Day 53: "Nobody can pull the wool over my eyes! Cashmere, maybe, but wool? Never!"
-Thurston Howell III
The last two nights have brought successful performances of DAMES AT SEA, and tonight concludes our all-to-brief run. I love doing shows at Hoover Library, but three performances just aren't always enough. C'est la vie...we still have one left tonight.
This afternoon I return to A CHRISTMAS STORY, with a 2pm rehearsal. Paul has done a tremendous amount of work during my time at sea, and I am excited about seeing all the progress that has been made. Who knows...maybe Ralphie will actually get that Red Ryder 200 shot carbine action range model air rifle...but the sunzabitchin Bumpuses will still let their mangy hounds run wild and that no good ding blang fuzzlewhizzin furnace will keep producing clinkers...
I love that show. :-)
In today's News From The Motherland...an issue with the BBC website. Will post two links next time...
Cheers!
FLT3
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
DAMES Sets Sail...
Day 52: "Of course, we'll be rescued! You don't expect Thurston Howell III to spend the rest of his life on an island without a stock ticker, do you? Not to mention a fox hunting season!"
-Thurston Howell III
Once again, I am attempting, dear readers, to resume daily blogging. Oh, to have a dollar for every time I have sworn to be more diligent with these scribblings...
Last night was final dress rehearsal for DAMES AT SEA, with a small invited audience of about 35 or 40 people. I am happy to report that all went very well, with the exception of two costume changes (both mine) that have to take place with lightning speed. Although I made it onstage, to call me anything but bedraggled and rumpled would be obscenely generous. I do believe the problem(s) have been solved, however, so tonight's opening should be quite successful.
SANTA IN SPACE is going well. The kids should love it, and there is enough cheeky humor in the script to keep the adults from falling asleep.
I have been very philosophical lately...the concept of sadness has been on my mind as I have been fighting off a bit of a funk. There are those among us (good and learned people, all) who view sadness as a chance for growth, inner knowledge, a greater texture of being, etc. I respect this outlook intellectually, but it is not for me.
My view on sadness is that it is a cancer on the soul and must be wiped out. Our lives are so short...to waste a moment of the truly precious time we have been given is a sin, and sadness absolutely destroys the quality of the time we have on Earth. With apologies for the shallow philosophy, I have to quote the great philosopher Sally Bowles..."start by admitting from cradle to tomb isn't that long a stay..."
If sadness means growth, I'll stay ungrown. Take me to the island, strike up the orchestra, and bring on the dancing girls, falling coconuts, and spiffily-dressed upper-crust Englishmen (and women) singing about the Ascot Opening Race or histrionic Ohioan parents wondering what's the matter with kids today...I'm here to be happy.
And there it is. Feel free to disagree, but that's my viewpoint.
In today's News From The Motherland... a push to legalize...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8357082.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
-Thurston Howell III
Once again, I am attempting, dear readers, to resume daily blogging. Oh, to have a dollar for every time I have sworn to be more diligent with these scribblings...
Last night was final dress rehearsal for DAMES AT SEA, with a small invited audience of about 35 or 40 people. I am happy to report that all went very well, with the exception of two costume changes (both mine) that have to take place with lightning speed. Although I made it onstage, to call me anything but bedraggled and rumpled would be obscenely generous. I do believe the problem(s) have been solved, however, so tonight's opening should be quite successful.
SANTA IN SPACE is going well. The kids should love it, and there is enough cheeky humor in the script to keep the adults from falling asleep.
I have been very philosophical lately...the concept of sadness has been on my mind as I have been fighting off a bit of a funk. There are those among us (good and learned people, all) who view sadness as a chance for growth, inner knowledge, a greater texture of being, etc. I respect this outlook intellectually, but it is not for me.
My view on sadness is that it is a cancer on the soul and must be wiped out. Our lives are so short...to waste a moment of the truly precious time we have been given is a sin, and sadness absolutely destroys the quality of the time we have on Earth. With apologies for the shallow philosophy, I have to quote the great philosopher Sally Bowles..."start by admitting from cradle to tomb isn't that long a stay..."
If sadness means growth, I'll stay ungrown. Take me to the island, strike up the orchestra, and bring on the dancing girls, falling coconuts, and spiffily-dressed upper-crust Englishmen (and women) singing about the Ascot Opening Race or histrionic Ohioan parents wondering what's the matter with kids today...I'm here to be happy.
And there it is. Feel free to disagree, but that's my viewpoint.
In today's News From The Motherland... a push to legalize...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8357082.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
Friday, November 06, 2009
Dance With Me...Or Not...
Day 51: "Cesar Romero would attend the opening of a napkin."
-Jim Backus
Well, once again, I have missed a day or two of blogging. C'est la vie, I suppose, but I do need to resume my daily scribblings. Now that my readership is in the low double-digits, I suppose I have an obligation to The Thinking Public. ;-)
Lots of fun things going on..."Dames At Sea" opens one week from yesterday, and last night we did a full run through without stopping, which is great. We now have time to polish and refine. If anyone is interested in seeing it (no pressure, just FYI) tickets are almost completely sold out for the (admittedly short) 3-performance run.
