Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Happy Boxing Day!!!

Well, the gifts have been opened, the carols sung ad infinitum, and enough calories consumed to feed a small European country...yes, Christmas has come and gone once again. Given the progressively earlier retailing of the holiday, I wouldn't be shocked if the malls started hanging out signs reading "Only 364 days till Christmas! Start shopping now!"

Christmas was, as usual, a very happy and exhausting day with family and friends. I was given many wonderful gifts, and enjoyed the day. Being the Anglophile that I am, I am celebrating Boxing Day today. I think I am supposed to give a little gift to the mailman or something, but I may not celebrate to that extent. (Unless I leave that unwanted fruitcake in the post box...)

Much excitement has surrounded the incipient arrival of Jerry, my parents' new Jack Russell Terrier puppy. Jerry should be here on or before 7 January, and he has no idea the tub of butter into which he has fallen. I have no doubt that my sister and I were loved and treated very sweetly as babies, but the attention lavished on Jerry may surpass that which we enjoyed. My dad has built a doghouse nicer than most apartments in which I have lived. My friend Kim is making him a sweater (designer originals at only 8 weeks old...) and my parents' house is already filling up with doggie toys and items. I am just as excited as everyone else, so I can't really be too critical. :-)

More to come...my New Year's Resolution is to post at least twice a week. We'll see how long that lasts.

FLT3

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Hear The Bells All Over London Town...

...how joyously they ring! See the lights aglow in London Town and hear each caroler sing...

So goes the song that opens A Christmas Carol, which is being performed this weekend and next by CenterStage. For a glimpse at a few of the stars, check out our website at www.centerstage-productions.org and click on "A Christmas Carol." Scroll to the bottom of the cast list and you will see Scrooge ("Dollar" Bill Lawson,) Tiny Tim (Julia Fleisig,) The Ghosts of Xmas Past (Kim Dometrovich,) Present (Paul McCracken,) and Yet-To-Come (Pam Cooper.) Each of these performers, along with the rest of the cast, has performed brilliantly. If you live in the Birmingham area, please come to the show...you won't be disappointed!

I got nice and riled up reading the editorial page today. More on that in my next post...as for now, It's time for bed. :-)

FLT3

Friday, November 24, 2006

Deck The Malls...

I am currently huddled safely behind closed doors. There is no way the crowd of deranged and driven post-Thanksgiving shoppers can get to me...I hope.

Today is touted as "the busiest shopping day of the year," and I believe it. This morning's news has already shown hordes of shoving, pushing, wildly driven holiday shopping crowds at malls and stores across the country. Bizzare sale prices are being advertised...($35 laptop? A car for $500? All this and more can be yours if you arrive at our store before 4:30am Friday!!!)

I will remain encamped in my secure little bunker until the madness passes. Watching 300-pound women fistfight over video games and giggling stuffed animals is a spectacle I can somehow live without witnessing.

FLT3

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, as usual, my vow to post daily has not been fulfilled (see the last post from 5 October...:-) At any rate, I will once again make that vow, with at least one eye towards keeping it for a while.
Many thanks to all my readers, who now number, I believe, around 7.

Today is Thanksgiving Day, another one of those holidays that gives an anglophile in America a bit of a quandary. As with 4 July, there seems to be an implied expectation to reflect upon how bad everything was in Mother England back in the 1600's. Hmmmm...not so sure I agree there. Yes, there were some issues of religious intolerance which were bad, but I sometimes have difficulty alligning myself philosophically with uptight puritan fundamentalists over the Motherland and the dear old C of E. Oh well, I do really like turkey and dressing and pecan pie...

If anyone now feels the need to blast my blogsite for my being "un-American," please don't bother. I've heard it before. I am perfectly content here in the colonies...I just love England. So there. Amen.

Speaking of dear Britannia, we are about one week away from opening "A Christmas Carol," which I am directing for CenterStage. The show is coming along beautifully, and I think it will be a high point in our season. The cast is particularly warm and friendly, and we have all bonded nicely. From our oldest cast member (75) to our youngest (4), there has been an almost palpable feeling of goodwill and cooperation throughout the rehearsal process. I could not be more proud of a cast...these guys are amazing. Add to that the fact that the cast is comprised (literally) of my closest and dearest friends, and it becomes obvious why this show is so special to me. Is it cheesy? Is the syrup laid on thicker than that on top of an IHOP breakfast special? Sure, and may it ever remain so!

I have two favorite numbers in the show, "Mr. Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball," and "Abundance And Charity." Both are rousing ensemble numbers, and each is performed brilliantly. I have really enjoyed watching my good friend, Paul McCracken, in the role of Xmas Present. Paul is by nature a very warm and gregarious guy, and he has embraced the role beautifully. Ditto for Don and Kristy, who are playing the Fezziwigs...sheer magic to watch them. And the list goes on...Aaron White's Fred is sincere and kind and endearing, as Fred should be. Becca Owens' Sally is his perfect counterpart, pretty and sweet and all that Fred's wife should be...Kim Dometrovich is a wonderfully cute and sassy Xmas Past...Pam Cooper's Xmas Future is chilling and commanding...Greg Hagler (one of my oldest and best friends) brings a great sinister quality to Marley...Howard Green (aka the nicest guy alive) is a wonderful Cratchit, and his family matches him in quality and good will...Julia Fleisig could not be sweeter as Tiny Tim...Sam Chalker (one of my theatre heroes) is honoring us by appearing as Old Joe. Sam is a true "man of the theatre" in every sense of the word...and of course, Raymond Quintero as Charity Man is a CenterStage staple, who always turns in a grand performance...Kimberly Piazza and Sam Raine make their song "A Place Called Home" a show-stopper...

...and then there's our good friend and local radio celebrity "Dollar" Bill Lawson as Scrooge. What can I say? Bill takes command of the stage at his first entrance and never lets go. He is truly phenomenal in the role, and a joy both onstage and off. I could LITERALLY list something nice about each cast member, and perhaps I will later. (If I didn't mention you, it's not a slight...I just don't have time to list everyone!)

I am also involved as an actor in "Scrooge," another version of Xmas Carol being presented by Birmingham Children's Theatre. I am playing the role of Bob Cratchit, and while I could never approach the level of quality Howard brings to CenterStage's production, I am enjoying the show immensely. We have an excellent director, Will York, who has done a magnificent job with the show. Many more good friends, both old and new are in this show, and it has been quite a pleasure.

Well, it's about time for dinner, and I will close for now. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all...and I promise to try and get more posting done in the next few days!

FLT3

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Yet Another Day

Today I am at Mtn. Brook Jr. High again. So far so good. The classes are small and the kids are pretty okay. Eh, it's a paycheck.

Short update today...not much going on. Ed Howard, the playwright/director of Greater Tuna arrived back in Birmingham yesterday and dropped in on our rehearsal. My co-star Barry Austin and I are having a good time, and Ed seemed pleased with what he saw. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, it involves two actors playing 15 roles each...male, female, kids, and even a pet. Lots of fun but MAJOR costume changes. Let it suffice to say that while we are relatively decent looking men, Barry and I quite probably make the two ugliest women in recorded history.

FLT3

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

What's New...or not.

After many vows of attentiveness and failed resolutions, I am once again going to attempt to update this thing a little more frequently. Given my track record, I can't say that I am 100% optimistic, but we'll see...maybe I'll get on a streak.

We are well into rehearsal for Little Shop Of Horrors, which is going to be quite good. I am having fun with my role of Mr. Mushnik, and the rest of the cast is particularly strong. I think it will be a great success. After that is Greater Tuna (in which I perform) Scrooge with Bham Children's Theatre (in which I play Jacob Marley) and CenterStage's A Christmas Carol, which I am directing. Throw work, sleep, and some vague attempt at a social life into the mix, and life remains as happily busy as always.

