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FUN LINKSChicago TheaterARFTCo and also in Los Angeles...and also in Baltimore...Blogs We LoveA Hole In The Head People We LoveAndi World POSEIDON!The Official Carol Lynley Home Page Handblog Archives
10/01/2003 - 11/01/2003 And also...David interviews Margaret Cho |
read the handblog...11/23/2004My Way of LifeSo yesterday I was at the thrift store (you can always find me in the thrift store before a show opens), looking for a pleated red and green mini school girl skirt for punk Clarice and some winter white fashion to go with my exquisite sheared beaver (tee-hee) Lucy Notions headband when I see a ghost from my past. Before I learned to drive, I worked in Skokie, IL about 8 years ago, so I took the CTA. Red line to the end of the at Howard and then transferred to the Skokie Swift train. I have another Skokie story, but that's for another time.Anyway, this guy, or maybe he considers himself a girl used to ride the same route. He was about 6' 3", Asian, and had long hair and nails and an exquisite facial structure. Cheekbones to die for and full pouting lips. This is a face that begs for make-up, because it looked like an unfinished painting, and you know the only reason he wasn't wearing make-up was because he had to go his stupid job in Skokie, IL and well, people are ignorant. I suppose even if he wore make-up I would have stared because it was obvious he was a man from height and body size (shoulders, hands), but I always thought it was shame he couldn't wear make-up and I always felt he knew that I knew he should be wearing make-up and might have been embarrassed for me to see him sans makeup. Too bad it's not 'normal' for certain men to wear make-up. Nothing to do with sexuality, just it would look cool on some guys. In this fellows case, it would have been as natural as combing your hair. I always tried to smile and be nice to him on the occasions we had to stand next to each other on the train but people like that build a wall around themselves, probably from years of taunting and torture. He must have been in his early late 30's, early 40's then but his skin always looked taut and flawless. That's why I was so shocked to see him yesterday looking considerably haggard. Is that what 8 years does to you? He saw me too and had this terrified 'I'm the Elephant Man, don't look at me!' look in his eyes. I quickly averted my gaze but continued to study him while he was rummaging through quite ordinary women's clothing. I stared to wonder what happened? Alcohol? Drugs? Did he fall on hard times? He always wore white to work so I didn't know if he was a cosmetologist or a visiting nurse. I wanted to talk to him but I just couldn't. I'm sure he recognized me. Maybe next time. posted by David on 11/23/2004 08:29:00 PM | Link |
11/22/2004My Way of LifeTick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock..., Rudolph opens next week and we still have many things to do- odds and ends. Like building a set, a snowman costume and I'm sure there are costume pieces that we will realize we don't have soon enough. There seems to be a 'place' that nobody remembers where some costume pieces are. Perhaps the Island of Misfit costume pieces? My Chanel suit, Dolly's skirt, it's just all adding up and it doesn't do me good to dwell on it. Our 'costumer' is us. We never got an official person so it's fallen on Ron and myself. So there's acting, writing, rewrites, sound design, costumes, painting and Friday set building. Want to be in showbiz? Meet me at the Loop Theater, Friday (the BUSIEST shopping day of the year) with your overalls and power tools. Did I mention we had to dance yesterday? Ugh! Dancing in a musical? That's just crazy. Brigitte is doing a wonderful job, and my dance partners, Melissa Pond and Al Spera are very patient. I play Al's mother...,This morning, on my way drive to work I was going over the routines in my head and realized Brigitte has us snapping our fingers and we will be wearing gloves. Remind me to tell her about that.The Women of Handbag Tracy Repep, former Handbag starlet is rocking the Seattle theater scene and it looks like she's getting the recognition she deserves out there. She's appearing in The Playboy of the Western World. Click here and here to read her sterling reviews. Tracy also appears in our Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, well at least her voice does. I don't want to spoil the surprise..., Merrie Greenfield has directed and co-researched (for six months) Naked on the Net, a show that I thought was just wonderful. Hilarious, touching and sometimes sad it covers the scope of life as we know it on the internet with some fine performances by a solid cast. Thumbs way up , Greenfield! I suppose I'll lose another Handbroad now..., Tracy, Tina, now Merrie. Why do all the women in my life abandon me? Is it because I call them broads? Oh, and what the hell is this? posted by David on 11/22/2004 04:18:00 PM | Link |