I am, despite my overall good feelings about the show, terribly concerned that my dancing abilities (or lack thereof) will be the one tiny flaw in an otherwise excellent production. Jack and Kim (my director and choreographer, respectively) keep insisting that I am making great improvement, they can tell that I am working, etc. etc. etc.... but let's be honest, friends. I have the coordination and physical grace of a drunken moose. George Wallace was a better dancer than I am. If a role calls for singing and acting, I'm your man...if the words "dance break," "second act ballet," or "anything more than a box step or a grapevine" are applicable to a given part, it's most likely going to be above my skill set...
Oh well, maybe The Captain was wounded in the Boer War and has a shattered fetlock or something. Perhaps that can be part of my back-story...
I also learned a lesson in stage combat safety this week...basically, if you're six feet tall and someone five-foot-two is throwing a punch at you, leaning in to her as she does it is not a good idea. Yes, for most people with the sense God gave a turnip, this would be obvious, but yours faithfully has never claimed an excess of common sense...
In today's News From The Motherland...one does so hate to hear of head-butting at a wedding...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/8346279.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
-Jim Backus
Well, once again, I have missed a day or two of blogging. C'est la vie, I suppose, but I do need to resume my daily scribblings. Now that my readership is in the low double-digits, I suppose I have an obligation to The Thinking Public. ;-)
Lots of fun things going on..."Dames At Sea" opens one week from yesterday, and last night we did a full run through without stopping, which is great. We now have time to polish and refine. If anyone is interested in seeing it (no pressure, just FYI) tickets are almost completely sold out for the (admittedly short) 3-performance run.
I am, despite my overall good feelings about the show, terribly concerned that my dancing abilities (or lack thereof) will be the one tiny flaw in an otherwise excellent production. Jack and Kim (my director and choreographer, respectively) keep insisting that I am making great improvement, they can tell that I am working, etc. etc. etc.... but let's be honest, friends. I have the coordination and physical grace of a drunken moose. George Wallace was a better dancer than I am. If a role calls for singing and acting, I'm your man...if the words "dance break," "second act ballet," or "anything more than a box step or a grapevine" are applicable to a given part, it's most likely going to be above my skill set...
Oh well, maybe The Captain was wounded in the Boer War and has a shattered fetlock or something. Perhaps that can be part of my back-story...
I also learned a lesson in stage combat safety this week...basically, if you're six feet tall and someone five-foot-two is throwing a punch at you, leaning in to her as she does it is not a good idea. Yes, for most people with the sense God gave a turnip, this would be obvious, but yours faithfully has never claimed an excess of common sense...
In today's News From The Motherland...one does so hate to hear of head-butting at a wedding...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/8346279.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Our First Milestone!
Day 50: "Ah, the bar-room! A place of good cheer and conviviality!"
-Jim Backus (as Mr. Magoo)
Well, dear readers, we have hit day 50 in our "year of daily blogging." Okay, so a few days have been missed...well, more than a few, but there you are...the spirit is true and the goal clearly stated, so if we stumble, so be it. Our marathon started on 19 August, which was...a few days longer ago than 50, but still we persevere... ;-)
So far this has been a fairly productive morning...things have been accomplished, goals achieved, deadlines met, and generally all done well. Let's hope that this trend continues...
This afternoon I must pay a visit to the local "Doc In A Box" to get a TB test, which will hopefully complete all my requirements for subbing in the Jefferson County system. I do believe one could get married, buy a home, and perhaps even bring home slightly rotten fruits and vegetables from Haiti with less paperwork. Quel dommage to be sure, but at least I am almost done...
I bought a new computer this weekend, and after tomorrow's visit from the Bright House Cable service rep, it will actually work! For months, my cable has been a bit fuzzy, but I don't watch much TV, so I never bothered to have it fixed...however, the same snowy reception seems to be preventing the whatsit in the cable wires to get through the thingmabob and make connection to the doohickey that makes the thingy work.
Am I being too technical for anyone?
On other fronts, it has recently come to light that in the recent unpleasantness regarding Larry Langford's unfortunate turn of fortune he was actually offered a plea deal that would have only presented him with a few years in prison. LaLa rejected the deal, and now faces up to 800 years. Probably not his wisest decision. Oh, Larry, Larry, Larry...
In today's News From The Motherland...banking changes at Lloyd's and RBS...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8340627.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
-Jim Backus (as Mr. Magoo)
Well, dear readers, we have hit day 50 in our "year of daily blogging." Okay, so a few days have been missed...well, more than a few, but there you are...the spirit is true and the goal clearly stated, so if we stumble, so be it. Our marathon started on 19 August, which was...a few days longer ago than 50, but still we persevere... ;-)
So far this has been a fairly productive morning...things have been accomplished, goals achieved, deadlines met, and generally all done well. Let's hope that this trend continues...