Distressing news from Amish country...the rash of school shootings is, as always, upsetting on several levels. Aside from the obvious concern over the safety of children, it sort of makes you wonder how many other wounded, lost souls are out there hovering about a quarter inch above commiting some senseless and violent act. Don't get me wrong...I think anyone who hurts/kills/assaults another person should be strongly punished. I just can't help wondering what in someone's background could be so traumatic as to psychologically warp a person to commit such atrocities. There but for the grace of God go all of us.

I have been reading Sons & Brothers, a biography of JFK and Bobby Kennedy, examining not only their individual lives, but the unique way in which they intertwined. I have always been fascinated with The Kennedys...flawed, yes, but definitely the closest thing to true royalty in America. I have noticed with some distress that Teddy seems to be growing more obese and weathered almost daily. Oh well, at least he can say he has had more fun in a week than most people have in a lifetime. I recently read a biography/tell-all on EMK called The Senator. Written by a former aide, it's about 50% tabloid and 50% true substance, but chronicles all the deliciously decadent excesses for which Teddy is known...booze, hookers, drugs, etc. It's a fun bathroom or beach read...enjoyable, spicy, and imminently forgettable.

Since we're on politics...HILLARY IN '08!!!!!

That said, the midterms are coming up in mere weeks. I predict a landslide for the Democrats, and I am looking forward to it. Congressman Pedophile just drove the knife deeper into the heart of the Republican Party. I think people are finally realizing what a complete mess Bush and Co. have made of things over the past 6 years. It's almost time for Dick Cheney to shoot someone else in the face, and then their defeat will be total.

I am substituting today at Pizitz Middle School. So far so good...only one class has been utterly out of control, and even they were just a little loud and rowdy...no real troublemakers.

Still...I await 3:05pm with great eagerness. :-)

FLT3

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Well stated, Eric!

I just read the response to my last posting from my friend, Eric. Although I disagree with some (well, most) of what he said, I am quite impressed with the eloquence and reasoned thought he put into his comments. Quite uncommon for a (presumed) Republican. :-)

As usual, it's late and I am tired, but I will take a moment to mention a fine production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying that I saw this week. It is presented by MCAT (Magic City Actor's Theatre) and it is most enjoyable. I wrote a review on www.ebhm.org/theatre which should be posted in a day or two.

FLT3

Monday, September 18, 2006

Thanks to Andy D for a great link...

See the link below for Keith Olbermann's insightful and erudite comments on Bush's recent asanine comments.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240/

All I can say is HILLARY IN '08!!!!

FLT3

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Post 9/11 Musings

After watching the 5th anniversary coverage of 9/11, I am more than ever convinced that George W. Bush is the biggest moron in the history of all humankind. From his insipid babblings on the day after the tragedy to his senseless murder of the service men and women he has sent into Iraq, this idiot doesn't belong as dog-catcher, much less as President of the United States. The man is an idiot, a warmonger, a despot and above all a malaproping buffoon. Here endeth the sermon.

FLT3

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Back to school...

Today I returned to Vestavia High School to substitute. It was nice to once again have that employment opportunity, and I genuinely enjoy being around the kids. Today I had a math class, which is far from my field of expertise.

Not much else to report...I just wanted to start being more diligent about posting.

FLT3

Monday, August 21, 2006

After a pause...

As usual, I have been a bit slack about posting comments here. My apologies to the 2 or 3 of you who regularly read my musings. Consider this my semi-annual promise to be more diligent. :-)

Today marks the big American Idol audition in Bham. As exciting as it is, I do have to wonder if lightning strikes three times in the same place...oh well, if I wasn't an ancient 36, I would be down there with them. Maybe they'll start an Old Idol sometime soon.

I am interviewing today for what would be a nice little "extra" holiday-season job. Don't want to jinx it by saying too much, but if anyone reads this today, please say a little prayer, cross your fingers, etc. Details to follow either way...

The media frenzy continues to surround the increasingly bizzare saga of the fellow who has confessed to the JonBenet Ramsey murder. While I would love to see this horrifying story come to a close, I am quite unsure of this guy's claims. Is he an obvious sicko? Yes. Has it yet been proven that he commited the crime in question? No. I suppose time and CNN will tell...

My life grows increasingly full and busy...I have wound up in the Mr. Mushnik role in Little Shop Of Horrors, which I am trying to rehearse concurrently with Greater Tuna, two special-event performances, working at Music Plus and Vestavia High School, directing The Last Five Years, and all the general time-demanding activities of life. I am scheduled to get a good night's sleep somewhere around next January...

FLT3

Sunday, July 23, 2006

The Boy Friend

Well, we're moving into the third week of Rising Star part 2...the older kids are getting ready to present The Boy Friend, and as usual, they have really impressed me! This is such an amazingly talented group of kids, and they are going to have a phenomenal show. After working with adults for so long, and getting accustomed to the level of attention an adult with a job, family, kids, etc. can bring to a show, it always amazes me at how quickly kids can commit everything to memory. I guess that's what happens when you're still young...all those healthy little brain cells and no real worries...ah, the joys of youth! :-)

Anyway, I am so proud of this group of kids. The future of Birmingham theatre is completely secure. I was commenting to one of the parents just last week that it's kind of scary to be essentially training your own "replacements." There is a great joy, however, in seeing them blossom. There are several kids in this group that have been around CenterStage for years, and to have known them first as little kids and now see them as young adults getting better and stronger as performers is really heartwarming...the cycle of life in full view, ya know? We even have one kid who at 15 has already directed a show, and several others who have worked in professional settings. On the other hand, we have a couple who are almost completely new to theatre, which is also exciting from an educational standpoint...having the opportunity to introduce a young person to the world of the theatre is really an honor. Even if none of these kids ever make it to stardom on Broadway, my hope is that they will all maintain a love of the theatre throughout life. If that happens, we have all done our jobs as adults and teachers.

FLT3

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Happy Birthday, Leah!

Today is the birthday of Leah Luker, who is one of my very closest friends. Happy Birthday, sweetie!

(Other things are going on in my life, but I'm too tired to post them after teaching at workshop all week. More to come...)

FLT3

Monday, July 10, 2006

Here We Go Again...

Today was a fun day. We started our second CenterStage Rising Star workshop of the summer. This time the older kids (with a few younger ones joining us) are enjoying classes in acting, music, stage combat, and dance. At the end of three weeks, they will be presenting the musical The Boyfriend, which is one of my favorites. I am very impressed with this group of kids...they are all well behaved and enormously talented.

The violence at the World Cup has been distressing. The Frenchman who was involved in the head-butting was apparently provoked by a comment from one of the Italian players. It's easy to sit calmly here at the computer and say "no words should ever lead to physical violence," but if someone had called my mother a terrorist (as is rumored to have happened) I'd probably want to punch the guy out, too. I would hope that I am civilized enough not to act on that impulse, but if you're already playing for The World Cup, I guess emotions are running pretty high.

Weirdness...I've had the song "Rhiannon" running through my head all day. Now, it's a great classic and all that, but I don't remember all the words, so it's been going something like this:

Na na na na doo doo doo doo
Who will be your lover?
Dee dee dee dee boo boo boo
Something something lover...
Bum bum bum if she promised you heaven,
La la ever will...
Dum dum ever will...

If anyone reading this knows all the lyrics, please send them to me. I'm really getting tired of just humming through 2/3 of the song. :-)

Only three more shopping days until Guy Fawkes Day. I suppose fireworks would be appropriate...God save the queen!

Not much else to report. Cheers for now!

FLT3

Monday, July 03, 2006

Beebopareebop Rhubarb Pie...

I just got back from seeing A Prairie Home Companion, and the Rhubarb Pie song is stuck in my head...of course, being a Garrison Keillor fan as well as a Robert Altman groupie, I loved the movie! Add to the fact that Virginia Madsen (on whom I have had a crush for years) is in it, along with Woody "the funniest human being alive" Harrelson, and it's a hit with me.

