Well, dear readers, I’m still here, I’m still there, I’m still everywhere and I’m still listening to the music of Takashi Yoshimatsu – now playing, his saxophone concerto – jazzy in a Claus Ogerman kind of way, very accessible with occasional bouts of schizophrenia. But who among us doesn’t have occasional bouts of schizophrenia. I’m having one right now, as you can plainly see. Last night, I attended the opening night of the new Group Rep production Twelve Angry Jurors, which is a male/female version of Twelve Angry Men. I’d like to do my personal adaptation of Twelve Angry Jurors, Twelve Angry Jews. It would be very short because the Twelve Angry Jews would do a few daughter-in-law jokes then find the person on trial guilty because Jews and Guilt go hand-in-hand. Don’t you think that would be fun. I’ve seen the play version twice before – once at the Pasadena Playhouse with our very own Barry Pearl who definitely would star in Twelve Angry Jews, and once at the Ahmanson, the tour of the Roundabout Theater production, which starred Richard Thomas and George Wendt. I didn’t love the Pasadena production but did enjoy the Ahmanson one with some caveats. In both, I didn’t think either Juror Three rose to the occasion. But after seeing the show last night, which runs ninety minutes with no intermission, I’m beginning to think no actor could make Juror Three work at the end of the play, that is if they all used the same script adaptation. In the adaptation, the sole holdout on the not guilty verdict is Juror Three. Earlier in the play, he’s had a speech about his son that is very important to understanding his deal. In the play adaptation, he says to the other jurors that he’s not budging, and it will be a hung jury. Juror Three has a line to him, something about in a few months he might be able to sleep and then another Juror says it takes a lot to stand alone. They all look at him and he finally gives in and votes for not guilty. Last night, I turned to Marshall Harvey and said, “Something is missing here. The turnaround to “not guilty” comes too quickly and with no real reason. So, when I got home, I went to the Tube of You and watched the ending of the 1954 live TV version and it ended the way the play did, weakly, in my opinion. So, why did I think something was missing? I then watched the ending of the film version and indeed that ending is what’s missing. In the film version, Lee J. Cobb as Juror Three (maybe his greatest performance) has a climactic and impassioned speech and ultimately what brings him around is tearing up a picture of his son, from whom he’s been estranged for many years, hence the reason he wants to punish the kid who’s up for murder. He breaks down and cries and THEN does the turnaround to not guilty. If I were doing the show, I would absolutely use that ending, just as I used the movie ending for Dial ‘M’ for Murder, which was much more fun than the play ending.
Otherwise, yesterday was certainly Friday and I certainly got seven hours of sleep. Once up, I answered e-mails, had a bagel, caught up on some stuff, shaved and showered, and then at five-thirty I moseyed on over to the Coral Café to sup with Marshall Harvey. He had my usual patty melt whilst I decided to try the bacon cheeseburger, which I’d never had. It was very good other than it didn’t have bacon on it. I do love the fries at the Coral. We had fun conversing and he found out what the new book is.
Then we drove to the theater and saw the play. We went to the partay after, but I didn’t eat anything, just had some Diet Coke and talked to various and sundried folks. Then I came home and had a telephonic call, and then I was late getting to the notes which is why the notes are late getting to you.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll begin proofing the book, which I guess I’ll be doing on the computer, I’ll see if there’s anything at the mail place, then I’ll figure out food, I’ll eat, but basically, I’ll try to proof the first hundred pages. After that, I can watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is more of that, then Monday I’ll try to finish my first pass of proofing before having a Zoom thing with David Wechter and a telephonic conversation with a producer. Also, there’ll be meetings and meals and doing whatever needs doing.
Well, dear, readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, begin proofing, see if anything’s at the mail place, figure out food, eat, proof, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite plays and movies that mostly take place in a courtroom? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall ponder my new production of Twelve Angry Jews.