading a review where the reviewer admits to his shortcomings: "I'm not really a fan of movie musicals; I just don't get them," or "Black and white films died with the dodo but here I am reviewing one."
I have offered my services free of charge to a number of sites, but those in charge don't think someone over 50 could possibly have anything revelant to say to them.
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DR Jose - When did Lincoln Center Theater do FALSETTOS? were they involved with the Weissler's Broadway production?
Well, for better or worse, I put my trivia guesses in. I think this is the earliest I've ever gotten them in, which'll mean nothing (even to me) if any of the guesses turn out to be wrong.
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DR Jose - When did Lincoln Center Theater do FALSETTOS? were they involved with the Weissler's Broadway production?
Well, for better or worse, I put my trivia guesses in. I think this is the earliest I've ever gotten them in, which'll mean nothing (even to me) if any of the guesses turn out to be wrong.
Hmmm... Lincoln Center... Weisslers... Jujamcyn... Hmmm...
I could have sworn I heard Ann Crumb mention Lincoln Center... I shall have to clarify the whole producerial end of things at a later date, in any case...
Whoever - or perhaps wherever - was going to pick up Rags, it was between Rags and Falsettos. And Falsettos ended up drawing the longer straw.
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And now that I'm packed... Which took a little longer than planned since I started getting fussy. The clothes were done in five minutes, but then came making sure I had all the power power cords and chargers for my computer, my PDA, my cell phone, etc. Then I had to shuffle some toiletries around from case to case. Yadda-yadda-yadda...
So... I'll see if I can log on from La Guardia - which reminds me that I should check-in online now (so that I can get the extra frequent flyer miles)...
So...
Laters...
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I am very very sorry that I did not send best first night wishes and leg breakings to DRs Jed and TCB on the occasion of their CHARLEY'S AUNT opening.
I had it in my day planner, but as yesterday was such a full day with my being away from home for many hours and then trying to squeeze in my usual DVD viewing and computing, it just got overlooked.
Again, very sorry, and belated great wishes for your second performance tonight.
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Good morning from me!
I got up early and was out on my walk before 8:00. It was very cool, and the walk just made me feel so good.
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Of course, in just a minute, I'll be jumping off-line in order to do that heinous kitchen mopping chores that got put off yesterday. Bleech!
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I found some upcoming DVD news on the web this morning:
First, the 60th Anniversary DVD of Rodgers and Hammerstein's STATE FAIR (1945) is coming on November 15th.
Now, the movie has been out on a single disc edition for a long time, but this is the edition you have to buy if you want the 1962 remake of STATE FAIR with Pat Boone and Ann-Margret. It will not be sold separately but is included as a bonus extra on the second disc in the DVD set.
A new two disc edition (anamorphic finally) of OKLAHOMA! will also be available on November 15th along with yet another remastered release for THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
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Three more Shirley Temple movies will be released in the next boxed set of her features, but as with the first box which had HEIDI which had already been released earlier, this new box will contain BRIGHT EYES which has already been released once by Fox.
The other two features will be BABY TAKE A BOW and REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM.
I must say, I'm really surprised they've chosen BABY and REBECCA as the next two. I'd think CAPTAIN JANUARY would have been a natural as well as THE LITTLE COLONEL or POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL. Oh, well, not my call. I'm glad to get two more new ones.
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Three more Fox FIlm Noirs are on tap for December 6th, and they are GEMS:
KISS OF DEATH
THE DARK CORNER
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
Can't wait to get these!
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OK, enough already! I'm prepping for the kitchen mopping, so I'll sign off now and be back later.
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It is kind of lonely in here at that!
:(
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I didn't even answer on the topic of the day.
The flop musical that I had NO trouble championing is THE HAPPY TIME.
I think it's one of the great unsung treasures of 1960s musicals, a victim of the wrong theater and a group of angry critics who were kept waiting on opening night (while another critic got there late; see THE SEASON for the full story) and took it out on the show.
It had a terrific Kander and Ebb score, charismatic actors giving show stopping performances, and a slight but engaging story. If it had gone into the Golden Theater or the Booth and opened on a night when all the critics could be there on time, I think it would have run over a 1,000 performances.
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And with that (and while I think of films and plays I want to mention on the TOD), I will sign off.
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I'm up, I'm up.
Jose, I think you're safe re the little extra. We've had about twenty-five orders so far - not bad for a couple of days, but I don't think we'll hit fifty until mid-week.
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Wow! Four pages at 10:30am on a Saturday. And I helped :-)
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Speaking of "keeping home fries burning" - I know fries have recently been found to be bad for you, but I ordered the burger deluxe from the Renaissance Cafe, and for the first time, they actually made the fries well-done, almost burned, and they were the best fries I've ever had, even better than Nathan's Fries. I imagine this was an accident, but I'm tempted to ask them to almost-burn the fries in the future.
Renaissance Cafe also makes blintzes that are simply out of this world. I don't know what they do to them, and I'm afraid to ask, but I've gotten on a blintz kick lately. A whole filling meal, and I'm pretty sure that (before the sour cream) it's only about 450 calories.
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FJL, I'm sure I've seen it but where is Renaissance Cafe? A midtown establishment or downtown or Brooklyn? Inquiring minds want to know.
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NYCD at 81st & Amsterdam is having a used DVD sale and all proceeds are going to hurricane relief, so I bought 4. Turns out I already have the Steve Martin PENNIES FROM HEAVEN so I'll send the one I just bought to DRJoey.
I also just spoke to Mr Ron Raines who had questions about the Chicago Humanities Festival concert. I'd forgotten that Leslie Uggams was also performing. Here's a link to the event.
http://www.chfestival.org/fest2005/home.cfm?page=gala&sec=adult
He and Charlotte are seeing TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA tonight, so Miss Charlotte is all aglow over seeing it again. And now to Miss Faith Prince!
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Saturday greetings! I'm at work today, too.
TOD: A flop musical for which I have great affection is The Grass Harp. In my senior year at Michigan, the university opened the Power Center for the Performing Arts, and The Grass Harp premiered there before heading to New York. My date and I went to the sparkling gala opening night, along with Truman Capote, James Earl Jones, and other luminaries. Now I want to listen to the recording when I get home!
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I think I solved the trivia question, too, on my first guess. That hardly ever happens.