I fell in love with Lake Wobegon when I was in high school and first discovered Keillor's books. (I even used to have a Powdermilk Biscuits t-shirt, but I have no idea what happened to it.) The film takes some familiar characters, mixes in one or two new ones, and provides a very faithful homage to the A Prairie Home Companion radio show. If you love the books as much as I do, you'll definitely get into the movie. Even if you're not familiar with Keillor's writing, the film still stands alone as an enjoyable story. Below is a link to the more substantial review I have posted on epinions.com.

http://www.epinions.com/content_240225980036

FLT3

Sunday, July 02, 2006

God Save Our Gracious Queen...

Well, it's that time of year again...the 4th of July. This is a particularly awkward time of year for us Anglophiles. While the rest of the country celebrates America's independence from The Crown, there are those of us who don't view an affiliation with Mother England as such a bad thing. (I'd much rather be under Tony Blair's leadership than Dubya's, I have yet to find an American city half as grand as London, and a nation where everyone has health care seems damned civilized to me...)
Now before anyone calls Homeland Security on me, I am not suggesting that the Redcoats storm Philadelphia or anything like that...merely suggesting that we could learn a few things from our neighbors across the pond, including:

. The civilized ritual of afternoon tea. Stopping everything for scones with lemon curd and clotted cream at 4:00 could take the edge off God-knows-how-many surly and carb-deprived people every day. The Cadbury Chocolate machines in the tube stations are a nice touch, too.

.Royal Ascot. Yes, we have The Kentucky Derby (which is glorious) but this is beyond words. I have been to the racetrack, but have only seen pictures and news footage of the race itself. Even deserted, Ascot Raceway had an aura of excitement blended nicely with grace. (And yes, I did shout "Come on Dover, move your bloomin' arse!" to the empty stands.)

.The West End. Broadway but better.

. Not that one usually sings the praises of British food (even the British) but one of the best meals I have ever eaten was at Simpson's-In-The-Strand. I think I lived on peanut butter sandwiches for about a week after buying dinner for myself and a date, but it was well worth it. I remember it was July 16, 1995. (I have no idea why I have held on to that particular bit of information, but there it is...)

. European thought has always seemed very sensible to me. If one dares to mention Socialism on these shores, the word usually conjures images of grey, government-dominated drudgery. Although the UK has a Parliamentary government with a figurehead monarch, the day-to-day lives of the people are essentially lived in a Euro-Socialist mindset, and I think I have seen a greater concentration of happy, prosperous, bright, colorful people in the UK than anywhere else I have traveled. (Universal health care and governmental services do not mean that everyone has to live like an extra in Fiddler On The Roof. ) There is also a sense of social awareness and open thought in England that has genuinely touched me. Of course there is crime, poverty, etc. but there seems to be a genuine love for one's fellow man in Europe that we don't always have in the US. There are also sensible, adult viewpoints on social issues which eclipse many of the right-wing hysterical dogma (dogmae?) espoused under the rule of Bush II.

.Elizabeth Hurley. Enough said. :-)

. The sense of history in the UK is amazing. I was fortunate to spend 6 weeks at Oxford through the "Alabama At Oxford" program when I was an undergraduate at UA, and we were literally living in buildings three times the age of the US. My friends and I spent a lot of time (too much, I'm sure) at The King's Arms, a pub immediately adjacent to Wadham College, where we were staying. This pub was like a glimpse backwards into history, from the decor to the regulars, a few of whom I think may have babysat William The Normand. There is a seemingly seamless juxtaposition of the old and the new in the UK...one of my favorite vacation pictures is of a McDonald's in Bath, housed in a magnificent old building, with the Golden Arches smiling out from a window in what looks like a castle. (Admittedly, sometimes corporate sprawl can go way too far, but this was cute...)

...and the list goes on...Westminster Abbey, the white cliffs of Dover, the rough beauty of Newcastle and Durham, The Tower of London, the coast of Swansea, breakfast at a traditional British cafe (baked beans, anyone?), tea in The Georgian Room at Harrod's, a ride on Britrail trains, and the soft, lilting Mayfair accent... (sigh.)

So there you are. I am, as the song goes, proud to be an American, but I am also extremely proud of my British lineage (on both sides of the family.) On Tuesday, I will eat barbeque and watch fireworks with the rest of the nation, but I must confess that at some point, I may also have to enjoy bangers and mash while humming "God Save The Queen."

FLT3

Friday, June 30, 2006

It's A Bird...It's A Plane...

I just wrote a review of SUPERMAN RETURNS, which can be found on the following link to epinions.com:

http://www.epinions.com/content_239264108164

For those who are unfamiliar with epinions, it's a very neat website that allows you to post reviews and commentary on everything from books to electronics to movies, etc. The fun part is that you can get paid for your efforts (don't get too excited...in a year's time, I think I've earned $26.00.)

Not much time to post today, but the review will share my thoughts on the movie.

FLT3

Friday, June 23, 2006

Workshop Fun!

Tonight was opening night for CenterStage's Rising Star Workshop production of Winnie The Pooh. At the risk of sounding immodest, I think we did an amazing job! The cast is made up of 13 performers, all under the age of 12. To see what these kids are capable of doing is truly one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.

After the curtain call, the kids made a lovely presentation of flowers and gift cards to the faculty members, which was extremely kind and generous. This really is a very special group of young people...varying ages and levels of experience, but all extremely good-natured and supportive of each other. I will honestly miss each and every one of them after tomorrow night's closing performance.

It was very nice to see several familiar faces in the audience...my good friend John Hisey came up from Tuscaloosa, as did Matthew and Emily von Redlich. Matthew teaches stage combat, and the kids LOVE beating each other up every day! Also in the audience were Dianne and Kimberly Piazza (thanks again for coming...that really meant a lot to me, and I know the kids were thrilled to see Kimberly!) All of our faculty members were there, which was also very good. I think we had almost 90 people in attendance, and they all seemed to enjoy the show.

After a week or so off, we move ahead to The Boyfriend, which will feature our older kids, ages 12-17. As with Pooh, the workshop will be at 1st Methodist Church (courtesy of the wonderful Paul McCracken...thanks, Paul!) However, where Pooh performed at the church, The Boyfriend will be performed at Playhouse scenic and costume co-op. The business has just moved into a HUGE downtown building, and Ed Gurney (owner) is converting two of the upstairs floors into rehearsal/performance spaces. We will be able to re-use the Padua set from Kiss Me, Kate for The Boyfriend, so that will be nice...it's a very attractive set, complete with a balcony and a bridge connecting two of the buildings.

So there it is...the State Of The Union address on Rising Star '06. :-)

FLT3

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Married

...no, I'm not referring to myself! :-) My good friends Russ and Maree were married tonight. They held the ceremony at Virginia Samford Theatre, which is where CenterStage performs. The bride was beautiful, the music was very nice (especially an excellent solo by Howard Green) and the reception in the courtyard was fun and well-attended.

Brent Jones, (who is directing Little Shop Of Horrors for CenterStage this fall) has just cast the show, and done an excellent job. There have been a few ruffled feathers from those who did not get what they wanted, but such is the nature of theatre...I know the show is going to be outstanding, and as always it will be fun to work with Brent (I am producing the show, and possibly doing a small cameo.)

Looking ahead to '06-'07, CenterStage has an exciting season lined up. It is as follows...

October 13-22: Little Shop Of Horrors (Directed by Brent Jones)

December 1-10: A Christmas Carol (Directed by Frank Thompson)

March 9-18: Guys And Dolls (Directed by Frank Thompson)

June 8-17: Cabaret (Directed by Melissa Bailey)

I think it will be a fun and successful season. I also think I will have fun going to sleep, and will be successful at sleeping. (Can you tell I'm tired?) Good night!

