A lot sneaky, but clever.
I'll try to come up with a new question in the A.M. In the meantime, if anyone has a question, feel free to ask it.
New Q:
Pilot (at least twice)
Real-life U.S. President (twice)
Real-life artist
Real-life British General
Here's the promised report on Audra McDonald's concert. First of all, if I hadn't known that she'd been sick -- and if she hadn't mentioned it, by way of explaining why she was carrying a large bottle of Gatorade that she swigged from between songs -- I never would have suspected it, because she was in great voice. The program consisted of songs by contemporary songwriters, including Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder, Laura Nyro, Randy Newman, and other lesser-known names. When she introduced the Elvis Costello song ("God Give Me Strength"), she said she resisted the idea of singing it when it was first suggested it to her because she thought (putting on a hifalutin' air), "I went to Juilliard, I have a legit voice -- I don't do pop." She then proceeded to demonstrate how a legit voice can transform a pop song into something extraordinary.
I have to admit, I kind of prefer hearing her do older tunes that I'm more familiar with (the only songs on the program I had ever heard before were "It's Not Easy Bein' Green" and Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"), but if I have to eat my contemporary music vegetables, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have dish them up.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the show, Bree. Did she have a full orchestra and were there other performers? Do you remember the titles of any of the other songs - not that I'd be familiar with them. If you didn't recognize them, I'm positive I won't - but I am curious.
Some of the other songs were:
two by Rufus Wainwright: "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" and "Damned Ladies" (in the latter, the singer addresses advice to several operatic heroines; sample lyrics: "Desdemona, do not go to sleep/ Brown-eyed Tosca, don't believe the creep")
Life is But a Dream, by Adam Guettel (Richard Rodgers's grandson)
Wonderful You, by Jane Kelly Williams (who was in the audience, which is always fun)
My Stupid Mouth, by John Mayer (in which the singer regrets something stupid she said on a date)
When Lola Sings, by Michael John LaChiusa
I Wanna Get Married, by Nellie McKay
Hosing the Furniture (a kind of "mad housewife" song), by Jonathan Larsen, who wrote Rent
Cradle and All (described as "a lullaby for one's parents"), by Ricky Ian Gordon (music) and Jessica Molaskey (words)
Happier Than the Morning Sun, by Stevie Wonder
Tom Cat Goodbye, by Laura Nyro
She was the only singer. She was backed by keyboards, violin, cello, bass (the bass player is her husband), guitar, various woodwinds (all played by one guy), and drums.
Thanks Bree. I don't know any of the songs, but I think I'd like "Damned Ladies". (lol)
Interesting that she chose to sing contemporary, little-known songs.
Thanks for filling us in, bree.
One more digression before I buckle down and start thinking about Raggedy's question. Sunday's New York Times Book Review includes a very interesting review of a new biography of David Niven. I had never heard this story before, but, according to the review, Niven and Bette Davis were cast in The African Queen in the late 1930's, but the project was tabled for 12 years (presumably because of the war), and eventually re-cast with Bogart and Hepburn. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing those roles!
There's lots more good stuff in the review, so here's a link to the whole review for anyone who wants to read it:
Niv: the Authorized Biography of David Niven
Thanks for the link, Bree. I can't imagine anyone else in the Hepburn and Bogart roles in the African Queen. I had forgotten about Niven almost getting the part. IMDb states:
"The first choices for the lead roles were John Mills and Bette Davis.
Originally offered to Bette Davis in 1938, the film would have co-starred David Niven as Charlie. It was offered to Davis again in 1947, this time to co-star James Mason, but she had to pull out of the project due to pregnancy. In 1949, Davis tried again to make the film, but by that time plans were under way for Katharine Hepburn to star."
I'm trying to remember where I read how devastated Tyrone Power was when Niven's first wife died from a fall while at Power's house. I googled and found this paragraph which mentions that the incident occurred at Clark Gable's estate in Monterey:
"The book They Went That-A-Way by no less a person than Malcolm Forbes himself is a macabre collection of stories about how people died in strange ways or surrounded by strange ways that were not in keeping with their life. I have picked a few from that book for your edification in case you have not read it yet:
Primula Niven---Or "Primmie" as she was called by the denizens of Hollywood including her husband, British actor David Niven. Like her husband Primmie was English and had met him during the war in a London art gallery. David Niven often said that the minute he saw her he knew he was looking at his future wife. After the war the Nivens moved from England to Hollywood where David was making a comedy called The Perfect Marriage. After the movie was complete the Nivens along with a number of other Hollywood notables like Rex Harrison, Lilly Palmer, Gene Tierney, and others went to the Monterey Bay retreat of Clark Gable for a restful weekend. On their first night there someone suggested a then-popular (in Hollywood) game called "Sardines". In this game all the lights in the house were turned off and one person designated as "it" went off to hide somewhere in the house., After a short interval the remainder of the people set off groping around the house until they located "it"--it took a lot of groping when you found anyone to determine if it was "it".After some interval the lights were turned on and everyone rested a bit before a new "it" was designated. In one of these lighted intervals it was noted that Primmie was missing and a thorough search of the house revealed that the door to the cellar stairs was open. Primmie was lying at the bottom of the stairs with a fractured skull and lacerated brain. She had confused the cellar door with an adjacent closet door. She died later that same evening at the age of 28."