This afternoon I must pay a visit to the local "Doc In A Box" to get a TB test, which will hopefully complete all my requirements for subbing in the Jefferson County system. I do believe one could get married, buy a home, and perhaps even bring home slightly rotten fruits and vegetables from Haiti with less paperwork. Quel dommage to be sure, but at least I am almost done...
I bought a new computer this weekend, and after tomorrow's visit from the Bright House Cable service rep, it will actually work! For months, my cable has been a bit fuzzy, but I don't watch much TV, so I never bothered to have it fixed...however, the same snowy reception seems to be preventing the whatsit in the cable wires to get through the thingmabob and make connection to the doohickey that makes the thingy work.
Am I being too technical for anyone?
On other fronts, it has recently come to light that in the recent unpleasantness regarding Larry Langford's unfortunate turn of fortune he was actually offered a plea deal that would have only presented him with a few years in prison. LaLa rejected the deal, and now faces up to 800 years. Probably not his wisest decision. Oh, Larry, Larry, Larry...
In today's News From The Motherland...banking changes at Lloyd's and RBS...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8340627.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
Monday, November 02, 2009
Stage Update and LaLa...
Day 49: ...and we're back!
Again, apologies for the missed days of blogging. I suppose my resolve to mirror "Julie and Julia" has been somewhat less than successful thus far, but the effort continues. Once we hit day 365, dear readers, we can have fun seeing how many actual days have passed... I am, as the saying goes, a flawed man, but my efforts will not cease...
The various shows with which I am involved are going swimmingly. Dames At Sea sets sail in two weeks, and it is coming together extremely well. We are under the direction of The Great (and I do not exaggerate) Jack Mann who can, as far as I am concerned, do no wrong. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was actually DIRECTED to play my 2nd act role as Jim Backus...oh what a treat, but when the eye-rolling commences, I hope anyone with that knowledge will explain that I was only following my director's instructions...by George! The rest of the cast is doing a great job, and the show will be a success...even more so if I can somehow get through the dance numbers without utterly embarassing myself...which may or may not be possible...
A Christmas Story, as of last night, is completely blocked and now we can really start the fun work. (A special shout-out to my dear friend and Assistant Director, Paul McCracken, who has been as good as gold from running rehearsal when I have been at Dames, to helping organize everything from props to publicity, and generally helping the train run smoothly.) I won't bore the reader with a list of names (for there are many) of those who are making A Christmas Story a joy...let it suffice to say that everyone involved is adding immeasurably to the warmth and high quality of the experience. Sonsabitchen Bumpuses... ;-)
Santa In Space begins rehearsal next week at BCT. More as it develops, but I have read the script and it is charming, funny, and cute...perfect fare for the kids at Christmas time.
Larry remains free. Long may he wave. Although I still mourn the departure of quite possibly the most amusing political figure in Birmingham history (and that's saying quite a lot) I have launched my own Facebook "campaign" for mayor...so I don't live in the city limits? Who cares? That never stopped Larry...
In today's News From The Motherland...Trouble at The Tower...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8337367.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
Again, apologies for the missed days of blogging. I suppose my resolve to mirror "Julie and Julia" has been somewhat less than successful thus far, but the effort continues. Once we hit day 365, dear readers, we can have fun seeing how many actual days have passed... I am, as the saying goes, a flawed man, but my efforts will not cease...
The various shows with which I am involved are going swimmingly. Dames At Sea sets sail in two weeks, and it is coming together extremely well. We are under the direction of The Great (and I do not exaggerate) Jack Mann who can, as far as I am concerned, do no wrong. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was actually DIRECTED to play my 2nd act role as Jim Backus...oh what a treat, but when the eye-rolling commences, I hope anyone with that knowledge will explain that I was only following my director's instructions...by George! The rest of the cast is doing a great job, and the show will be a success...even more so if I can somehow get through the dance numbers without utterly embarassing myself...which may or may not be possible...
A Christmas Story, as of last night, is completely blocked and now we can really start the fun work. (A special shout-out to my dear friend and Assistant Director, Paul McCracken, who has been as good as gold from running rehearsal when I have been at Dames, to helping organize everything from props to publicity, and generally helping the train run smoothly.) I won't bore the reader with a list of names (for there are many) of those who are making A Christmas Story a joy...let it suffice to say that everyone involved is adding immeasurably to the warmth and high quality of the experience. Sonsabitchen Bumpuses... ;-)
Santa In Space begins rehearsal next week at BCT. More as it develops, but I have read the script and it is charming, funny, and cute...perfect fare for the kids at Christmas time.
Larry remains free. Long may he wave. Although I still mourn the departure of quite possibly the most amusing political figure in Birmingham history (and that's saying quite a lot) I have launched my own Facebook "campaign" for mayor...so I don't live in the city limits? Who cares? That never stopped Larry...
In today's News From The Motherland...Trouble at The Tower...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8337367.stm
Cheers!
FLT3
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