FLT3

Friday, June 09, 2006

Late Night Thoughts

Well, it's after 4am and I'm wide awake! After tonight's performance of Kiss Me, Kate, a bunch of us went to Formaggio's, a little all-night diner not far from the theatre. After a couple of beers I switched to Mr. Pibb, and I suppose the caffeine is doing its' thing...oh well, I haven't seen the sunrise in a while...

The show went well tonight, and Andy did a superb job stepping into the role of Harry Trevor/Baptista. Paul's wife, Nancy (who is also on the stage crew) told us tonight that Paul is recovering well from his surgery, and should retain 100% eyesight. This is good news, and we look forward to his recovery.

Next week begins the younger session of CenterStage's "Rising Star" youth workshop. The little kids will be doing Winnie The Pooh, and tonight I got Erin Mason (a grown-up friend of mine who is in KMK) to agree to come in as a guest artist and play the role of Kanga. I may also get an adult to play Pooh, which will give the kids a very good perspective on putting on a show by watching the adult "guest artists."

FLT3

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Another Year Older...

Well, my birthday was Sunday (4 June) and I am now 36 years old. 35 really bothered me, but 36 is just a number, as they say. I had a wonderful day, starting with church and breakfast with my parents. I then had a performance of Kiss Me, Kate which went extremely well. After the show several friends treated me to drinks at Rojo (a local Mexican restaurant) and then Melissa took me to a wonderful barbeque dinner. All in all, a very nice birthday!

The season finale of The Sopranos was a snoozer. Hardly worth mentioning. Frank Capra would have appreciated the "It's A Wonderful Life" ending, but in terms of an HBO drama, it wasn't much.

There is a little drama surrounding Kiss Me, Kate. Paul McCracken, who plays the role of Harry/Baptista, is having emergency eye surgery tomorrow to repair a detatched retina. Andy, our director, will be taking his role this weekend. I'm sure Andy will be fine in the part, but we will certainly miss Paul.

Primary results are coming in, and unfortunately my candidate (Don Seigelman) is not doing well. It looks like our current Lieutenant Governor, Lucy Baxley, will be the Democratic nominee. I would have preferred Seigelman, but Baxley will get my vote in November.

FLT3

Monday, May 22, 2006

Sopranos musings, KATE update and philosophical question...

Well, last night was the pentultimate episode of this series of The Sopranos. Starting in January, the final 8 episodes will air, and then television will lose one of (if not the) best shows it has seen in some time. Last night saw Vito's inevitable death...and I must say that I was sad to see him go. I had originally disliked the character and wished him gone, but I changed my mind after seeing him in the scenes with his wife and kids, as well as the relationship with the New Hampshire fireman. (Granted, I could have done without some of the love scenes, but they were very mild, and truly did serve a plot purpose.) It's interesting that such a minor character (until last series) was so instrumental in "humanizing" the Mafia guys. Quite possibly only Tony has shown as much of a gentle side as Vito did. Also interesting was Carmella's dream about Adrianna in Paris. The previews lead us to believe that the final episode involves Carm asking some not-so-comfortable questions about Ade's death...

At this point, Little Britain on BBC America is the only other show I truly love. Check it out if you haven't seen it. It's hysterical, and very Monty Python-esque.

Kiss Me, Kate is going to be a very good show. Right now my main concern is learning the Shakespearian dialogue. Luckily, I have a DVD of the Broadway production, so I can "learn by listening."

I was watching TCM at some point during the weekend, and saw part of an old movie with Rita Hayworth, in particular a scene where she was attemting to seduce her leading man. We never saw any bare skin below the shoulders, but there was something undeniably erotic about the scene. On the other hand, The Sopranos showed a gorgeous girl completely nude, and in a subsequent scene in a VERY "adult" situation...and although I noticed that she was very attractive, there was nothing overly sexy about the scenes. Perhaps the old saying about what you don't see being sexier than what you do see is true...and not only in terms of body parts. The Rita Hayworth scene was very charged and goose-pimply, where the more explicit scene was just sort of there. Have we as a society become so jaded that an understated sexuality grabs the attention more quickly than the overt? (Don't get me wrong...I still love the overt, but maybe there's something to be said for the implied...)

FLT3

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Long Overdue

I have been very bad about posting for the past couple of weeks. It's odd...sometimes I will feel driven to post almost every day, and then I'll go for some time and the blog remains silent. Oh well, here's something new for those who follow these musings...

All of the traditional subjects covered here are moving along. Kiss Me Kate is going to be a very good production. The Sopranos is winding down to this season's final few episodes, the weather is nice, and Spring seems to have settled in for the long haul. (Or at least for that wonderful 2-week period we enjoy before the heat of Summer takes over.) Yadda yadda yadda...

On the political front, President Dumbass...whoops, I mean "Shrub" announced last night his brilliant idea to use the National Guard as beefed-up border security. Aren't we lucky to have this moron in The White House? He's keeping us safe from non-existent WMDs and at the same time protecting us from the untold dangers of Pablo the Mexican who might take away some $2.00-an-hour dishwashing job from all the Americans who are begging for that kind of work.

It's almost as if Bush has decided in his lame-duckness to literally try and make his popularity dwindle out of sight. Every day, people are killed in a senseless (and arguably illegal) war, and he's jumping on the illegal immigrant bandwagon just to draw attention away from the real dangers of the world (and to hopefully boost his numbers in the process.) What a jackass.

Hillary in '08...Hillary in '08...Hillary in '08...

FLT3

Monday, May 01, 2006

The Lusty Month Of May...

While I can't say that there has been any precipitous rise in my libido today (well, there was that Victoria's Secret commercial, but that doesn't count...) the arrival of May has set the song "The Lusty Month Of May" from Camelot running through my head over and over again. It was enjoyable and sweet at 9:00 this morning. It is now past 2:00, and I'm growing a bit weary of Mr. Loewe's delightful tune...

While not overtly sexy in a Hooter's waitress kind of way, the full arrival of spring does have a certain reproductive sparkle to it. Aside from the sneezes and coughs that invariably accompany the yellow dusting of pollen, there isn't really a downside to spring. It's easier to get up in the morning when the sun is shining and the birds are singing. Warm weather clothing is less restricting, and the long afternoons stretch into daylight-dappled evenings that seem to beckon "let's sit outside and have a drink..." (Okay, enough poetic treacle...it's nice outside, and that's good.)

Spring always seems to herald the arrival of great freedom. I suppose it's safe to assume that the umpty-jillion years spent in academic settings (from K5 to Law School) created a Pavlovian response to warm breezes and blossoming foliage. Even in the "real world," it seems that there is an unspoken acceptance of early Friday afternoons and late Monday mornings that would have seemed inappropriate in the gloom of winter.

Breeze blowing in window...birds chirping...cold beer in fridge...patio just outside...typing about to stop...

FLT3

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Another wild "Sopranos..."

Wow! As usual, I have spent the post-"Sopranos" hour digesting the new developments on what has to be one of the best shows ever written. After an almost "all-Vito" episode last week, this week focused on Artie and his challenges in running the mob's favorite restaurant, Vesuvio.

Artie's character is interesting...not quite a wiseguy, but seems quite entranced by the Mafia life. He appears to be reeling out of control right now, pretty much begging a psychotic gangster to kill (or at least severely maim) him on several occasions. Some interesting imagery with the rabbit Artie shot in his garden. (As most trus "Sopranos" fans know, there are images and themes that preceed getting whacked...if Artie had started cooking eggs in the last scene, I would have bet my life savings that he was about to be rubbed out.)

Tony surreptitiously offered the services of his psychiatrist to Artie...odd.

Christopher has now fallen off the wagon, so he's likely to become even more out of control. Watching him smack the shit out of Lauren Bacall was one of those things that should NOT have been funny, but it was.

Paulie and Silvio were pretty much ignored this week, as were Meadow and Finn. That's one of the slight drawbacks to running so many good storylines at the same time. A one-hour episode is going to force some short-shrifting from time to time.

