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[John G.]

Five!

[bk]

Finally back from seeing a musical.  This thing has gotten across the board raves (although I've already been told that our own Rob Stevens will be a voice in the wilderness as he did not like it) and that speaks to LA critics really knowing nothing about musical theater, or simply cheerleading.  Because I am here to tell you it was terrible in every way.  The book can't make up its mind about the tone, you don't care about anyone - I just could not believe it, really.  The score for the second act is literally reprises (maybe there's one new song), the lyrics are of the "I wouldn't know a rhyme if it hit me in the face" variety, and the music is all the same four chords over and over again.  It's a musical version of the Clint Eastwood film, Bronco Billy, written the film's screenwriter.  They have spent, I'm told, $500,000 on this thing that's in a theater with about seventy-five seats.  A huge amount of lighting equipment has been brought in, a complete sound package, a five-piece band, seventeen actors (with the understudies), one of LA's most expensive set designers, and on and on.  A supposedly up and coming director who's from UCLA and graduated a few years ago - one minute we're supposed to be moved, the next minute it's a farce with a caricature of a hit man/villain - and the leading character, who should be Bronco Billy, is a cypher in this version - he's there but the show doesn't revolve around him - he's always lurking but never really driving.   

Given that there was no way this would make its money, was this pretty much a backers audition, done in a way to get reviews?

Hard to know what their thinking is.  With $500K they could have gone to any regional theater - you wave that kind of enhancement money and you get a production.  It's that simple.  So, yes, I think they thought they'd do this, garner great reviews (almost a guarantee here in LA, although not always), and then who knows what - get it to B'way?  Because B'way producers being shown LA reviews is a joke.

[John G.]

Finally back from seeing a musical.  This thing has gotten across the board raves (although I've already been told that our own Rob Stevens will be a voice in the wilderness as he did not like it) and that speaks to LA critics really knowing nothing about musical theater, or simply cheerleading.  Because I am here to tell you it was terrible in every way.  The book can't make up its mind about the tone, you don't care about anyone - I just could not believe it, really.  The score for the second act is literally reprises (maybe there's one new song), the lyrics are of the "I wouldn't know a rhyme if it hit me in the face" variety, and the music is all the same four chords over and over again.  It's a musical version of the Clint Eastwood film, Bronco Billy, written the film's screenwriter.  They have spent, I'm told, $500,000 on this thing that's in a theater with about seventy-five seats.  A huge amount of lighting equipment has been brought in, a complete sound package, a five-piece band, seventeen actors (with the understudies), one of LA's most expensive set designers, and on and on.  A supposedly up and coming director who's from UCLA and graduated a few years ago - one minute we're supposed to be moved, the next minute it's a farce with a caricature of a hit man/villain - and the leading character, who should be Bronco Billy, is a cypher in this version - he's there but the show doesn't revolve around him - he's always lurking but never really driving.   

Given that there was no way this would make its money, was this pretty much a backers audition, done in a way to get reviews?

Hard to know what their thinking is.  With $500K they could have gone to any regional theater - you wave that kind of enhancement money and you get a production.  It's that simple.  So, yes, I think they thought they'd do this, garner great reviews (almost a guarantee here in LA, although not always), and then who knows what - get it to B'way?  Because B'way producers being shown LA reviews is a joke.

Sounds dreadful. But then, I wasn't a fan of the original film, either.

[John G.]

I saw the musical version of Anna Karenina (how could I not as it was based on one of my top 5 books). There was a song, On a Train, that they kept repeating. So, we joke in intermission that they were going to reprise it as Under a Train when Anna commits suicide.

They didn't, thankfully. But I had the same feeling with Hamilton. He keeps singing I'm not throwin' away my shot. Well, that's just what he does at the end. And thankfully, they didn't repeat that then, either.

[John G.]

But it's late. And I have a lesson at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

[John G.]

So, I'm gonna say good night, all.

[vixmom]

I think I have been in a temple ONCE in my life.

I've been to 1 bar mitzvah, that was my only visit to a temple

I was quite confused by the behavior of the worshippers, they just wandered in and out at will and one guy  who had a seat up on the dias ( for want of the correct word) kept popping down to wander through the congregation and  shake hands....While the Rabbi was speaking and while the bat mitzvah was reciting

in our church you get in before the first hymn and you don't leave until dismissed after the recessional hymn is completed and the altar candles extinguished

And you only greet others before or after the service or at the appointed time for passing the peace.

