Haines His Way

Forgot to mention the great Dave Thomas of SCTV fame was at the show - I was surprised to see him there.

The great Dave Thomas guested on KING OF KENSINGTON a couple of times. But the one I recall (from falling down laughing in the booth) is his reading of a Paul Anka song (My Way?) - just speaking it as straight dialogue - playing a minister doing a funeral oration.

I won't be moving to Fruitland. Judging from the two places I've seen so far, I'm living in a palace.

Quite enjoyed THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD. The transfer is top notch. You can really see the pores and pock marks in Burton's face, and it's simply stunningly photographed. Always leaves me feeling regretful, of course, but I'm glad now to have such a beautiful copy of the film.

Don't know what I'll be up for tomorrow. I'm having a farewell lunch with my friend who's moving, and then afterward, I'll watch something, but I'm just not sure what at this point. I'd love to get into Olivier's RICHARD III on that Criterion DVD, but I don't think I'll have the time to watch the whole thing.

Thanks Panni and enjoy your palace.

I'm off to ice my back one more time before before I leave.

Goodnight.

I'm off to ice my back one more time before before I leave.

Nice to ice at night?

Bonne nuit!

Jenny made her mind up when she was 3....

Wait until you all hear dear reader Jenny's exciting news.  She'll post about it soon.

I just received the cast list for the good ol' high school play, and I would like to inform you all that I am the man who came to dinner.

Yes, Virginia, I've been cast as Sheridan Whiteside.

 

Now, usually it's a very bad sign when a girl is cast as the male lead (that usually implies that there were no talented males to be found), but many very talented lads (who now want me dead) auditioned for this role.  We were all asked to specify which role we want on our audition forms, and I wrote "Sheridan Whiteside.  Why not?  I'll happily accept any role."  After the auditions, the director approached me and asked if I really thought that Sheridan could be played by a woman.  I replied that while reading the play, it occured to me that Jeana (a very talented girl who auditioned and was cast as Miss Preen) would be perfect for the role.  She then asked if it would make sense for Sheridan to be played by a girl, and I said that the role of Sheridan is based on Alexander Woolcott who had undescended testicles and supposedly never engaged in sexual activity" (I have no clew where I read that) "therefor, Sheridan Whiteside is asexual."  Apparently that was a convincing argument.

As for today's TOD, I would really like to know more about world music (especially African and Argentinian music).  I would also like to learn to speak American Sign Language and various African languages.  And I truly wish that I knew more about math so that I could do well on the SATs and go to college someday.

DR Jenny!  Congratulations!!!

I said that the role of Sheridan is based on Alexander Woolcott who had undescended testicles and supposedly never engaged in sexual activity" (I have no clew where I read that)...

Ah ha!  I read that in (of course) the Village Voice review of the 2000 revival of "The Man Who Came To Dinner".  Michael Feingold wrote the following about Woollcott: "Vaguely effeminate in appearance (he had an undescended testicle and seems never to have consummated any sort of sexual relationship), he was archly turn-of-the-century in both his ornate phraseology and his tastes—sentimental fiction, Gilbert and Sullivan, parlor games, the acting of Mrs. Fiske."

DR Jane - Hope your packing went well!  Just make sure there's nothing "questionable" in your carry-on - although, the "allowable" list seems to have eased up lately.  And I'm sorry I won't be able to meet you while you're in Bethesda or New York City next week.  I'll be in the land of THE PRODUCERS, and after going through the rest of the advance book between shows today, I have a feeling I'll be spending some time in the practice rooms next week.

Bon voyage!  Safe travels!

Undescended Testicles - I think that's going to have to be the title of my new novel.

I'm so glad I'm not well-known enough for people to discuss my testicles after my demise. (Not that I have them to discuss.)

And as for wearing or not wearing jeans to the theatre...

I wear jeans.  But I didn't used to.  For me, it's mainly a matter of the time of year I'm going.  And since I usually see most of my theatre during the winter - at least in NYC, I dress more to stay warm than to look good and/or appropriate.  Jeans are warm.  Dress pants are not.  However, I do wear nice jeans.  No rips or tears, not "washed" out.  And usually black.

Otherwise, I usually opt for a nice pair of black or dark blue chinos.

Now, if I'm going to some place like the Metropolitan Opera or some special event at the Kennedy Center, then I put on my one and only navy blue blazer.  -Plus the requisite dress shoes, socks, pants, belt, shirt and tie, of course!

Will they be PC and call it "The Person Who Came to Dinner"...?

I do hope not, but an email I received from the director today was titled "The Woman Who Came To Dinner".  Hopefully, she was just being cute.  I would like for the character to become female by being referred to as "she" and by not having my costume and makeup make me look male (and by not making me play the character as a man), but I don't want the text, or the title, or the character name to change.  That would be strange and foolish.

"Undescended Testicles" is a wonderful name for a book.