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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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