TOD: Well my knowledge of flops comes mostly from the cast recordings and as we all know, the scores excised from the shows can often be far superior to the actual staged production. That said, I, too, adore Rags and The Grass Harp (which was done here in Portland a few years ago--it flopped here, too ;D). Others that spring immediately to mind: The Grand Tour, Goodtime Charlie, Dance a Little Closer (so shoot me ;) ). More will be springing to mind later, I'm sure.
DS returns tonight. Yay!! Although the boys and I have fared pretty well and I managed to get them through their first week of school (along with the incessant paperwork) intact.
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DR Ben - Oops, I got all classy and hifalutin' there, calling it the Renaissance Cafe! It's actually the Renaissance Diner, not the Renaissance Cafe. It's in midtown, on Ninth Avenue between 51st and 52nd, but we normally get delivery from there.
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I think I solved the trivia question, too, on my first guess. That hardly ever happens.
TOD: Well my knowledge of flops comes mostly from the cast recordings and as we all know, the scores excised from the shows can often be far superior to the actual staged production. That said, I, too, adore Rags and The Grass Harp (which was done here in Portland a few years ago--it flopped here, too ;D). Others that spring immediately to mind: The Grand Tour, Goodtime Charlie, Dance a Little Closer (so shoot me ;) ). More will be springing to mind later, I'm sure.
I saw DANCE A LITTLE CLOSER; it was a mess, and it may have deserved a run on the score alone but the book was a mess, Len Cariou showed signs of vocal ruiin from too much Sweeney Todd, Liz Robertson looked like Julie Andrews doing a Cyd Charisse impersonation, George Rose wasn't villainous enough, and Lerner's muddled book had none of the mystery and glamor of the original play.
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Still having back problems which did not allow me to go to LA today. Almost caught up with previous postings. Had a wonderful phone confab with Larry Moore. I wish I lived in NYC so I can see him more (or moore)!
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FJL said:
It's in midtown, on Ninth Avenue between 51st and 52nd, but we normally get delivery from there.
I know Renaissance! I've been there! My friend David lives just around the block from there on 52nd Street! It's also just a block from Giorgio's where DRs Jason and Jose ate recently (I've eaten there also)! I've eaten all over town! How many exclamation points have I used? I'm moving to question marks now.
Later, gaters.
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I shall now be on my way to do all the things I must do. Keep the home fries burning until my returning, for which you'll be yearning.
And if you lack ideas for a post, you can always talk about FLUFF STRANDS.
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TOD: New York, New York, the movie! I love it, especially the Director's Cut. It's an overlooked and underappreciated gem IMHO.
I've mentioned this before but I also love Reds, Mr. Beatty's wonderful film.
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And the word of the day is: BELLICOSE!
The doggies like me to rub them on the belli 'cose it feels so good.
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I shall now be on my way to do all the things I must do. Keep the home fries burning until my returning, for which you'll be yearning.
And if you lack ideas for a post, you can always talk about FLUFF STRANDS.
I did! I did! I talked about FLUFF STRANDS on the Home Theater Forum!
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A basset hound will inevitably keep his bellicose to the ground.
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I ate, enjoyably, at Renaissance on both of my NYC trips last year! My dear friend Bob Gutowski (BobG on All That Chat, for those ATC readers here) chose Renaissance as our meeting place, for he had always enjoyed it. Now I tell anyone who is going to NYC to be sure to eat dinner there. I also tell them about Amy's Breads.
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I must be doing my impression of MBarnum.
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I am my own frenzy.
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Hi DR Ginny!
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Hi DR S. Woody White!
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Hi myself.
Hi to me.
I'm the frenzied Ethel Merman,
Dontcha know. . .
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(I'm not even a fast typist). :-[
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Hi DR Ben!
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Hi, DR TD!
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http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&postid=2793187#post2793187 (http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&postid=2793187#post2793187)
Fluff Strands!
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Hi, DR td!
And, bye DRs - I have to go do some information waitressing for a few hours.
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Hi, DR TD!
Glad to have had my frenzy interrupted. ;D
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Rodzinski, of course, the Reds used to be in the NL West and would be in better position there if they had remained. And how nice to hear them called the Redlegs instead of just the Reds. Redlegs was the name that I grew up with.
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I'm still recovering from yesterday's ladsitting.
It was filled with disappointments, to be sure. First and foremost was the fact that der B got the wrong info on what was playing at the multiplex; he was absolutely certain that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was still there, but he checked the schedule on Thursday, and the theater switched schedules on Friday. The Chocolate Factory had shut it's doors again.
Instead, we took the lads to see Valiant, a British computer-animation WWII story. The animation could have been better, both on the characters and the backgrounds, and the gross-out jokes were a bit much, but Alex and William sat through it all, and enjoyed it.
The disaster hit when we got to the restaurant. Der B had decided that the Olive Garden would be a good place for us to eat. We'd checked out their kid's menu, and it had things that we were sure William would eat. William, of course, will eat most anything, or at least give things a try. Alex, on the other hand, is the picky eater, and a real problem.
We got to the restaurant, and there's a line. Of course there's a line, it's a little after six on a Friday night. The hostess says it will be a half hour wait, handing us one of those light-up coasters so many restaurants use these days to tell people that their table is ready. Der B opts for us grabbing a table in the bar area, where the lads can read their books and we might be able to start on an appetizer. The lads opt for Cokes, we get Manhattans, and order a mozzarella fondue appetizer.
Alex, Mr. Picky, wrinkled his nose and said "EEEEWWWW" when the fondue appeared. I proceeded to fix a slice of bread with the fondue for William and one for myself, and one for Alex as well. William poked the cheese with his finger, then tasted his finger and decided to give the fondue a try. Together, we went through the lions share of the bread and cheese. Alex ignored his sample.
By this time, I figured our table should be ready soon, so I checked at the front desk to see where we were on the list. "Oh, we called for you a long time ago!" the hostess says. The signal coaster had never made a flash or a peep. "Well, I'll work you in as quick as possible."
Two minutes later, the coaster flashed and buzzed the way it was supposed to.
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FEEDING THE GRANDLADS, continued.
William and I went to our table, while der Grampa and Alex made a pit stop. Our waitress produced a children's menu and some crayons for William, and left.
I went over what was on the meny with William, and he decided that he wanted Fettuccini Alfredo; it's something he's had at home many times, something that his father likes because it's easy to pour the jarred sauce onto the pasta. But William doesn't like the crayons he's been given; he's not too happy with midnight blue and orange. I suggested that maybe Alex would get different colors, and they could share.