Next week promises drama with A.J. and Tony...the previews were interesting. I wonder if A.J. is going to wind up joining the "family." Tony might even encourage it to be able to keep an eye on him.

Ben Kingsley obviously has a great sense of humor. His self-parodying turn tonight was a hoot.

FLT3

Friday, April 21, 2006

A Stormy Day...

Today is getting increasingly cloudy and the thunder and lightning are getting stronger by the minute. I always enjoy this time of year...the warmth, the blossoming greenery, and the thunderstorms. As strange as it sounds, thunderstorms always make me sleepy. I love to take a nap during a really loud storm.

It's interesting to me to contemplate how the weather can affect one's mood. Cold, cloudy days are about the only days of winter I can actually enjoy. It sounds weird, but I find cold, sunny days depressing. Maybe it's because it looks warm, but it isn't. Warm, sunny days are the best, but sometimes a hot, windy, cloudy-thunderstorm afternoon is really wonderful.

This subject has made the "Winnie The Pooh Blustery Day" song run through my head...

"Today it seems,
And it may turn out to be feels,
It most undoubtably looks
Like a rather blustery day."

Funny thing...I can remember a song I learned over 30 years ago, but sometimes I can't recall my zip code.

FLT3

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

HAIL THEE, FESTIVAL DAY!

...Blessed day that art hallowed forever!
Day whereon Christ arose,
breaking the kingdom of death!
(Episcopal Hymnal)

Well, it's two days past Easter (my favorite day of the year, for those who didn't know that) and I am still basking in the arrival of Spring. Went to church on Easter, and was (as always) completely overwhelmed by the beauty of life renewed. Again, as usual, I got to hear my favorite hymn, "Welcome Happy Morning." Went to brunch, took a nap, and generally enjoyed the day. All in all, a very happy Easter!

Kiss Me, Kate continues to progress. The performances are going to be quite good.

The temperature outside right now is 85 degrees, and all you can see are bright colors, lots of fresh, new leaves, and sunshine. I think I'll go and experience it for a little while...

FLT3

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Dolly Dooley Arrives

Apologies to those faithful few who might have missed my postings over the past couple of weeks. I have been remiss in adding new blog comments, but will try to be better about keeping things up-to-date.

Tomorrow morning at 10:00am is the opening of Dolly Dooley's Big Break, my first show with Birmingham Children's Theatre. The show has come together well, and I am sure the kids (and adults) who see it will have a good time.

We're also well into rehearsal for CenterStage's production of Kiss Me, Kate. I am playing the role(s) of Fred/Petruchio, which is a part I have wanted to do for a long time. It was the first Broadway lead performed by Andy Gainey, who was my voice teacher/mentor/friend for many years. I am hopeful that AG will be up there on a cloud, guiding my performance. If I am correct, AG was the first replacement for Alfred Drake in the original Broadway production. I really wish he was here to see me do the role.

I am currently on my soapbox about gas prices. With the cost per gallon inching ever closer to $3.00 per gallon, I am wondering when the bottom will start to fall out of the Republican support for this idiot robber baron in The White House. Although the most rabid neocons have stuck by Dubya, the rank & file Republicans must be getting tired of enriching the oil-bajillionaire Bush family every day at the gas pump. "One-Shot" Dick Cheney hasn't gone on any hunting trips lately, so there's not much that's newsworthy to draw attention away from the gas station larceny taking place.

And that's today's sermon...

FLT3

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

More Sopranos Musings

I just realized that I have yet to weigh in on this week's episode of The Sopranos. Here are my thoughts:

. The "Tony-in-a-coma" storyline can't last much longer. Yes, it's chock full of symbolism, and the writers are obviously working in some richly woven images, but one can only take so much abstract absurdism. We're going to have to have Tony back in action soon.

.That said, there is something to be said for the juxtaposition of "real world" and "coma world" in last week's episode. Tony is clearly somewhere WEIRD, either hell/purgatory, his own hallucination, or somewhere in between. As always, the writing is excellent.

.Somebody needs to whack Janice. She is the most annoying character sincer Livia.

.The funniest line last week was an offhanded one, delivered by (I think) Silvio...when the assembled family (and "family") members were discussing the shooting of Tony by Uncle June, someone just deadpanned "Goddamn Junior." For some reason that struck me as funny. Maybe it was the delivery.

.AJ needs a good smack in the head. And a haircut.

.Meadow is going to play a crucial role in the development of things...not sure if she will embrace the mob life, or run from it, but I suspect that she will be a catalyst for many interesting developments to come.

.I am not one of the "Adrianna is alive" theorists. She's dead. Of course, on The Sopranos, being dead doesn't automatically put you out of business.

.Little fat Vito also needs to be whacked. Maybe he'll make a pass at Paulie or Christopher and they'll just put a bullet in him and get it over with. (My hope here has nothing to do with not liking fat people or gay people. Vito is just an asshole.)

.Junior is crazy, but maybe not as crazy as he wants everyone to think. I think the shooting was done in a spell of Alzheimer's-induced mania, but I also think he plays it for all it's worth.

.Finn is not going to last long. He will dump Meadow and run for the hills before long.

The upcoming episode will hopefully answer a few questions, but they will probably be replaced with still more. If anyone has more comments or predictions, please post them.

FLT3

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

A Happy Week

This has been a particularly happy week for me. I am thrilled to be cast as Fred/Petrutchio in KISS ME KATE. This is a role I have wanted to do for a long time, and this production is going to be phenomenal! A good friend of mine from Tuscaloosa, Michelle Bunch (formerly Michelle Rhodes) is playing Lilli/Kate opposite me, which makes it even more exciting! I am sure many KATE comments will be posted over the weeks to come.

I also started rehearsal at Bham Children's Theatre for DOLLY DOOLEY'S BIG BREAK, which is a fairly cheesy (but fun) kids' show, which we will perform 40+ times between opening (April 11th?) and closing (May 20th?) The cast is great, and we all know and like each other, so it should be fun...it's also nice to be getting paid to act. BCT is a good company, and I hope to do more with them in the future.

Also, SPRING HAS ARRIVED!!! Let the cheers and celebration begin!

FLT3

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Spring approaches

Only 5...count 'em...five little days until THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!! The weather has been almost perfect for the past week or so, and promises to be great for Spring's official arrival in less than a week.

This is the time of year when everything starts to look a little brighter, the winter depression starts to subside, and fresh, renewed life appears everywhere. I have, in the spirit of optimism, started to put away the winter wools and heavy coat. I have also started looking ahead to my absolute favorite day of the year...Easter. Yes, Easter is my favorite holiday, (even counting Christmas.) The food, the sunshine, the blossoms everywhere...Easter is the best day of the year, in my opinion.

With apologies for the nonsensical segue from Easter to violent killings, I watched the first installment of the long-awaited new season of The Sopranos last week...WOW! As usual, the series is tight, brilliantly written, and full of the unexpected. Tony getting shot by a senile Uncle June was not what I had anticipated... now the big question is "does he die?" Conventional wisdom says no, but The Sopranos is edgy and unusual enough to possibly kill off the protagonist and wind down the series showing the aftermath of Tony's death. It will be interesting to see where they go with this...

Auditions for Kiss Me, Kate are this weekend. More on this story as it develops... it looks like there will be a good turnout, I feel very confident in our director (Andy Duxbury) and I predict the show will be an excellent cap to CenterStage's best season yet.

FLT3

Friday, March 10, 2006

After a little break...

...I am glad to post again. The past week or two have been very busy with King & I opening, and lots of teaching duties between subbing and teaching voice (at Music Plus Studios, which is working out very well.)
The show is phenomenal, and I am SO PROUD of the work the cast and crew have done. They have all put in much time and effort, and it shows. Ticket sales have been pretty good, and this weekend is looking very promising at the box office.
Nothing else really new or exciting going on. I start rehearsal for Dolly Dooley's Big Break at Birmingham Children's Theatre on the 20th, and I am looking forward to it. BCT is a very well respected company, and I'm glad to be in the loop with them.

