Frustrating evening

Not frustrating because all potential company declined to show up - that isn't frustration. Wistfulness is a better word.

I have an embarrassment of riches in the friend department. Like many things in my life, I'm wondering if I need a better friend-management plan. My efforts and time are scattershot, slapdash and impetuous. Perhaps if I had a better distribution plan then I would feel like my friendships were actually growing and deepening?

Bleh. Back to the point: Frustrating because the DVD of "Kiss Me, Kate" kept sticking. It worked fine in Monte's laptop, but the DVD player hated it. I'm gonna try it again tonight and if it's still a pain, then I will exchange it, by golly! My DVD player is fine with hundreds of other DVDs, this one doesn't get to be all special.

Thoughts on the actual performance and production I viewed:
I didn't like the interpretation of the gangsters. They are funnier when they are less overtly threatening and gangsterish. More like they are trying to blend in with their idea of what "high-type" "cultured" theatrical people are like. My opinion, seconded by Monte.

Didn't care for the look of Lois/Bianca that much, although she definitely had the talent. Mostly, I hated her hair. Petty, but true.

Lilli, Fred and Bill all had "overly emotive lip action" going on. I hate it and find it distracting. Also, Lilli had too much pop stylizing in her phrasing. It's Cole Porter and your the lyric lead - leave it alone and let the melody do the work.

TERRIFIC voice on Fred/Petruchio.

I'll be stealing some of the fantastically funny stage business.

I found some of the large chorus stuff to be ... boring. The staging could be more dynamic. We'll have to see if I can do better.

I'm pretty much 80% positive I'm cutting "From this Moment On". It's a really intrusive number.

Some new ideas for the set design already emailed to Dave.

And finally - thank GOD for this revival! Thank GOD Tams-Witmark sent the revival version to us! The arrangements are jazzy, tight, fresh and electric! They combined the opening number and the overture to FANTASTIC effect. If you like Broadway music at all, you really should listen to the soundtrack. (And come see my show, assuming it's good.)

In non-frustrating news, PiedPiper has offered his services as a pit conductor. I'd love to have him (thankyouthankyouthankyou!) but I would, of course, prefer a teacher at the school to do it for all the obvious reasons of efficiency. So, I'm trying to get the instrumental teachers to contact me and let me KNOW fercrissakes! (One of them "might" do it, but he's waffling and blah and blah and GAH!)
But, that means that I should know one way or another in a week. I've got my Ace in my backpocket (that'd be you, PiedPiper) and it makes me feel much more confident about the whole thing. It means that no matter what, the orchestra will be So Much Better than "Guys and Dolls".

Great set design - check.
Improved pit orchestrra - check.
Smart choice of show - check.

That school is so lucky to have me. preen preen

Tonight: CVG Directors meeting. I need to get my head briefly back into CVG place so I can wrap up the last business from 2004 and get 2005 set on the right track.

And ZIM Vol. 2 is out on DVD today!! Must pay bills and balance checkbook so I can justify the purchase!

Obligatory Daily Political Rage

And here is why I believe there IS a difference between the two parties:

Earlier in the day, delegates ratified platform language that gave the party's right wing just about everything it wanted -- a call for constitutional amendments banning abortion and gay marriage, opposition to any form of legal recognition of same-sex relationships, and tight limits on stem-cell research. The proponents of such hard-right policies weren't on display during prime time Monday, as the Republicans chose to kick off their convention with two of the party's most popular moderates

Yes, this is from Salon, a liberal reporting bastion.
But go read the GOP platform for yourself.

Yes, all politicians are bought and paid for by special interest groups. But I'd rather not vote for a party that supports itself on a platform made up of ... that shite above.

And I really don't want to vote for a party that decides it's core platform is made up of these policies, but sells itself with its moderates. "We want to take away rights, but we won't admit it where the average American might hear it. Hey, don't you think Kerry looks French??"

Oh pleaseohpleaseohplease

Cross your fingers for me!
The orchestra teacher (Dennis Lindsay, PiedPiper!) is very close to directing the pit orchestra himself!!

His stated reason: The pit for "Guys & Dolls" was embarrassing!

Oh pleaseohpleaseohprettyprettyplease...