My bad.
When Alex and der Grampa arrived at the table, does the waitress return? No. Not for at least seven minutes. I ended up going over to the spot where I'd seen her get the crayons, and picked out another two-pack for Alex, red and green. William immediately wanted to borrow the green. No, Alex decides he doesn't want to share. Period. This doesn't go over very well, and William starts sprouting tears.
Here's where I've got a split reaction. On the one hand, I agree with der B that a dinner table is not a playground; children should be taught at home that it is a place where people eat together, share in conversation, sit quietly if necessary. Bringing crayons to the table sends the message that the table is instead a place for playing. And I certainly don't subscribe to the lad's mother's decision, that they should he given GameBoys to occupy their time; that's really sending the wrong message.
On the other hand, how does one explain to a child that he has to wait because the waitress isn't bothering to return to the table? Sure, she came back to get our order, but then it took her another fifteen minutes to come back with the bowl of salad greens and der B's soup. We're talking over twenty minutes between when we were seated and the first scrap of food arrived. This is a long wait for adults, it's intolerable for kids.
And then it turns out that Alex "hates" salad.
William was having a ball with the portion I'd served him, which included some red onion and croutons. Alex simply had to sit there. And sit there. And sit there. And he wasn't happy.
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FEEDING THE GRANDLADS, part three.
Somewhere during all this time, the waitress reappeared, chirping that our dinners would be out soon, that they were just waiting for the child's pizza that Alex had ordered. Huh? That kitchen must really be in the weeds tonight, if everything is backed up because of a child's pizza.
But more of a problem are Alex and William's manners at the table, when the food does arrive. William takes his fork, spears as much of his fettuccine with his fork as he can, and then tries to stuff it in gobs into his mouth. Der B is appalled. I simply sigh: this is exactly how he has seen his father eat, and he is simply aping the behavior.
Alex, meanwhile, eats part of one slice of pizza, and then picks off the pepperoni and maybe some of the cheese, leaving the rest. Out of the entire time at the restaurant, he has eaten little more than six slices of pepperoni.
And then he sulked because he was finished, and I had barely started my own dinner. He had to wait for der B and I to finish our meals, and couldn't run away.
And, again, I could only sigh. This is how he's been taught to behave at the table.
He's been taught that dinner will already be at the table, that he never needs to wait. He's been taught that he can run away from the table when he's finished, and that he doesn't have to wait for everyone else to finish. Worse, his parents, particularly his mother, has taught him that he "doesn't have to eat it if he doesn't want to." So, he gets to snack like crazy on whatever he wants (fortunately, mostly fruit roll-ups) between meals, and then when it's time for dinner he gets a special plate fixed for him because he doesn't "want to" eat what the rest of the family is having.
And this is how his parents have trained him.
Mommy's response? "Well, you can't expect a child to sit still in a restaurant." "Well, you can't force a child to eat what he doesn't want to."
Strange, my parents did exactly that. When I was eight years old, Alex's age, I knew exactly how to behave in a restaurant, in places several notches above the Olive Garden. (The Smoke House, which BK has mentioned, comes to memory.)
What bothers me is that Mommy has such low expectations for her son. And right now, it's almost a hopeless case; I have no idea how der B and I can correct the problem, when the problem starts with the home environment.
Did I mention that Alex also suffers from constipation? Badly? That he's admitted to me that his "butt hurts" after he manages to handle a stool? Think this might have something to do with his diet? His Mommy sure doesn't.
I'm at a loss.
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DRSWoodyWhite, your story appals me, but I can relate because I grew up in the same sort of sloppy family the children are currently in. I was lucky I had an aunt trying to climb rather desperately (like Hyacinth Bucket) into a better social strata, and she and my uncle "adopted" my brother tom and me as surrogate children since they were childless. Whatever limited manners and socially proper behavior I possess is due to my Aunt Jean, and I'm fortunate she was a force of nature. When we were with her, she laid down the rules gently but firmly, and we learned which forks to use, not to stuff our faces or talk with a mouth full of food, and most importantly, when we were with her, she was in charge, not Tom and I. Best of luck.
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Fluff Strands!
There I said it, and I'm glad.
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Congratulations to DRs TCB & JED on their CHARLEY'S AUNT adventure! Always great to hear that an audience & a cast enjoyed a theatrical event!
Our second night was BETTER....and hopefully our third night tonight, will be our BEST so far!
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Sending good thoughts to MR BK for all his travels and his sparkling party this evening.
We need to see PHOTOS!
Interesting stories from the DR's about grandchildren, neighbors, and shows! Whew!
I have an idea about the Trivia Question, but research will of course have to wait.
Built and launched a website for my cousin this morning - and now must get ready to head for French Guiana, December, 1910! It's HOT!!
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Yes, Fluff Strands was represented by Henry Willson and appeared in a few Ross Hunter movies in the late 1950's. His last movie was TACO IN MY HOLSTER filmed in Mexico in 1969.
His autobiography I STRAND ALONE was dismissed by most critics as a fluff piece.
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Yes, Fluff Strands was represented by Henry Willson and appeared in a few Ross Hunter movies in the late 1950's. His last movie was TACO IN MY HOLSTER filmed in Mexico in 1969.
His autobiography I STRAND ALONE was dismissed by most critics as a fluff piece.
I thought his last flic, produced by Henry willson and Ben Bagley, was HOUSE DICK: HE'LL INVESTIGATE YOUR PREMISES!
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Good Afternoon!
Greeetings from Charlotte, NC!
It was a very easy trip down. I left the apartment at 10:15, and I was at the terminal at 10:59! Not bad at all! And that included a brief subway ride from 145th to 125th on the A (express), and the bus ride on the M60 from 125th and St. Nicholas to La Guardia. When I was reading the timetables, the travel time was listed at an hour. Hmm.. I guess they just build in the extra time for traffic delays, and any ahead of scheduleness is taken care of the frequency of the bus service. In any case...
Nice flight. I had a very roomy seat in the exit row, and I had the row to myself too! I got a little reading done, a little napping, etc. And the flight got in almost a half hour early too!
I was then met at the gate by one of the longtime SETC volunteers and he drove me to the hotel, where I am posting from now. I'm only on the sixth floor, but I do have some sort of view. A little bit of downtown, a little bit of whatever is out in the distance. It's nice.