[vixmom]

Vixdad wore yarmulke ( they were provided in the lobby) out of respect.  all during the service different men kept approaching him with a prayer shawl (probably the wrong term) and tried to get him to wear it

He had to keep whispering I don't think I should I'm not Jewish  and they would look at him like he was not being truthful, then 10 minutes later some other guy would try ..., like maybe he might change his mind

[vixmom]

Finally back from seeing a musical.  This thing has gotten across the board raves (although I've already been told that our own Rob Stevens will be a voice in the wilderness as he did not like it) and that speaks to LA critics really knowing nothing about musical theater, or simply cheerleading.  Because I am here to tell you it was terrible in every way.  The book can't make up its mind about the tone, you don't care about anyone - I just could not believe it, really.  The score for the second act is literally reprises (maybe there's one new song), the lyrics are of the "I wouldn't know a rhyme if it hit me in the face" variety, and the music is all the same four chords over and over again.  It's a musical version of the Clint Eastwood film, Bronco Billy, written the film's screenwriter.  They have spent, I'm told, $500,000 on this thing that's in a theater with about seventy-five seats.  A huge amount of lighting equipment has been brought in, a complete sound package, a five-piece band, seventeen actors (with the understudies), one of LA's most expensive set designers, and on and on.  A supposedly up and coming director who's from UCLA and graduated a few years ago - one minute we're supposed to be moved, the next minute it's a farce with a caricature of a hit man/villain - and the leading character, who should be Bronco Billy, is a cypher in this version - he's there but the show doesn't revolve around him - he's always lurking but never really driving.   

Given that there was no way this would make its money, was this pretty much a backers audition, done in a way to get reviews?

Hard to know what their thinking is.  With $500K they could have gone to any regional theater - you wave that kind of enhancement money and you get a production.  It's that simple.  So, yes, I think they thought they'd do this, garner great reviews (almost a guarantee here in LA, although not always), and then who knows what - get it to B'way?  Because B'way producers being shown LA reviews is a joke.

I have never seen the iriginal film and after reading the synopsis I don't think I care to

[bk]

The Bronco Billy film has its charms.

[TCB]

Good evening.

[TCB]

Thank you for the good wishes about the new furniture.

[TCB]

Thank you for the good wishes about the new furniture.

I started to write, “about the new musical.”

[TCB]

I guess i have BRONCO BILLY on the brain.

[TCB]

If they are going to make a musical out of a Clint Eastwood film, I think they should do PLAY MISTY FOR ME.  And then not play it!

[TCB]

When they recently did LAURA here in town, the director was adamant that he would not use the song during the production.  I said why not play it after the curtain call, when he audience was filing out, but he refused.

[TCB]

I told him he was going to have a lot of unhappy senior citizen audience members who came to the show just to hear the song.

[George]

But first, I'm off to my parents' house for a bit, then I'll leave for Tacoma from there.

Be back later...much later!

I'm home. 

[George]

Hi, Tom.

[George]

The shortened show was very good and very well done.  I didn't see their original complete version, so there's a lot that I don't know.  However, I wasn't the only one there who knew nothing about the whole show. 

[TCB]

Turns out, that was the least of his problems.  Apparently a lot of audience members did not care for the production.

[George]

Chris, the managing artistic director, gave the requisite curtain speech and he talked about what was going on with the festival and that they are one of only 12 groups in the finals, from over 1000 who initially entered the process. 

[George]

The stage was set with their set in a 10x10 foot square that all the sets have to fit into (one at a time, of course ). 

[George]

The competitors then each have specifically no more than 10 minutes to assemble their set, then no more than 60 minutes to do their play, then no more than 10 minutes to strike their set and put it all back into that 10x10 foot square.  AND they're not allowed to take bows! What's that all about?? 

[TCB]

 

I like the idea of DR TCB buying furniture with his library card....why is he only getting half a sectional on Friday?

The other half has fourteen ‘holds” a head of me.

[George]

They're pretty specific about the time, too.  Chris said that one group was eliminated because they went eight, count 'em, EIGHT seconds over!

[George]

They're trying to raise $15,000, and as of tonight, they have $9,200.  Hopefully, they can get the rest quickly enough and not have to forfeit because they can't get there.

[George]

And now, I'm home.

[TCB]

I like how TCB can tell a story at crazy hours line by line, and have it build so well. 

Do you write it that way, or do you write it all and then post it line by line?

LOL!  It is totally off the cuff, my friend.

[TCB]

DR TCB congrats on your mew furniture. I hope you are pleased with it.

Thank you.  I hope so, too.