11/18/2004My Way of LifeWill somebody please think about the children!?posted by David on 11/18/2004 06:19:00 PM | Link |
11/17/2004My Way of LifeI'm a bit concerned. I can't find my Gladys Dasher suit from last year. I wonder if I left it at the cleaner or maybe Steve Hickson has it at his house and prances around his condo in it, saying , "Look at me, I'm Gladys Dasher! The biggest , most beautiful celebrity in all of Christmastown".posted by David on 11/17/2004 09:21:00 PM | Link |
11/16/2004My Way of LifeSo last week I went to have my car washed. I'd do it myself but we don't have a hose..., And when Betty (that's my car's name- she's black. Black Betty, Bam-ba-lam), was getting her her hatched opened so the staff could clean the inside of her rear window, a group gathered around, said something in Spanish, looked at me, I smiled back, thinking perhaps they recognized me from the newspaper or a magazine (It happens...,), and continued to clean the car. Curious, I opened the hatch when I got home and discovered I had left the bucket of tampons, about 50, with a rope tied around the handle of the bucket. These were props from our workshop, SCARRIE, The Musical, a parody of Carrie.Tampons are expensive so I wanted to save them for the actual production. Oops..., posted by David on 11/16/2004 04:22:00 PM | Link |
11/15/2004My Way of LifeTick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock..., I can't get the new Gwen Stefani single out of my head. Kind of reminds me of Lene Lovich combined with a dash of dare I say it? Britney Spears..., Tick tock, tick, tock, tick tock..., the clock is ticking away as we rehearse for Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer in the Loop Theater downtown on Randolph off of State. Pretty prime digs for us. The lobby is huge, there's a fancy box office and the dressing room is large with actual changing rooms. I think the space used to be a retail store. The actual performance space is a black box and I think the sound is echoey- not the best for a musical. The performance space itself is filthy. Full of dust and that you can see billowing about when you sweep the stage floor. That has to be fixed because my head will explode if it isn't. Perhaps some resourceful homeless person would clean it for a pack of smokes and a 6 pack. Hey, I would have done it! And truthfully I probably , along with some other Handbaggers may end up doing it unless I can convince THE BOARD to let us hire a couple of folks to really give that floor a once over. Maybe the city will. I'll ask Ron Kelly, our stage manager/costumer/handyman.I came home with a sinus headache from hell, not before I stopped at Marshall Fields to look for driving gloves. They had one style and they were cheap and hideous looking. There was another pair I considered. Cashmere lined, tight, no ugly huge stitching around the fingers. I HATE that big stitching around the fingers. I want my hands to look 'Diana Rigg- sleek when I drive. Who knows, I may have to use my karate skills and you just can't do that with big ugly gloves. I happened to wander up to the mens section, something I haven't done in a while and was surprised to see they expanded it. I found this line called 'Sixty' that had some very 'David Cerda sweaters' , shirts and jackets. Very Debbie Harry/Speed Racer. The cost? Well, I could have justified it if it were on sale but with the sinus headache and all I passed-for now. There were so many other things I wanted. God, I miss my clothes horse days. Of course I told Christopher every single detail about the outfits and where they could be located. Time for Christmas gift hints!!!! One for me and the rest for whoever. ME- The Night Gallery DVD Boxed set. Why? DUH! It's Joan Crawford's last GOOD role directed by novice director Steven Spielberg. Joan plays a wealthy blind woman that blackmails a certain doctor to give her an eye transplant , even though she will only see for like, an hour. I think they modeled the Mr. Burns character after her role in this episode. She's pretty despicable in it. This also features Roddy McDowell in that creepy episode with the changing paintings and the episode that gave me nightmares as a child 'Escape Route' about a Nazi criminal that prays to a certain painting to escape his pursuers..., He gets his wish. For others? I know I've posted this link before but you just can't go wrong with these lovable guys. posted by David on 11/15/2004 03:51:00 PM | Link |