So... Now I think I'm gonna head out for a late lunch. There's a great soul food place a few blocks away, and I'm hoping they have their fried green tomatoes today! Yummy! And I'll probably get the fried chicken. But if the meatloaf looks good. Well.. There are a few other places down here, so, my culinary whims may get whimmed. -What the hey?
In any case....
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DR SWW - Sorry about your grandlad dining woes. All I can say is, at least one of them is not a grandlass.
;)
(And, yes, I am ducking in order to avoid all the various pieces of rotten fruit and vegetables and other various and sundried items that are being hurled my way right now.)
;D
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OK - I can feel that "I need some real food" headache coming on, so...
Laters...
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OH!
And BK - Thanks for the heads up on the little extra.
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Well, I just got the Henry Willson bio from Amazon.com in today's post. I was wrong about Fluff's last movie. I expect lots of dirt.
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Obviously I've been thinking of the wrong Fluff Strand. I'm thinking of the gal who teamed with Bunni Dust in that popular '80s disco singing duo, The Underbeds. I must have the name wrong; anyone know who I'm talking about?
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Just got in from my "orchestra" rehearsal for "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" just me and the violin!! The bass player won't be in until Monday eve. Such a fun violin part and she ROCKS. It's so much fun to play with another person and this score really comes alive with the addition of the violin. Tomorrow is tech. I'm a bit worried as we have a new sound person and a new lighting designer - new to the company anyway, I should have a better attitude about these new additions, but it's tough when you've been working with a company for a long time and most of the design team is new. Good vibes and marimbas appreciated!
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Thank-you, DR Elmore.
What I'm going to have to do with Alex is sit down with him and find out exactly what he does eat. he's not starving to death.
Then I'm going to have to bitch-slap Mommy, who is a total idiot.
Another area where she's an idiot, which I didn't touch upon before: she's convinced there are no child molesters in the DelMarVa peninsula. Therefor, it's perfectly fine by her to let Alex go to the bathroom at a cinema all by himself.
He and I talked about this yesterday. He thought it was funny, that I insisted on going with him to the men's room (or der Grampa went with him). He was absolutely certain that he could defend himself by kicking and screaming. But when I asked him if he knew what a molester is, he hadn't heard the word before. I explained to him that a molester is someone who will touch the private places and try to make a kid do things the kid doesn't really want to do. I also assured him that the kicking and screaming tactic was a good one, but that it was better that der Grampa or I go with him to the men's room, because there's safety in numbers.
I'm probably going to get hell from Mommy for telling this to Alex, because she doesn't think he should know about the things she doesn't believe in.
She, of course, is absolutely right about everything.
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Xylophones and dulcimers to DR Matthew.
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Obviously I've been thinking of the wrong Fluff Strand. I'm thinking of the gal who teamed with Bunni Dust in that popular '80s disco singing duo, The Underbeds. I must have the name wrong; anyone know who I'm talking about?
I thought that was Fluffer Strand, the Linda Lovelace of disco!
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THAT'S the name I was thinking of! Thanks, DR Elmore!
;D
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THAT'S the name I was thinking of! Thanks, DR Elmore!
;D
ROTFLMAO, DR SWoody! ;D
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Ah, yes, the Underbeds. Fluffer Strand, with the throaty vocals, and harmony supplied by Bunni Dust, with the high, nasal tones that sounded like she was singing while inhaling. Who could ever forget them.
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By my count, rehearsal/performance vibes are in order for DRs JRand, Jed, TCB, JMK, Mathew and accompanying vibes for DR Jose. What a busy group!
I just came from 3 hours of information waitressing, the last of which (at the computer sign-up desk) creeped me out to the extent that I need massive amounts of chocolate as an antidote. DR SWW, we use those Olive Garden pager thingys at that desk to summon people who just have to get on a computer to look for rap lyrics or something equally important ::)
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I also just spoke to Mr Ron Raines who had questions about the Chicago Humanities Festival concert. I'd forgotten that Leslie Uggams was also performing. Here's a link to the event.
http://www.chfestival.org/fest2005/home.cfm?page=gala&sec=adult
DR elmore, I spent quite a bit of time at this site trying to figure out a way to be at that concert, but I have to be in Columbus for a meeting that Friday and work that Saturday. It sounds like a great event!
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Had a fairly full afternoon of DVDs. I finished ANNA KARENINA, and the grain issue never clearly up sufficiently for my taste. I wish it looked a bit sharper and less grainy.
Still, glad to finally have this on DVD. The next time Turner shows it, I must watch it to see if the copy they have is at all superior to this one.
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Good day to you all...
Last night's repeat of TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA was fun, fun, fun. So much fun, in fact, that the audience wouldn't leave until the band played the exit music again! After the show I walked down to Tower Records at Lincoln Center and picked up the Broadway cast recording. The vocals and band aren't nearly as wonderful as what I heard in the park over the last two nights, but the CD is pretty decent. I really wish someone would record the current cast, though - they're brilliant!
TOD: I loved AMOUR and wish it had been given more of a chance. And you all know how I feel/felt about CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. Is that one considered a flop? It's no DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES or CARRIE, but it didn't make any money. I'd definitely consider it an artistic success, though. Depends on your definition of a flop, I guess.
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Speaking of ANNA KARENINA, which of you NYCers saw the musical version a few years ago? I think I've asked this before, and sorry if you've answered it before, but if you have, I have forgotten.
It did score a few Tony nominations, so was it all bad or just a bad book? bad score? bad production? Info please. Thanks.
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On my way to Tower, I walked the path through Central Park - and this time I had my camera with me! The picture didn't turn out nearly as well as I'd have liked it to (even with the flash, it was just too dark out), but here it is... It's a much prettier view in person.
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My choice for favorite flop movie I just rewatched on DVD a few days ago - DOCTOR DOLITTLE. Love the score, and though the film may a bit too long and Anthony Newley's Cockney Irishman (is there such a thing?) is WAY over the top, I find it now very entertaining with only a couple of slow sequences. A little judicious editing could have made this a real crowd pleaser, I think.
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Apparently I have filled up the photo capacity. Oops!
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After I finished ANNA KARENINA, I put in CAMILLE. It is a great performance, and over time, I've come to see Robert Taylor's performance as also being very fine. I noticed that the Valentino/Nazimova CAMILLE is an extra on this disc, so one of these days I will have to watch it. I don't think I've ever seen it all the way through.
