Haines His Way

Somethoughts from yesterday:

TCB remarked

I know that a lot of people at this site might be offended by this comment, but seeing the Off-Broadway production of Boys in the Band had an extremely negative on me as an eighteen year old college student on the verge of coming out of the closet.  I was shocked and horrified by the cast of characters who all seemed to me, at the time; to be depressed, bitter, or emotionally unstable people.  I cam back from New York determined to do anything I could to avoid that lifestyle.  In fact, I became engaged to a woman soon after that trip.  Now, in all fairness, I have never read or seen that play or movie since the time in New York.  Perhaps now, I would view the characters differently, but it was one of the most horrible experiences of my young life.

I can not resist some comments.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed "Boys in the Band" (film 1970), but I saw it as an already jaded adult who could recognize many of the caricatures from my own life (the bar-hopping bath-house crawler part, not the married family man with three kids part).

2. I can fully appreciate how TCB was repulsed. (I can see how "Boys in the Band" could drive one straight, but of course exposure to "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woofe" could drive you right back.

3. I'm not sure time has much improved the situation. What sane, sensible young man watching Queer as Folk would ever dare to come out of the closet?

4. For me, the scary This Could Happen To You film was "Advise and Consent", 10 years earlier - it really made a point to a young man just embarking on a Military career. "Fortune and Men's Eyes" (1971)" provided the incentive to avoid prison. The Ritz" (1976) came out after I had already enjoyed the NYC bath scene, and "Cruising" (1980) was a look back at my days night-crawling The City. I shudder to think what my reaction to those films would have been had I seen them in Junior High! Now , in my later years, it's easy to identify with films like "Jeffrey", "Philadelphia" and even "Love, Valor, Compassion".

5. It would be interesting to write a play with a 16 year-old male struggling with his sexual identity and a self assured 60 year old gay man with a long-time partner each reacting to the films mentioned above.

der Brucer (hoping I have not been left for another)

Dr Dan - I put ice cream in my tea at a restaurant when they didn't bring us any milk - everyone looked at me in horror (just the people at my table, I mean, not the whole restaurant), and I've never done it again.  Was doing that in public that an etiquette breach I wasn't aware of, I wonder?

Answer: Only if it was Pistachio

der Brucer (butter almond would be yummy!)

Question for bk.  Where did you first hear the song "Getting Away With You" (which is becoming my most favorite on the GH CD) and what do you know about the composer?  Thank you!

So pleased to hear this.  Let me go to the post office, and then I'll answer this question more fully. :-)

Personally, I don't like anything MJLC has created and I often wonder why Marc Shaimen hasn't written more for the stage.

You'll enjoy this:
Teasing Out Success

Excerpt:

The studio is a semi-organized mess, with a bulletin board propped up on the floor outlining the new Martin Short project that Shaiman and Wittman are working on. It's a spoof of one-man shows called "If I'd Saved, I Wouldn't Be Here," and it's scheduled for Broadway this coming season.

They are also collaborating on a musical version of the Steven Spielberg film "Catch Me If You Can," for which Terrence McNally is writing the book. Shaiman is antsy to get started: "I'm dyin'," he says. After all, if he had his way, "I'd want to be just like Rodgers and Hammerstein were. You know, just writing shows one after another. I feel like I have 'em in me."

der Brucer

THREE!!!

Four!  And up until a week or two ago, i thought that Jane Withers was also gone.

Four!  And up until a week or two ago, i thought that Jane Withers was also gone.

Say it ain't so!

Evening folks!

Congrats to DR Ginny on the NEW vehicle!  It looks stylish.  May it carry you hither and yon in comfort and safety for many years to come.

Sorry I didn’t post last night.  I had a bit of shocker at the Dr’s office and just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to post about it.  In as few words as possible:  Another kidney stone.  Big one (my specialty)   .  Surgery.  When I return from the NY Gathering if it doesn’t hit sooner.  Joy.  Sigh.  

The only good news is that I’ve been put on meds to prevent (operative word) kidney stones in the future.  It won’t help a bit with any already formed.

Anyway, I’ve been meaning to ask DR  Rodzinski how you like the new job?  I hope that it is much better for you then the last place.  

As far as the Marc Shaiman/Hairspray thing, I’ll be the first person to say that I am not the most sophisticated person when it comes to the shows.  I only know when I like something or not.  I’m also too honest to tell someone I liked something if I didn’t.

When Hairspray came to the TBPAC, I totally enjoyed myself and judging from the reaction of the others in the audience, they were enjoying it as well.

Knowing that Mr. Shaiman posted on BWW, I PMed him and thanked him for a most enjoyable afternoon.  I would not have done that if I disliked the show in any way.  I could NOT have done that with either Ms. Saigon or Cats.  Mr. Shaiman kindly responded and told me he was glad that I had enjoyed it.  What more could someone ask of a musical?

Regarding the  “hairy eye candy”, I once told a friend that if I ever wanted to sleep with a rug, I’d buy one.  Of course, now Bear sleeps at the foot of my bed sooooo what can I say?  

I’m so glad to see DERBRUCER posting again!  You were missed.  

Evening folks!

Congrats to DR Ginny on the NEW vehicle!  It looks stylish.  May it carry you hither and yon in comfort and safety for many years to come.

Sorry I didn’t post last night.  I had a bit of shocker at the Dr’s office and just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to post about it.  In as few words as possible:  Another kidney stone.  Big one (my specialty)   .  Surgery.  When I return from the NY Gathering if it doesn’t hit sooner.  Joy.  Sigh.  

The only good news is that I’ve been put on meds to prevent (operative word) kidney stones in the future.  It won’t help a bit with any already formed.

Thank you, DR Danise, for your "blessing" for my new car.  I think it's somewhat of a kid sister to your Bonnie.

I'm so sorry to hear that you've received challenging health news.  Sounds like this is not your first experience of this sort?  Take care.

DR Ginny, Just remember that you might go faster then you intend in the new car until you get used to gas peddle!  The first time I drove Bonnie, I was doing 70 without even knowing it until I glanced down!


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Thank you, DR Danise, for your "blessing" for my new car.  I think it's somewhat of a kid sister to your Bonnie.

I'm so sorry to hear that you've received challenging health news.  Sounds like this is not your first experience of this sort?  Take care.

Your welcome!  So what are going to name her?

Eh, this is the third time on the table for kidney stones.  The charm being that by the time I start showing the signs, it's to late to give me the meds to try to make me pass it--it's already to big.  The sound waves are the only logical way to treat it.

I'm praying the meds will do the trick and the third time will be the LAST.

I'm back from the post office, to find out dinner meeting has been cancelled and rescheduled for Tuesday night, because the person we were meeting with is ill.

Still haven't had word from the theater, which I find almost reprehensible.

Let's answer the Getting Away With You question thusly - the first person to guess where and when I first heard the song, and who can give us some info on Jonathan Goldman, its author, will win a sparkling prize.

If people need a reason for cake today (why would they), my father is having his 99th birthday. He is still on no medication whatsoever! (and alive).

He has short term memory loss  - he is not quite the same as Dory though.

Happy Birthday to DR Tomovoz's Father!!