Well, dear readers, our stumble-through was really fun – yes, a few fumfers, as always, but the kids are doing great, the show order works fine, we ran a few things after we finished, and I think we’re ready, willing, and able. We didn’t finish until just after seven – show runs an hour then add that patter. After everyone left, I went through the patter, fixed some typos, made a couple of things shorter, and then printed it out. Then I proofed some more and am about eighty-something pages in. Then I put all the chairs away, had a couple of pieces of salami with some provolone cheese for a snack, then watched a few YouTube videos, then started a movie called The Careless Years, a teen drama about young love, starring Dean Stockwell and Natalie Trundy, along with Barbara Billingsly and John Larch. I’d never heard of it, but it’s only around sixty-three minutes long and was the first film directed by Arthur Hiller. It’s full frame on Prime, a shame because it’s so obviously framed for 1.85 – you could drive a truck through the headroom. There’s a nice shot of Santa Monica High School circa 1957 – it looks nothing like that today, sadly. The house used for Natalie Trundy and her parents is still there in Culver City, looking much the same. Hoping for more location shots when I finish it. Prior to all that, I got almost eight hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails then called Muse Margaret. I’d begun proofing on Sunday night and right off the bat something didn’t feel right to me. Muse Margaret had a little issue with the way I’d started the book, and she was right and I fixed that by writing two paragraphs to precede where I’d started it. That had been her only note on the first batch of pages. She was fine after that. But in reading it, even with the introductory paragraphs, it still seemed like a diversion that was halting the start of the actual story. I grew impatient with it, and it was seven pages long. So, Muse Margaret and I chatted about it – when I’d added the two paragraphs, she found the seven pages interesting, but as we talked about it, I felt she wouldn’t have asked for the new paragraphs if that long piece hadn’t been there as a stage wait to get to where we were going. She agreed and so I’m doing that major lift so that the story we’re getting to is clean and clear. I added about five new paragraphs, so I think all we’ll really lose, page-wise, is maybe five at most and I’m fine with that. Then I had two tacos for food – pretty good. Then I got the room ready – twelve kids so lots of chairs. I showered, and then Barry Pearl arrived and we ran his thing – his appearance is a surprise that no one knows is happening. Then we ran a couple of other things, and then we began the stumble-through. The rest you know. And add this to it – guess what we just had? Yep, the ubiquitous computer freeze, right in the middle of writing this paragraph. Thankfully, it recovered what I’d written, because the original document still had the notes from yesterday. I keep saying it and I keep saying it – I have to get a new computer.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven at the latest, I’ll proof a bit, relax and rest my voice, then I’ll shave and shower and dress, then I’ll mosey on over to Catalina Jazz Club and make sure everything’s ready for sound check. We start that at five and we should be through with it by six or a bit after. Then the cast can either get food and bring it back or get food from the club for 50% off. I’ll probably have the little Caesar salad. Then we do the show. I’ll have to wait around to get the check, and then I’m hoping some of us can go get a bite to eat nearby. I will, of course, have a full report.
Tomorrow, I’ll finish proofing and get the book to the two proofers. Then I can start planning the July show, which is both a Disney show and within it a tribute to Richard Sherman on what would have been birthday number ninety-seven. We have a great cast. As soon as I’ve chosen the songs, we’ll get the flyer done and tickets can go on sale. Thursday, I think will be a celebratory meal, and then I’m hoping to relax for the weekend. I still have not heard back from either of the two people I’ve asked to blurb, which is disappointing, but I’ll move on to the next if I have to.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven at the latest, proof a bit, relax and rest my voice a bit, shave and shower, dress, have a sound check, do a show, get a check, and then hopefully have something to eat. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite teen movies where the plot focuses on the teens? Teens happy, teens in trouble, you know, teens. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have decided to make the big lift.