Sad to say, though, that even though there is less grain in this transfer than with ANNA KARENINA, the print is in much worse shape with maddening thin scratches over either Garbo or Taylor's face at pivotal moments in the movie, and a fair amount of damage running down the right side of the picture at regular intervals. Oh, so disappointing.
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After CAMILLE, I put in "The Men Who Made the Movies - George Cukor" which was contained in the 2-disc THE PHILADELPHIA STORY DVD package.
I haven't seen this since it was first broadcast on PBS. I see Sydney Pollack has replaced Cliff Robertson's original narration, and I only got about 10 minutes into it, so I'll finish it tomorrow.
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DR Michael Shayne, I'm so sorry to read that your back is still injured enough for you not to be able to travel comfortably. I hope you feel better soon.
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Flop play that I really liked - LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR. (Or was it some other floor?) Anyway, the Neil Simon comedy based on the writers' room on YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS/CAESAR'S HOUR. I found it very funny and with some good points made about censorship and network TV executive idiocy.
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Wow! I just read that BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, Ang Lee's film version of the short story about two cowboys who fall in love and begin a life-long involvement despite being married to women, won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
It comes out here in December.
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Flop play that I really liked - LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR. (Or was it some other floor?) Anyway, the Neil Simon comedy based on the writers' room on YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS/CAESAR'S HOUR. I found it very funny and with some good points made about censorship and network TV executive idiocy.
It ran nine months and then toured. I'm not sure I'd consider it a flop, just not as successful as BAREFOOT IN THE PARK.
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I'll champion the film THE APPLE. :o
I also love Harrison's DOLITTLE. I nearly got into another flame war with JoeCaps over this one. . .funny, it's the Fox films of 67/68 in which Joe and I always come to disagreements (VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, DOLITTLE).
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Good Evening!
Nothing like a meal of Fried Chicken and Waffles to sate one's appetite! -And to be "healthy", I had sides of sauteed squash and "fresh" collard greens. All very yummy, and very filling. I usually do one splurge meal here in Charlotte at this place called "Mertz", and I guess today's meal was it.
*And I picked up two of their Chocolate Fudge Oatmeal bars for later.
Well, I just had one of them. At least they have oatmeal in them. ;)
**But it was a very hard choice to make for dessert since they had just put out a Red Velvet Cake, a Fresh Coconut Cake and batch of Banana Pudding. Well, there's always tomorrow.
;)
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And speaking of tomorrow, there's a fundraiser being held to help those out who are affected by Hurricane Katrina. A bunch of the local restaurants and chefs, as well as a couple of food purveyors, will be holding a brunch before tomorrow's Carolina Panthers game. From 10:00-1:00, they will be hosting a New Orleans style brunch. Just $20, and all the proceeds go to the relief effort. If I wasn't playing auditions during that time, I'd more than likely head over there myself.
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OH! And speaking of the Carolina Panthers...
Tomorrow is their season opening game, and they happen to be playing the New Orleans Saints. -Ah, so that's why they're having a New Orleans brunch!
I happened to be walking back from my meeting when their busses pulled up. I didn't know who they were. I just noticed a police escort for the four busses, and there was a bunch of people on the sidewalk welcoming them to town as they got off their busses.
SETCs have tended to fall on football weekends here. The Panthers' stadium is just a few blocks away, and there always seems to be lots of activity and activities going on in conjunction with the football game. In fact, right now, there is a Gospel Revival On Wheels set up on the Bank of America plaza. And they have free food. Hmmm....
;)
But there's a definite hustle and bustle down on the streets. And tomorrow should be quite frenzied, but in a good way. *Now if only more of the downtown Charlotte businesses would keep Sunday hours - or maybe even consider opening on game Sundays. Yes, the bars and restaurants are open, but most of the drug stores and shoppes are closed.
In any case...
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I'm definitely feeling the effects of getting about only two good hours of sleep. -But I do hope that Joshua does find his way - whether or not it is in the "biz" - and that Sara made it back to her place in Washington Heights. ;)
I think a nice long soak in the tub may be in order, followed by some quality vegging time in front of the TV. -Alas, the cable TV options here at the Omni leave a bit to be desired. Only 20 channels. Yes, there's HBO, but there's one too many ESPNs, and there's no TLC, MTV or VH-1 (or Bravo, etc.). Ah, well... I guess I can't really complain since the room was comped. ;)
OK...
Laters...
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I do hope there are people out there who "google" Fluff Strands". They shall indeed be educated.
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Was one time would be starlet Silky Strands the daughter of Fluff or was she a niece? I remember her on a game show in the late sixties but I can't find out anything else on the NET.
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Is it Me Department: Just got back from playing a funeral. A newly ordained Deacon who attends the church I play for had sent me an email asking if she could choose the music for the Sunday of her installment. I sent her back an email which said "Congratulations on your new journey, and of course I'm happy to have you choose the music that Sunday." So, anyway, arriving at the funeral I ask her if she got my email and she says, "Yes, but it made no sense to me whatsoever." So I look questioningly at her and she says, "Now don't get defensive on me" without me having so much as uttered a word. It may be an Episcopalian church but may I just say: OYYYYY.
Then we go to the supermegalomart to buy Zach a new lunchbox. Have all of you heard of lunchboxes? Are they called something else? I see one of the store managers walking around (after I had looked to no avail where they had the lunchboxes last year). I ask him, "Do you have lunchboxes?" He looks at me like I'm speaking Swahili and says, "Lunchboxes? What are those?" I say, "You know, lunchboxes, that kids take their lunches to school in." He literally lashes out at me, "Well how do you expect me to know--I work in food."
I need a nap.
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Flop play that I really liked - LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR. (Or was it some other floor?) Anyway, the Neil Simon comedy based on the writers' room on YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS/CAESAR'S HOUR. I found it very funny and with some good points made about censorship and network TV executive idiocy.
I bought an Emmy "For Your Consideration" copy on eBay. I enjoyed it, as well. The only real flop shows that I've seen have been a local production of Rags and the original (1995) Broadway production of Swinging On a Star, both of which I enjoyed very much. Rags was put on just last year.