The news is filled with stories about the three kids who allegedly set the church fires in Bibb County and elsewhere...such a waste. All three of these seem to have been relatively good kids, whose lives are now ruined because of a stupid and senseless situation that should have never taken place. One of our cast members is a recent graduate of BSC, and knew the suspects. He echoed everyone else in describing them as fun-loving, "normal" people.
What's really sad is that these kids will most likely be in their 50s or 60s when they finally get out of prison. Even if they live 30 years after their release, what sort of lives will they lead? As ex-cons who have spent most of their lives in prison, will they even be able to relate to the outside world anymore? Who will hire them for a job? Who will accept them socially? It truly is a terrible situation all around.

On a brighter note, the weather is absolutely GLORIOUS today!!! Blue skies, high temp of about 77 degrees, light breeze...PERFECT! I am looking forward to enjoying it as soon as school is out. (I am subbing at VHHS today.)

That's all for now. If you haven't yet seen The King And I, please catch one of our three remaining performances! :-)

FLT3

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Thursday once again

...and it seems like I should be going out tonight...I wish I was 22 again...blah blah blah...all you regular readers know the Thursday drill. :-)

FLT3

Thursday, February 16, 2006

End of week thoughts

As usual, Thursday night is approaching, and the old sentimental thoughts of Thursday night college revelry come to mind. I think I'll be 80 years old and Thursday night will still conjure images of The Varsity, The Hound's Tooth, or The Brass Monkey. (The Varsity is long-demolished, and I have no idea if either of the other dives still exist, but they will all live forever in my memory, where "college" always means "late 1980's." :-)

Last Sunday was the BATA (Birmingham Area Theatre Alliance) Gala, featuring 5-10 minute excerpts from the offerings of various local theatre groups. The selections ranged from truly amazing to somewhat less than perfect, but the overall event was entertaining and fun. Brent and Leah (King and Anna, respectively) did the "Shall We Dance" number from K&I, which went very well.

The main event of the gala was the presentation of the lifetime achievement award to Jack & Suzanne Mann. They have been prominent in Birmingham's theatre scene for years, and the award was well-deserved.

I am once again subbing at Pizitz Middle School today. So far, the kids are sedate enough...maybe the anticipation of a 4-day weekend has them numb with excitement...or maybe the lunchroom served Nyquil milkshakes today. Either way, I'm not complaining.

FLT3

Monday, February 13, 2006

Movie Review

After seeing CURIOUS GEORGE on Friday night (see previous post for details) I can honestly say that I would give it 3 stars, possibly 3.5 as I have only two real complaints...but we'll get to those in a minute. My comments are overwhelmingly positive, and I think the producers have hit upon a mostly-perfect style to keep a CG franchise alive and well for a long time. While not identical to the original H.A. Rey illustrations, George and friends are based very closely upon the original, and maintain the style and feeling of the beloved books. With one exception...
As voiced by Will Ferrell, The Man In The Yellow Hat has become less of a benevolent father-figure and more of a buffoon. His bumbling and stumbling are funny, just not really "right" for TMITYH. I would have much preferred to see (hear?) someone like Dick Van Dyke (who also voices one of the characters) as TMITYH, with Will Ferrell as a bumbling lab assistant or jungle guide. Ferrell was funny...just not appropriately cast.

My other complaint is a small one, as the "problem" was very short-lived. However, (and this is a frequent criticism I have with much children's literature) there were a couple of genuinely scary moments in which George appeared to be in real danger. As I admitted, these were few... one of these lasted for about two seconds (a fall from a great height, only to be caught and saved at the last minute by TMITYH) and the other about two minutes (a not-so-happy segment in which The Man is despondent over a mishap at the museum and George is put on a boat back to Africa...of course, The Man realizes how much he loves George and rushes down to the boat and saves him.) Okay, so we're not talking Bambi's mother or Old Yeller-type "oh my God, I want to kill myself" tear-jerking, but especially for the younger ones, these segments may have been a bit too intense. I would have found it much more palatable to have seen a secondary character emperiled in some way, and George and TMITYH rushing together to save "Fred" or whoever...I'm sure I've put waaaaaaaaaaay more thought into the subject than the average 6-year-old (ie the movie's target audience) but I think it would be better not to have the kids genuinely fear for the safety or well-being of a character in whom they have put an emotional investment. I mean, let's face it...do you really care what happens to "random guy we've only seen once or twice?"

Bottom line, however, is that there is (of course) a very sweet and happy ending, the film is cute and faithful to the books, and overall, the casting is superb. As a CG fan, I recommend it highly.

FLT3

Friday, February 10, 2006

Curious George, The Curious Little Monkey...

Okay, admit it, those of you who grew up in the 70's were singing the tune from the Curious George cartoons that used to come on "Captain Kangaroo," weren't you? :-) Today is opening day of "Curious George: The Movie," and I am proud to say that my 35-year-old-grown-up-adult behind will be in a seat at the theatre. I'm sure I will be about 6 times the age of most of the other patrons, but so what? As those of you who know me can well attest, I am a HUGE Curious George fan. (Have been since I was about 3 years old and first encountered the books.) I have decided that my other childhood addiction, "Gilligan's Island," actually overlaps with George's world... George lived in the jungle, right? Gilligan, The Skipper and company were always interacting with monkeys, right? There you are...Curious George was born on Gilligan's Island! (The only problem with this theory is that it makes The Man With The Yellow Hat yet another one of the heartless visitors to the island who left the castaways stranded...oh well, maybe he only had room on his boat for George... :-)

This has been a MUCH better day than yesterday, as I have been back at VHHS, leaving the evil brats of the middle school behind. It still baffles me how kids can go from completely out-of-control middle schoolers to normal, reasonable high schoolers in only a couple of years. C'est la vie, I suppose.

All is well on the theatre front. "The King & I" is going well, and the BATA Gala (sort of an annual get-together for local theatre groups, with everyone showing off a selection from an upcoming show) is this weekend. CenterStage will be presenting the "Shall We Dance" number, which should be very good.

Just 40 days until Spring arrives.

FLT3

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Trying Not To Explode

By the time anyone reads this, I may be in jail for killing children. I am subbing today at Pizitz Middle School, and the kids are beyond uncontrolled. No amount of asking them sweetly to be quiet or yelling "SHUT UP" seems to be working. It's amazing to me how the same little hellians become relatively decent and normal when they reach High School. These kids are evil, though...rotten to the core. (Ask me how I really feel...)

There's only about an hour and a half to go...maybe I'll survive. No, rephrase that...maybe THEY will survive. I have really started to develop sympathies for all the middle-school teachers I thought to be so mean and unreasonable when I was 11 or 12. If my contemporaries and I were this awful (and I'm sure we were) it's amazing that we weren't all thrown in jail by 8th grade.

Oh well...that's why they pay me the big bucks, I guess...

FLT3

Monday, February 06, 2006

BMH B**CHES!!!!!!

Oh yeah, I had me a real big time at the movies last night. It was beyond magical...beyond amazing. It was, in all honesty, the BEST NIGHT EVER!! I will never look at the medium of film in quite the same way ever again.

And what happened, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you. I went with a couple of my friends to see the finest film ever made. Raymond, Lindsey and I (now known as the BMH Posse) saw BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2. It transcended cinematographic excellence, with the zany comedic stylings of Martin Lawrence as "Big Momma," and the performances of the other actors who (I'm sure) have names, but I can't recall any of them. The subtle nuances of Lawrence's performance ran an emotional and dramatic gamut that neither DeNiro or Olivier could approach. The script was subtle, yet sparklingly enchanting, and the supporting characters were well-written and completely three-dimensional.