and then I found this at a site about the game, "Sardines":
"posted 22 February 2002 03:00 PM
This piece is from a recent article on "David Niven"
Â…Primmie (the GLW) & Niven attended a party at the Beverly Hills home of Tyrone Power. During a game of "Sardines", Primmie mistook the door to the cellar for a cupboard. The fall down the stairs killed her."
(Either Mr. Forbes' book excerpt was quoted incorrectly or he doesn't know his movie stars too well. )
The "Films of David Niven" makes no mention of the cause of Primmie's death.
Ironically, Bette Davis' first husband, Arthur Farnsworth, also died from an accidental fall in which he took a blow to the head. (1943) Davis talked about it in a Barbara Walters interview, but I don't remember the details. I'll have to check it out.
HI, 2ker's. My report is this:
I wish someone had told me how intense and wonderful Million Dollar Baby was. I thought, well, I don't know what I thought it was going to be. Some seriously wonderful relationships and Morgan Freeman turning in another outstanding performance. Hilary Swank was wonderful as was ole grampa Clint.
As for Andrea, she was in fine voice and did a wonderful show on Frank Loesser (I'd seen her prototype of the show in the fall here at The Plush Room). But the biggest news was that she is about to film a series on the American Popular Song, I think akin to the wonderful series on The American Musical. Well, not as large a scale--but I did get an invite to be in on the taping for episode one (The Astaire show) in early March!
Also, she'll be touring her WW2 show possibly starting in the summer/fall.
Finally, Aggie, she told me that she can't bring back any of the old catalog--the original producers of the cd sold out and that's it. However, she said I should burn a copy for you! Of that and any of the sold out ones. I figure that's a stamp for me to do so! If you are interested, leave me a pm (I can't leave ones yet--too new!) with your address, and I'll mail you any of the out of print versions!
night night.
Loislane: WOW! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. And the news of her filming is GREAT. Frank Loesser - Two Sleepy People, Have I Stayed Away Too Long; I Wish I Didn't Love You So; Bushel and a Peck; and Most Happy Fella; Guys and Dolls and Hans Christian Anderson, etc., etc. etc. Did she perform Inchworm and Anywhere I Wander? <sigh>
Thank you for the wonderful offer. I will PM you.
She did indeed perform Inchworm, with Shelley Markham her able and great singing pianist to do the math (2 and 2 are 4, 4 and 4 are 8...)!!
She did Anywhere I Wander, 2 Sleepy people as the encore. Did tunes from everything except Green Willow ;-) and of course, loads of info. about Loesser and his life!
Good Heavens. Green Willow. I once saw Anthony Perkins perform "Never Will I Marry" on TV. But, that's the only music I, or anybody else, I guess, know from that show.
Loislane: Did you get my PM?
Recap:
Pilot (at least twice)
Real-life U.S. President (twice)
Real-life artist
Real-life British General
I did, but got a bounceback on the email I sent. My server's been a bit odd, so let me know if you got an email from me.
Andrea was hilarious talking about Anthony Perkins as a musical star. Poor man was made and ruined by Psycho! I think I've seen an LP of his, can't be many, in the used shops. He looked so young and sweet!
When I think of Never Will I marry, I think of the Streisand The Third Album, with the Peter Matz arranged rant version. I quite adored it!
No E-Mail from you yet, Lois.
But, I just got an E-Mail from a dealer that Andrea's "What Is Love" was deposited in the mail this morning. That's the one with "These Foolish Things".
Excellent! That's a nice cd. Ilike the ones with a small combo behind her. Piano and bass is fine when you're seeing her live, but it's nice to have the larger backing group when she records!
I'm hoping when she tours that she'll redo the WW2 cd with full orchestration. She got a chance to perform that show with a band, and it really makes a difference. Oh sometimes it's perfect just to have her and piano for those killer tunes, but as Barbara Cook sings, "it's better with a band!"
Still no brain wiggle on our twice pres and pilot question though!