I must be going after just checking in for a moment. I'm ushering for a local performance of "Wrinkles of Washington." It's a group of people who put on shows that they write themselves and the music is usually anything and everything that's not new. And the performers have to be at least 55 years old to be in it. Some people are in their 90s and up on stage! It's great!
But before I do that, I have to walk my niece and sister's dog. Evidently, she's gone to some outlet stores in Centralia (about 25 minutes south of Olympia, where I live) and forgot about how long Murphy would be alone...without access to a lawn. :P
Later!
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I think you may have strayed into an alternative world today JMK. Good luck finding your way back. You may be able to follow a trail of fluff strands.
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JMK, talk about defensive! That "manager" evidently has issues! ::)
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Now I must let the dog out. :)
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I think you may have strayed into an alternative world today JMK. Good luck finding your way back. You may be able to follow a trail of fluff strands.
Thank you for the excellent laugh. I needed that. ;)
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Is it Me Department:
Then we go to the supermegalomart to buy Zach a new lunchbox. Have all of you heard of lunchboxes? Are they called something else? I see one of the store managers walking around (after I had looked to no avail where they had the lunchboxes last year). I ask him, "Do you have lunchboxes?" He looks at me like I'm speaking Swahili and says, "Lunchboxes? What are those?" I say, "You know, lunchboxes, that kids take their lunches to school in." He literally lashes out at me, "Well how do you expect me to know--I work in food."
I need a nap.
Wow, what a day JMK, hey?!!
I wonder if that last man was really listening to you... or may be he's a dork!
Well, two lady guests here wanted to go to Le Moulin Rouge show either tonight or tomorrow tonight; all was booked BUT, this evening, I could secure 2 tickets for the 11:00pm show, tomorrow.
They've just been back to the hotel, at a quarter to midnight, and they tell me that it's too late for them because they leave the following morning!!
Btw, it's 1:15 am and they still are in the lounge chatting away! Late, my .ss! (I'm mad because they make me "lose" a 22 euro commission!)
Anyway, I call Le Moulin Rouge to cancel and, after explaining why I call, (remember, it's past midnight!) the fellow tells me:
"I'm sorry sir, but we are booked up for tomorrow's night!"
I said; "No, you're not, because I've just canceled 2 seats with you!" LOL!
People don't really listen! They act robotically! Oy!
Another "flop du jour" or "flop de la nuit"!
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I'm back, caught up, and must shortly be on my way with meat and cheese platters to LACC. The reunion was fun, sort of - I did see about six people that I really enjoyed seeing, and I'll have lots more about that later, although if I get home late the notes might be a bit late - hopefully not.
The book fair was interesting, but I didn't purchase anything. I did spy a book that I thought Pogue might like, but he never called back so it's either still there or has sold.
I'm starving, but will try not to steal any of the platter food prior to the party starting.
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Good afternoon, fellow Dear Readers. Well, today I endured the tour of "Movin' Out."
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Good afternoon, fellow Dear Readers. Well, today I endured the tour of "Movin' Out."
Oh, dear, DearReaderLaura - "endured"? DH Richard and I will see that on our subscription in Dayton on April 9, 2006.
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DR SWoody, I commend you and Der Brucer for your determination to expose your grandlads to the finer things. I take my ten-year-old buddy (a friend's son) out for some special attention, and I am following your lead by refusing to go to McDonalds and the like. He still tries to persuade me, but I tell him we go to grownup places. He is also hard to feed.
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Oh, dear, DearReaderLaura - "endured"? DH Richard and I will see that on our subscription in Dayton on April 9, 2006.
My sympathies. Take earplugs.
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I guess I just don't like rock music musicals.
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bk - I hope you have a grandly sparkling time at your party tonight!
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Hi all.
DR Michael Shayne, I am very sorry to hear about your back. Healing vibes to you.
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Shayne, come back!!
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TPunk (aka The Gal) has a decent collection of lunchboxes. I think she has an A-Team and a Strawberry Shortcake and a Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
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Today I have been most lazy. Most lazy.
I do own the soundtrack to THE APPLE, that odd Golan-Globus rock musical mentioned earlier. But I will never be convinced to see MOVIN' OUT.
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I went to the big Walmart over in Brandon and found that they have squirrel food.
I think my little furry friends will be happy tomorrow. :)
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DR S. Woody White and der B, I really don't know what to say. There's not much you can do when the problem at the home.
Those kids will be grateful when they are older that they had you both as examples to look up to.
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TPunk (aka The Gal) has a decent collection of lunchboxes. I think she has an A-Team and a Strawberry Shortcake and a Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
A couple of years ago the family of one of DS Rob's friends moved into a house and found in their basement a lunchbox that had belonged to my DH Richard in elementary school. Rob gave it to his dad as a Christmas present.
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JMK - All of the Fred Meyer stores here in Tacoma have had large displays of lunch boxes over the past few weeks. i can't understand why they wouldn't have them in Portland.
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Speaking of football, as DR Jose was earlier, my Michigan Wolverines coughed one up to Notre Dame today. Glad I was at work and couldn't watch it.
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Today I have been most lazy. Most lazy.
I do own the soundtrack to THE APPLE, that odd Golan-Globus rock musical mentioned earlier. But I will never be convinced to see MOVIN' OUT.
I am surprised, Rodzinski, why wouldn't you want to see MOVIN' OUT and judge it for yourself?
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Speaking of football, as DR Jose was earlier, my Michigan Wolverines coughed one up to Notre Dame today. Glad I was at work and couldn't watch it.
No, DR Ginny, they didn't cough it up, they literally choked it up!
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I had my first MY FAIR LADY rehearsal today. It seems like a very ncie group of actors and singers. Still, it is kind of hard to believe that we open in twenty days. YIKES!
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JMK - All of the Fred Meyer stores here in Tacoma have had large displays of lunch boxes over the past few weeks. i can't understand why they wouldn't have them in Portland.
Well that there's the punchline. Of course they had them. They just weren't where they had been last year. After the "food manager" had his little snit fit, I just went over to the "seasonal" aisle and there they were. Interestingly enough, they were called....lunchboxes. :)
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I just don't like Billy Joel at all, thus I would not enjoy the show.
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No, DR Ginny, they didn't cough it up, they literally choked it up!
Yeah, yeah, I know, DR TCB. The guys talking over the film clips during the OSU/Texas halftime report said "Sophomore QB Chad Henne played like a sophomore." It's gonna be a long autumn.