So many emotions after such a wonderful film...it really makes one ponder the meaning of life, the true definition of honor, and the innumerable mysteries of God and the universe.

If BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2 does not win Best Picture of 2006, it will be a travesty. Surely Oscar will smile on this heartwarming contemporary classic, which is sure to be studied for years to come by actors, writers, and directors alike. It is, in every essence of the word, a masterpiece on par with any script by Oscar Wilde or Noel Coward.

BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2 may usher in a new era of world peace and universal prosperity. God bless Martin Lawrence!

BMH B**CHES!!!!!!

FLT3

Friday, February 03, 2006

Spring approaches, as does the weekend

As of today, 3 February, 2006, we have 47 days until the first day of Spring. Yay!

Today is going well. As usual, I am subbing at VHHS. The kids are fine, keeping the noise at a minimum and at least sort of pretending to do their work. So far, so good, and I have a back-to-back lunch and planning period, so it should be an easy day. Fridays usually are.

The King & I is going well. We have most of the show at least roughly blocked, and can start to work on refining and polishing. Tomorrow is an all-day rehearsal day, so I am hopeful that by next week we will be really getting down to perfecting the show.

FLT3

Monday, January 30, 2006

Monday Morning/Saturday Night

Once again, the week begins. As I have been for the past couple of weeks, I am at VHHS subbing today and tomorrow. I have yet to line up the end of the week, but I have been very lucky about getting sub jobs up until now, so I'm sure I will be working.

I have also come across another very interesting employment option, which I plan to accept. Details as they develop.

I was out with some friends on Saturday, and it was requested that I mention the outing on my blog. Actually, blogs in general, and my blog in particular, were discussed. As for the evening, it was a nice post-rehearsal outing to Rojo, a little neighborhood restaurant/bar on Southside. So...here is the official mention of that night.

FLT3

Friday, January 27, 2006

20 Years Makes A Big Difference

Once again, I am subbing at VHHS. Towards the end of my last period, I overheard a couple of the students (juniors) complaining about not having cell phones. Another one went off on the "crappy" Vestavia cable system that only provides 56 channels. I realized that it has been exactly 20 years since I was a junior in high school (1985-1986.) Things have definitely changed.

We had one cordless phone in the house (cell phones were not even thought of yet) and the range of this one cordless phone was roughly the end of the driveway. We had cable, but there was a clunky, shoebox-sized box that had to be attached to the tv, and the channels had to be changed manually at the box. I remember we had 23 channels, and we thought we were the ultimate in high tech. (Ted Turner's tv station was still called WTBS/Atlanta, and the other two major cable stations were WOR/New York and WGN/Chicago.)

Reagan was in office, and I remember "Miami Vice" was popular. (I think I still have a pastel blue cotton jacket somewhere in my parents' attic.) I had a poster on my bedroom wall of this hot new singer, Madonna. The words "internet," "email," "cyberspace," (and for that matter, "blog,") meant nothing to anyone, and the Star Wars movies consisted only of the Luke/Han/Princess Leia story. Molly Ringwald was making movies, and Eddie Murphy was a hilarious stand-up comedian just hitting his stride. I had my first car, a 1979 Ford Mustang, and I think gas was somewhere around $1.15 a gallon. Records made of vinyl were still being manufactured and sold.

It's official...I'm old. I've even started using the phrase "back in the day."

I have asked a few friends to comment on their own high school years. Jonathan Goldstein remembers having 3 pairs of parachute pants. He also recalled the "New Coke" fiasco.

FLT3

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Nazis on Parade - Roy Moore

I wish I could say that the title of this post is some sort of humorous reference to The Producers and "Springtime For Hitler," but alas, I can not. It's not very often I post twice in one day (sometimes I don't even post twice in one week) but I am so completely nauseated after reading today's paper, I've got to purge.

"Reverend Roy" Moore, who made Alabama a national joke with his insipid and ludicrous posturing over the Ten Commandments monument, is once again proving himself to be nothing more than a narrow-minded, insane bigot. Today's Birmingham News has a large story about Roy's endorsement of Alabamians Against Same-Sex Marriage, or whatever it is this group is calling itself. I personally think they should go ahead and call themselves The Brownshirts and be done with it, but there you are. For those of you who have the paper, check out Roy's scowl and combed-over-the-front hairdo. He couldn't look more Hitleresque if he tried. Nice to see that all these ministers standing behind him are so filled with Christian goodness that they have nothing better to do with their time than allign themselves with an idiotic neo-Nazi seeking political office through the persecution of a non-threatening minority. No time to minister to the poor, console the bereaved, or spread the Gospel of Christ...got to help Roy keep them fags from marryin'. No tellin' where that can lead!

What Roy and the buffoons surrounding him have never understood is that the "sanctity of marriage" is not, and will never be threatened by same-sex unions. I happen to be a straight male, and I can say with 100% certainty that if same-sex marriage is "legalized," I will not suddenly change my orientation and marry a man. With apologies for the cliche, some of my best friends are gay, and they are among the finest people I know. They pay their taxes, contribute to the community, and (sorry Roy,) they go to church and enjoy the love and grace of God just like the rest of us. Are they sinning? I guess so, but who among us isn't?

I have gone on this rant before, and I will repeat myself... QUESTIONS OF MORALITY ARE FOR THE CHURCH, NOT THE STATE. If an individual church or denomination chooses not to recognize or bless same-sex civil unions, so be it...the Church (capital deliberate) has that right, and indeed that duty to issue opinion and policy on moral issues. There are widely disparate levels of conservative and liberal thought among the various religious faiths, and there is a place for everyone. Conservative Southern Baptists and Liberal Episcopalians worship the same God, but espouse very different types of social theory, and there are a bajillion areas of grey in between to accomodate almost any school of reasonable thought. In my humble opinion, the final arbiter of right and wrong is GOD, not Roy Moore and his band of pitchfork-weilding followers.

Roy is doing his best to create a theocracy, and he's certainly utilizing some methods that were employed by the Third Reich in pre-WWII. He's starting out by picking on the small fringe groups, rallying the "good folks of Alabama" behind him in his vile efforts. Never mind that Jesus himself preached tolerance, acceptance, and inclusiveness...I'm sure Roy would never associate himself with the outcasts and sinners of the world in an effort to bring them to God. To quote George Carlin, "that might be something that Jesus would do."

The sad fact is that this puritanical moron will probably get elected Governor of Alabama.

FLT3

The Eyesight Is The First Thing To Go...

In last week's postings, I inadvertently failed to mention some good friends who came to see South Pacific. The Miles girls (mom Anita and twins Annie Stewart and Piper) were on the front row one night, and I pretty much didn't see them. It's odd about stage lighting. I can see the third through seventh or eighth rows clearly, but sometimes the front two are a bit blurry. (I'm blaming it on the lights, but maybe I'm just getting old...) I also forgot to thank Reid Watson and his birthday party, who came as a group to the show. Many thanks to everyone who came to the show, especially those I may have failed to mention! :-)

The King & I is coming along nicely. We have blocked a good deal of Act One, and are moving at a good pace, somewhat ahead of schedule. The kids are particularly sweet and well-behaved this show, which is a very welcome surprise. The cast is huge, but everyone seems to be playing well together, which is good as backstage will be crowded! The cast is extremely talented across the board, so it should be a pretty phenomenal show. Kim D came and took measurements for costumes last night, and they are going to be beyond lavish...very appropriate for this particular show. Visually, it's going to be stunning.

I will definitely be visiting the dentist soon, as I have lost a filling...another joy of getting older, I suppose. So far, I wouldn't describe it as excruciatingly painful, but it is definitely sensitive, so I am hoping to get in to get it fixed within the next couple of days. I actually had an appointment for tomorrow at 1:00, but then I got called to sub at the high school, so I am trying to get my time moved until late afternoon. That whole working and paying the bills thing, ya know...?

