Year: 2005

Just came back from seeing “Spamalot” in previews. What a wonderfully loopy time THAT was.

Although obviously beholden to “Holy Grail,” only a few sequences are basically word for word. The rest wanders astray into side sequences and songs–some relevant, some spectacularly not–that both send up Broadway cliches while simultaneously adhering to them.

Tim Curry looks like he’s having entirely too much fun, Hank Azaria is hilarious as Lancelot (never realized how much he looks like John Cleese; it’s the chin, I guess), and David Hyde-Pierce not only out-does Idle’s Sir Robin, but he’s easily got the best song in the show: A second act show stopper about how, if you’re going to succeed on Broadway, you need Jews in your show (it’s a nice companion piece to “The Producer’s” song about gays…not that gays go untrounced in “Spamalot.”)

Bottom line, it’s a shamelessly mercenary endeavor exploiting the Python legacy, and no one, including myself, had the slightest problem with that.

We hung out afterwards and the three leads came out and signed autographs. I got them to sign the interior of my giant killer rabbit’s mouth. Curry hesitated slightly and, divining his suspicions, I said, “I swear to you, I won’t close the mouth on your hand.” He trusted me and I restrained myself (which is nice since usually people have to be called in to apply restraints on me.)

PAD

Went last night to the “Broadway Bears” auction which we attend every year. Basically professional costumers outfit teddy bears in exact replicas of costumes from famous characters and shows, and the bears are then signed by the actors represented. For instance, I bought one several years ago that is outfitted like John Adams from “1776” and signed by William Daniels. All money made goes to Actors Equity Fights AIDS.

It’s always a great time, before various actors show up, either to rub elbows or even perform in a traditional custom-written opening act. Last night saw Richard Kind and Alan Ruck from “The Producers,” Mickey Dolenz singing a parody of “I’m a Believer” called “I’m a Collector,” Sondra Lee (the original Tiger Lily from the Mary Martin edition of ‘Peter Pan’), Mary Bond Davis who continues to be wonderful in “Hairspray,” and an original Ziegfeld Follies dancing girl so astoundingly spry that the place was stunned when she said she’d be 101 this March.

We tried for a couple of bears but were outbid this year. Nevertheless we had a wonderful time. If you’re interested in finding out more or seeing the work of the wonderful crafts folk, go to www.broadwaycares.org and check it out.

PAD

Not in the world’s greatest shape. First, I’m battling a headcold, which couldn’t be worse timed considering I have business meetings, a charity auction, and tickets for “Spamalot” over the next few days.

Added to that is that Ariel is off to visit her mother, which once upon a time wasn’t a big deal. But her mother moved to Arizona, so putting my unescorted minor on an airplane by herself for the first time and watching her take off has left an Ariel-sized hole in my world. The drive back from JFK was about the longest of my life. She’ll be back in a week, but it’s gonna be a rough week for me. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Still, if Caroline starts going around saying “Riel? Riel?” and thumping on her bedroom door looking for her, it’s going to be hard not to lose it.

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A friend slipped me a copy of a documentary called “Double Dare,” and if you can get your hands on it, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Directed by Amanda Micheli, it tells the intersecting stories of two stuntwomen: Jeannie Epper, who comes from a family that’s described as the Flying Wallendas of the stunt world (except, one hopes, without the unfortunate body count), and has a career stretching back to doubling Lynda Carter as “Wonder Woman.” And Zoe Bell, an up and comer who doubled Lucy Lawless as Xena and–in the course of the documentary–auditions for and lands doubling for Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill.” (Several scenes are shown being filmed from “Kill Bill) with Bell as the Bride.) If you can manage to score yourself a copy, by all means do so. (There’s a “Double Dare” listed on Amazon.com, but there’s virtually no description of it and I don’t know for sure if it’s the same one. If anyone reading this does know for sure, chime in.)

Honestly? This shouldn’t stop as a documentary. If a network can make a success of a TV series based on the life of a crime-solving psychic, then a network (or maybe the Oxygen Channel) could do a series loosely based on the lives of Bell and Epper. The older, more experienced stunt woman guiding the career of the younger while also dealing with the needs of her extended family. God knows I’d watch it. Hëll, I’d write for it. This thing’s a natural. Watching the set-ups for the stunts alone would be fascinating, and it’d be a hundred times better than the old Lee Majors “Fall Guy” series, especially if Epper and Bell are in it and doing their own stunts (a la Jackie Chan.)

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As anyone who has read the DC solicits knows, issue #20 is slated to be the last one for DC. At this point, DC has no plans to do trade collections of the remaining books in the run.

We are not, however, quite dead yet.

Watch this space for further updates.

PAD

Was gone for the past few days attending “Farpoint” convention in Maryland. As always, a very pleasant and low key endeavor. Guests included Tony Amendola, David Gerrold, Kathy Garver from “Family Affair,” and folks such as Bob Greenberger, Howie Weinstein, Mike Friedman, and Keith “Second Coming of Peter David” deCandido.

High point for us was a sketch Kathleen and the girls performed as part of masquerade called “One Night in Who-Ville.” Pictures are viewable at:

http://homepage.mac.com/kathodavid/PhotoAlbum24.html

Plus, over in her website, Kath gives a blow-by-blow description of the sketch itself. She won third place in the category of “Champion’s Cup” (which she had to enter in since she’d won two awards in previous competitions) and also took Best Presentation.

At one point I was wandering around with Caroline, and she came upon an ice machine. Curious, she pushed the button, which I didn’t want her to do since I knew if she kept doing it, she might jam the machine. So it made the hellaciously loud grinding noise that ice machines usually make. Caroline jumped back, her eyes wide, and she blurted out (I swear, her exact words), “Oh no!” I said, “Quick, Caroline! Let’s get outta here!” And she turned and bolted out of there, her curly hair streaming behind her like the Flash. So I doubt she’ll be messing with any ice machines in the future.

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Now with more dialogue! And shark-free!

Whad’ja think?

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