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It ran nine months and then toured. I'm not sure I'd consider it a flop, just not as successful as BAREFOOT IN THE PARK.
The original production may have run nine months, but it did not pay back its investment, and that's why I called it a flop.
I don't think any of Simon's plays since LOST IN YONKERS have paid back in their original runs. I'm sure with all the regional productions and stock shows, they are all in the black, but I was going only by the original show closing at a loss.
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DR td, what does the infamous JoeCaps think of STAR!, another Fox golden oldie from the same period? I, of course, love it, another example of a flop movie that I loved.
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The theater celebration held tonight was mostly enjoyable. I had to sing parts of numbers from NUNCRACKERS and LA CAGE with NO rehearsal (NUNCRACKERS was done last December), but they asked, and I didn't want to act the diva so I gave in and winged it. I HATE DOING THAT! However, it came off without a hitch. Fine for them, but I couldn't enjoy my meal much knowing I was going to have to perform with no rehearsal.
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After I got home, I finished watching "The Men Who Made the Movies - George Cukor." There were no new film clips added (which stopped with A STAR IS BORN) even though the commentary had been slightly altered to reflect his death. Would have been nice since they went to the trouble of updating the narration to see a clip or two from MY FAIR LADY, LES GIRLS, his two Marilyn Monroe projects, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, and RICH AND FAMOUS, among others.
Still, I'm not complaining really; I'm glad to have it.
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After that finished, I just kept that DVD in the player and began watching the Katharine Hepburn autobiographical documentary "All About Me." I've always loved this feature, and watched about half of it before turning off everything and getting on-line for my last surf before bedtime.
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As for tomorrow's DVD menu, I really am at a loss. I'm thinking something gay-themed like IT'S MY PARTY or something that would be campy fun like RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE. I'll see what mood strikes me tomorrow before deciding anything tonight.
And I want to get one of those remaining Norma Shearer movies cleared off the DVR, too, so I may watch ROMEO AND JULIET as well.
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Well, it's been another long day, and my eyes are getting very heavy, so I'll trundle off to bed.
Good evening, all.
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Just got back from TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA and had a fabulous time, even with those hard-on-the-rear-end Delacorte Theater seats. We had counted on being able to buy those cushy cushions, but they've apparently been out of them for two weeks. I'm so glad folks on HHW had been expressing their enthusiasm for this show, because I had almost missed it based on the reviews and comments on other chat boards.
Glad someone brought up SWINGING ON A STAR as a show that should have done better. Since it had gotten a Best Musical Tony nomination, I've tended not to think of SWINGING ON A STAR as getting less adulation than it deserved, but it was a swell time in the theater, although theoretically five mini-jukebox-musicals in one; and Kathleen Marshall's excellent work on TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA brought to mind some of her fine work on SWINGING ON A STAR.
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Good Evening!
Well, after treating myself to a nice long soak in the tub, I just vegged out in front of the TV. And now I'm ready for bed. And after the "sleep" I got last night...
But before I go...
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DR FJL- Glad to know that you made it to the Delacorte earlier tonight.
:)
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The theater celebration held tonight was mostly enjoyable. I had to sing parts of numbers from NUNCRACKERS and LA CAGE with NO rehearsal (NUNCRACKERS was done last December), but they asked, and I didn't want to act the diva so I gave in and winged it. I HATE DOING THAT! However, it came off without a hitch. Fine for them, but I couldn't enjoy my meal much knowing I was going to have to perform with no rehearsal.
I learned a long time ago not to fret about these impromptu reunions/retrospectives. Being a pianist, I've been called upon many a time to contribute to the festivities. Yes, sometimes I don't feel "ideally" prepared for the event - is anyone ever really going to remember all the words and blocking and notes for a song they performed months ago? - but as long as I keep in mind the following:
-Everyone (or almost everyone) who is in attendance is there because they love theatre. And I'm assuming this was a private event for those members of the theatre, and not open to the public.
-Everyone else performing is in the same boat preparation-wise. You're all in it together. Remember, theatre is a collaborative effort.
-No one is really going to look down on you for going up on a word or fudging a few notes - it's a "performance" not a "production". And there is that joy - or schaudenfreude - when someone does get stuck. ;)
-It's LIVE - mistakes happen. *I've been in attendance after the Kennedy Center Honors when they've had to redo a segment for the broadcast due to some foul up during the ceremony proper.
-And most importantly, as long as I remember that what I'm doing is actually FUN, and that I'm doing something I LOVE... well....
When you care, it's always easy.
And as Frank sort of says in Merrily We Roll Along, you can always say, "No." 'Cause if you're not having fun up there, the audience won't have fun either.
;)
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But it's good to know that things went off without a hitch. Hopefully, next time, you'll be able to enjoy your food.
:)
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I just don't like Billy Joel at all, thus I would not enjoy the show.
Thems fightin' words, DR Rodzinksi!
;D
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DR FJL: I'm listening to TWO GENTLEMEN now. So much fun. I wish I could see it again before it closes... I wonder how it'd fare if it transferred to the Broad Way...? I agree that Ms. Marshall's work was outstanding. And why is Norm Lewis not a bigger star?!?! And who is Oscar Isaac and when can he come over to visit for a while? And if anyone knows Noah (the blonde kid with the fro), PM me! :)
I've been taking it easy today because I've been fighting off the sniffles and stuffies. Not fun, so I took a nice nap late this afternoon and then prepared a loverly chicken teriyaki stir-fry for myself. My roommates are gone right now, so I had the living room TV to myself, so I popped in my new workout DVD and did some serious ab work. Good times!! Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but honestly - after only two workouts with this Pilates ball - I can see and feel a huge difference in how I'm carrying myself. Oh rapture!
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I had my first MY FAIR LADY rehearsal today. It seems like a very ncie group of actors and singers. Still, it is kind of hard to believe that we open in twenty days. YIKES!
Well, just remember, it could always be worse... It could be summer stock, and you could only have 20 hours to get the show on it's feet... And then start rehearsing the next show the morning after opening night.
Been there. Done that.
8)
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Re. MOVIN' OUT: I did standing room for that show after the recording session for MOBY DICK and the combination of being exhausted and confused about the plot really made me bored with the show. I totally appreciate what those people were doing onstage - there's no way I could even THINK about doing what John Selya does/did - but it's just not my kind of show. And I like Billy Joel's music! I may be sacrificed for this, but...I'm not a huge Twyla fan. There, I've said it.