Not much else to report. It has been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, as Garrison Keillor would say. I am at VHHS today and Friday, and at Pizitz Middle School tomorrow. I will be subbing a lot between now and mid-March, when I begin rehearsal for a show at Bham Children's Theatre. It should be a very good experience, and I am glad to get into the loop at BCT. The pay is good, and the people seem quite nice to work with. Jack Mann is directing Dolly Dooley's Big Break, in which I am playing Dave Dooley. (I know nothing about the show itself, but will update when I get a script.)

FLT3

Friday, January 20, 2006

A Whale Of A Story

This weekend is starting off with a touch of surrealism...apparently a whale somehow strayed off course and swam upstream into the Thames, much to the amazement of Londoners making their daily commutes. The BBC online report said that the whale swam past Big Ben and Parliament, confusing and amusing most of the pedestrians in the Westminster area.

Even the aquatic mammals appreciate the beauty of London. I hope the whale has tea at Harrod's and drops by Westminster Abbey before taking in a show in the West End followed by a drink at some cozy little pub in Soho or Covent Garden before he hops on the tube and heads back to the docklands and home. What a happy day for Mr. Whale! (Okay, this is starting to sound like a children's book...:-)

A good review of South Pacific in today's Birmingham News, as well as on www.ebhm.org

The King & I is progressing well. Don has started to work on the ballet, which is going to be very good. I am looking forward to getting started on the scene work next week.

Subbing today at Vestavia High School. As usual, the kids are good, lunch is cheap, and the day is going well.

FLT3

Friday, January 13, 2006

Opening Night, Sort Of

Last night was technically opening night for South Pacific, but as the entire show was bought out by a corporate sponsor, tonight really has more of the feeling of an opening night...friends, family, and well-wishers are sure to be out in droves. Last night's audience was very receptive and warm, with much applause and laughter, but it felt artificial somehow. I think tonight will really have that extra edge that makes a show great. I did have the luxury of knowing one person in the audience, my good friend Ron Wilson (who played Emile DeBecque in the first production of South Pacific I ever did, and subsequently played the role for CenterStage.) It was good to see Ron, and it always helps my performance if I know someone in the audience.

I am subbing for a chemistry class today. No need for terror on anyone's part...the classes all have worksheets to do, and absolutely no explosives are being handled. As usual, it's a pretty easy job. I am also working on a couple of mental health stories for WBHM. Situation normal as far as the work and theatre worlds are concerned.

I am fighting off a case of the crud, as is typical for this time of year. Yesterday brought the sniffles, a slight cough and some pretty unpleasant sweaty chills. After drinking about a half-gallon of water (the miracle cure) I spent most of my offstage moments last night in the bathroom, but it seems to have been worth it. I am feeling somewhat better today, and can assume that whatever was making me ill was either drowned or washed out to sea.

The King & I had an excellent read-through and the leads did some music rehearsal this week. Tomorrow's choreography rehearsal was cancelled due to our choreographer being under the weather, but we will be in full swing next week. The school matinees seem to be selling well, so hopefully the show will be a financial as well as an artistic success.

It's raining today. Good day for a nap. I wonder if the kids would notice (or care) if I fell asleep.

FLT3

Saturday, January 07, 2006

A Long But Productive Day

Today was a two-rehearsal day for South Pacific, which is shaping up to be a truly excellent show. All morning was spent on Act One, with the afternoon being devoted to Act Two. The set in particular is outstanding, quite detailed and on par with a first-rate touring production in terms of quality and attractiveness. I hope anyone who reads these missives will come and see the show.

I am, as I have mentioned before, particularly enjoying recreating the Captain Brackett role that Andrew Gainey made so memorable in a production I was in 20 years ago. AG was a good friend and teacher, and one of my early heroes of the theatre. He passed away almost six years ago, but I still think of him frequently. He was an amazing person who taught me a lot about music and performing.

Our cast is very strong. Kristi Tingle-Higginbotham is the perfect Nellie, cute, energetic, and full of the "sparkle" that Nellie embodies. Bill Bugg as Emile DeBecque has a rich, James Earl Jones type of voice that truly could fit in perfectly on any operatic stage in Europe or America. Jeff Johnson is a hysterical Billis, Lucas Pepke fits the dictionary definition of "Young Leading Man" as Lt. Cable, Ginger Goodall is Bloody Mary to a "T," complete with flawless voice and charming character, and Russell Jones brings the perfect "aw shucks" quality to Buzz Adams...and the list goes on...Howard Green and Raymond Quintero are ideal as The Professor and Stewpot, Don Garrett makes a wonderfully pompous Harbison, Kristen Sharp is both adorable and touching as Liat, the nurses are talented and pretty, the kids are brilliant, and the seabees are lively and fun.

The best part of all, from my standpoint, is that everyone in the cast is SO INCREDIBLY NICE. This cast really has felt like an ersatz family, from the nurses all learning to knit (no joke) to the good-natured horseplay among the seabees...everyone plays well together, and there is a true feeling of camaraderie and good will among the group. I will sincerely miss these people when the show ends.

I'm sure it sounds self-serving to promote so strongly a show in which I am performing, but it really is that good.
So...don't miss South Pacific at The Virginia Samford Theatre, January 12-22. :-)

FLT3

Friday, January 06, 2006

Looking back/Looking ahead

Since I am substitute teaching today, I have the opportunity to actually sit down and write a little review of the New Year's trip. It was great fun...Melissa and I spent 3 days each in London and Paris. Saw The Producers and The Woman In White in London, both of which were wonderful. London was, as always, glorious. There was a threat of a tube strike while we were there, but nothing came of it. The weather was dreary, but somehow even the awful weather in London seems warm and fuzzy to this anglophile! I discovered a new BBC comedy series, Little Britain, which is hysterical. It's definitely on the "must find a DVD" list. Did a few of the usual things...Harrods, the West End, British Museum, etc. as well as the usual walking around and just taking in the city.

Paris was nice, but I have officially decided that the stereotypical French snottiness has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I almost wonder if the Parisians behave with a certain hauteur because they think the American tourists expect (and perhaps even want) to be sneered at by the locals. As usual, my smattering of French was good enough to get my point across when I had to use it. Saw the Eiffel Tower light up at midnight on New Year's, which was fun. The high point was the Louvre, where we pretty much spent an entire day and still only saw a tiny fraction of the collection. The Mona Lisa is still there, right where she's been for some time. Also saw Sacre Coeur and the Paris Opera, and ate several crepes from the ever-present street vendors. All in all, a fun but somewhat exhausting week.

South Pacific continues apace. Great cast, fun people, and an overall feeling of goodwill only slightly marred by a couple of instances of what I consider most inappropriate and duplicitous behavior by the adopted director. Won't go into details as they are not important. Enough said. The set by Ben Boyer is amazing, enhanced by a new projection-type lighting gizmo which projects crystal-clear computer imagery onto the back wall of the stage. In a word, cool. The actors and singers are doing a wonderful job, and I predict a tremendous hit. I am enjoying the Captain Brackett role, having a blast thundering and blustering through the scene work. Costumes are also top-notch, due to some pretty extensive background research by Kim and Mary, the costumers.

We have our read-through for The King And I this Sunday, and I am excited to be getting started on it. It's a HUGE cast, which is both exciting and scary at the same time. Many posts are sure to involve K&I over the next two months.

My other big project right now is doing some more writing on mental health for WBHM. I have enjoyed working on the stories I have done, and I have REALLY enjoyed the paychecks, so hopefully I will be able to knock out a couple of those next week.

Almost time for the bell.

FLT3

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

This will be short, as it's a fairly busy day. Happy New Year to one and all...my plan is to do a full post-holiday review later tonight.

Tonight will also mark the official start of the "March To Spring" as we begin to look ahead to warm weather, flowers, green grass, and the arrival of my favorite time of year.

FLT3