Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much about to be Saturday fish, listening to a rare concert from 1964 with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. What makes this special? Well, it’s three great William Walton works – namely his violin concerto (one of the greats), his wonderful Partita for Orchestra, and his first symphony, along with two bon bons – the famous oft-recorded short pieces from his Henry V film score. But many orchestras have performed these works so what’s the big deal? Well, the big deal is that they’re conducted by William Walton and his soloist in the concerto was his favorite doing that work. I’ve never been to New or even Old Zealand, but their 1964 band seems fine to my ears. And these performances are indeed magical and special. They were released on a CD and they’re on Apple Music+. And to answer the burning question on everyone’s mind, yes, I did watch a motion picture last night – a DGA streamer – said motion picture entitled Blue Moon, supposedly about Mr. Lorenz Hart attending the opening night of Oklahoma!, an about to be major smash hit that would change musical theater forever and his partner’s first show with a new lyricist, Oscar Hammerstein. I’ve read a lot of reviews after seeing it, most of them very good, some with reservations, and a few bad. Online, it’s been the same story. Even those who don’t care for it praise Ethan Hawke’s performance. So, what did I think of it? Not much, I’m afraid. This has been called the best screenplay of the year by some critics. I haven’t seen much this year, but if this is the best I’d say the movie business is pretty much done. It’s a talkfest filled with dialogue that some found sparkling and funny, then touching – I must have been watching a different movie. Besides the opening three minutes, it all takes place in Sardi’s, where Mr. Hart flees before Oklahoma! is over. As the one critic who truly loathed it put it, it’s like watching a film version of an off-off Broadway show. I’ve never been much of an Ethan Hawke fan, and this film didn’t change my mind about him, really, although I suppose he’s okay. Margaret Qualley is fine, Bobby Cannavale is a bartender of the New York kind, and I can’t remember the name of the actor who plays Richard Rodgers. The attempts to make Mr. Hawke look short are ludicrous, at least for me they were. In the end, I didn’t care a whit about anyone and since we know what happens at the end because that incident opens the picture, it puts a pall over everything. And no, “little Stevie” didn’t attend the opening of Oklahoma, nor did he ever have a conversation with Mr. Hart. But that’s the movie and while I chose it because of its reasonable running time, it seemed much longer than it is. I’m glad some found it worthy – it just wasn’t for me, I suppose. Nor was it for the public – it grossed a little over $500,000.
Otherwise, I slept a lot – first eight hours – then dozing off throughout the day up until I watched the movie. What was supposed to happen sort of happened but not really, so that’s now a waiting game and an annoying one, but one which will hopefully be rectified sooner than later. I had a Jersey Mike’s regular Philly cheesesteak for food – that was very good, and then the damn dozing began – I suppose I needed it given those nights of five hours of sleep. I was even too tired to place an Amazon order – I’m currently out of everything – Diet Coke especially, but a lot of the stuff I have here regularly. Must rectify that today. And that was about it.
Today, I’ll be up by eight-thirty and out the door by nine-fifteen. I have to bring the laptop in and get a couple of adjusted tracks into iTunes there, as the wi-fi at the theater is erratic. We rehearse from ten to about twelve-thirty. Then I’ll eat, go home, have a telephonic conversation, and then see a play in the evening.
Tomorrow, I’m having an authentic ME day, although I have to finish choosing the Kritzerland holiday show songs – almost done with that – I just need to relax and smell the coffee or the roses or the tacos and watch stuff. Monday, we have a three-hour rehearsal starting at six and by the end of it we should have the whole show blocked, including all the musical numbers but the dance section of one. Then we’re off until the following Tuesday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eight-thirty and out the door by nine-fifteen, rehearse, eat, have a telephonic conversation, see a play, and come home. Today’s topic of discussion: What movies have you actually enjoyed this year? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, having found Blue Moon Hartless.