I usually see everything at least twice. I've only seen MOVIN' OUT once, and that was enough for me.
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DR FJL: I'm listening to TWO GENTLEMEN now. So much fun. I wish I could see it again before it closes... I wonder how it'd fare if it transferred to the Broad Way...? I agree that Ms. Marshall's work was outstanding. And why is Norm Lewis not a bigger star?!?! And who is Oscar Isaac and when can he come over to visit for a while? And if anyone knows Noah (the blonde kid with the fro), PM me! :)
DR Jason - Actually, Noah is one of the best friends of my roommate, Megan. So...
:)
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I had my first MY FAIR LADY rehearsal today. It seems like a very ncie group of actors and singers. Still, it is kind of hard to believe that we open in twenty days. YIKES!
When I was doing OKLAHOMA! and SEVEN BRIDES in rep one summer (outdoors in the middle of the summer in Tulsa, Oklahoma), we had four days to learn SEVEN BRIDES. Our schedule was this:
7:45 Wake up/Warm up
8:30 Leave for the theatre (our housing, which we paid for, was 45 min. from the theatre)
9:30 - 12:30 - Rehearsal
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 5:30 Rehearsal
5:30 - 6:30 Dinner
6:30 Performance call
7:30 Half-hour long 'pre-show' featuring the ensemble
8:00 Curtain, OKLAHOMA!
11:20 Final bows
11:25 - 11:45 Meet 'n Greet w/audience onstage
11:45 - 12:00 Change into SEVEN BRIDES costumes
12:00 - ? ? ? ? Run SEVEN BRIDES
We were NOT happy campers...
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DR Jason - Actually, Noah is one of the best friends of my roommate, Megan. So...
:)
I think we need to arrange a meeting!!
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The original production may have run nine months, but it did not pay back its investment, and that's why I called it a flop.
I don't think any of Simon's plays since LOST IN YONKERS have paid back in their original runs. I'm sure with all the regional productions and stock shows, they are all in the black, but I was going only by the original show closing at a loss.
Well, then that would mean that most of the shows that have opened and closed during the past ten to fifteen years - or might even still be running - would be a flop.
And that would include a bunch of Sondheim. I don't think the original production of Into the Woods made back it's investment in NYC. And if it did, it was not exactly a sizable return. And I know the revival of Woods closed in the red. Passion ran just about a year, and won the Tony - flop? Sunday in the Park with George? The Forum revival?
Even ALW's Sunset Blvd...
Etc., etc., etc.
;)
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I think we need to arrange a meeting!!
What are you doing Wednesday night? We'll be getting together to watch "So You Think You Can Dance?"
-We'll talk.
:D
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No plans on Weds. to my knowledge. Monday night I'm going to the opening of GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL and party, which should be fun. Anyone in the cast that I should say hello to on your behalf??
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OH!... I just thought of a flop that I loved...
Big or big if you prefer.
Yes, there were some "issues", but the power of the review(er)s really kept people away. It wasn't that bad.
Oh, and Chess - at least the American production. The car chase in the garage was "cool". And Judy Kuhn was heartbreaking.
:)
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No plans on Weds. to my knowledge. Monday night I'm going to the opening of GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL and party, which should be fun. Anyone in the cast that I should say hello to on your behalf??
I'll have to check the cast list again.
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Well, I'll be tickling the ivories in about eight hours, so...
Goodnight.
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DR Jose: Do you have the 'updated' recording of BIG that MTI created? I'll see if I can find a copy at the office...
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I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting old (no comments). I've been very disappointed in the stuff that has toured to Phoenix lately. The season tickets are expensive (at least they are to me) and the shows are disappointing. This current season brings three shows they've already had here -- Annie, Evita, Joseph. Movin' Out was a disappointment. If I didn't have great seats, I'd cancel my subscription. I keep thinking next season it will be better.
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DR td, what does the infamous JoeCaps think of STAR!, another Fox golden oldie from the same period? I, of course, love it, another example of a flop movie that I loved.
Joe and I have never spoken, if internet messaging may be called talking, of STAR! But, I'm sure everyone here knows darned well how I feel about it. Astute readers of Scarlet Street magazine also know that I hold STAR! in high esteem.
Caps and I have talked about SOUTH PACIFIC, CAMELOT and 1776 in detail; BK knows all about the VALLEY OF THE DOLLS discussion since I'm the one who knows exactly where and when I bought my soundtrack album of it. . .
As for THE APPLE, I too have its soundtrack here on cd; then again, I also have the original soundtracks of MAME and AT LONG LAST LOVE on cd, too.
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I have AT LONG LAST LOVE on vinyl. That's a flop that I find pretty enjoyable, mainly because of Ms. Kahn. I'm not saying it's a lost classic, but hardly worth the Golden Turkey kind of stuff it got.
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If the lady's naughty but proper
If the lady's chic-er than chic
If her escorts must wear a topper
And each man's the man of the week
If she rides around in a brand new foreign car
The chances are the lady's a star
If the lady's utterly charming
If the lady's chummy with kings
If her whims are close to alarming
And it's known she's thrown a few things
If they've got a drink with her name in Jilly's bar
The chances are the lady's a star
If her smallest party is really expensive
With tons of expensive caviar
If the lady is someone with the same credentials
Someone with the same essentials
Someone who is worshipped from afar
She's a genuine - positive - totally - marvelous - perfectly - wonderful
She's a (great big, great big) star!
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Is it an earthquake or simply a shock?
Is it the good turtle soup or merely the mock?
Is it a cocktail, this feeling of joy?
Or is what I feel the real McCoy?
Is it for all time or simply a lark?
Is it Granada I see or only Asbury Park?
Is it a fancy not worth thinking of?
Or is it at long last love?
Is it an earthquake, or simply a shock?
Is it the good turtle soup, or is it merely the mock?
Is it a cocktail, this feeling of joy?
Or is what I feel the real McCoy?
Is it for all time or simply a lark?
Is it Granada I see or only Asbury Park?
Is it a fancy, not worth thinking of?
Or is it at long long long last love?
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Back from a very long but wonderful day and evening. I shall now write the notes and post them very soon.
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It's 3:10 in the a.m. Why am I still up? I'm going to shower and then off to bed. 'Night, all...
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Here's my post for the day. I don't have much to say except that I have to write a paper and I'm tired.
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New notes are up.