11/11/2004My Way of LifeLots to report but not enough time to report it. Made a connection with a dear old friend. It was wonderful. Thanks to the adorable Garth at the Brown Elephant, Spike the leather elf has leather pants that can be made into chaps. I've calmed down a bit today as well.posted by David on 11/11/2004 09:23:00 PM | Link |
11/10/2004My Way of LifeDamn, I've been busy. It isn't easy putting together a show in the alarmingly short amount of time scheduled. We're short-staffed so I'm trying to what I can and this can lead to people being well...short. I'm trying my best but I's gots to do what I's gots to do. Does anybody out there have any buttless chaps I can borrow? You can donate them as well we're a 501(C) NFP company. 32' waist, please. How about white hot pants? For men, silly 4 pairs please. I sent the Undergear catalogue people a pleading donation letter. Haven't heard a word yet. Let's say you accidentally ordered a leopard spandex bodysuit or one of those other innovative buttless designs they always feature in International Male or Undergear. Looking for something to do with it? Give it to Handbag!. Think big gay elf! Jake? Andy? Come on, I know there at the bottom of your hope chest somewhere...,posted by David on 11/10/2004 08:11:00 PM | Link |
11/08/2004My Way of LifeI've been slacking on my Blog lately but believe me dear Handbaggers I haven't been slacking in finding ways to entertain YOU, my oxygen.Thursday I saw Animal Farm at Bailiwick, and although Farmer Jones looked like he played guitar for The Hives, the cast was thoroughly enjoyable. This is not an easy show to mount and the costumer found creative ways to turn people into pigs, horses and dogs. Orwell's Animal Farm has always been one of favorite stories and the story is just as chilling as it was onstage as when I read the book. Perhaps even more so in today's climate. I imagined George W. as Napoleon and Condoleeza Rice as Squealer, except Rus Ranier as Squealer had much better fashion sense. Rus was a highlight for me as was Linda Rogo #2, Gina Capetta as Muriel, the Goat. James Adkinson as Snowball was good too (and kind of cute- Ed Jones said so). I've always felt the chickens were the unsung heroes of Animal Farm. It breaks my heart when they are forced to give up their eggs and die protesting the new rule. *Sniff* Saturday a group of us all saw Patti LuPone at the Chicago Theater and the man who stands on the corner with the microphone and yells and preaches at people went into a anti-homosexual tyrant as the scores gays flocked to see Ms. Lupone. For some reason I couldn't just smile and walk by him like I usually do. Maybe it was the fact that George W. won the election, but I snarled something at him as I walked by him. I was so angry I don't remember what I said but all I could think about while I wasn't enjoying Patti Lupone's outstanding show was how I could casually walk by this stupid man and kick the legs out from under his cheap little sound system , smashing it to pieces. Or maybe spit on him, which would probably freak him out even more since of course, all homosexuals have AIDS. Of course I couldn't tell my rational friends because they would most definitely talk me out of it and I had to do it in a manner that would be as casual as a wink so I wouldn't draw attention to myself and could claim innocence to any nearby police officer. Sunday- Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer opens in, shit...3 weeks. We read through the show with the rewrites, and if you've seen Rudolph a few times in the past I guarantee you this has enough changes to keep you amused. It's a little tougher then previous Rudolphs because I'm older ( I was in my 30's when I wrote Rudolph, and it was very much a parody), and a bit disgusted with our country right now. The show has sort of taken a life of it's own now and maybe this won't be our last Rudolph for a while. We shall see. Tonight I go to the gym and work on more SCARRIE rewrites. I was so busy with Handbag stuff yesterday I even missed Desperate Housewives! But mom loves every minute of it..., posted by David on 11/08/2004 04:13:00 PM | Link |
11/04/2004DEAD3posted by David on 11/04/2004 09:49:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeWell, I'm in a slightly better mood today and I didn't think it was fair not to share Sunday's benefit information with you. Let's get this election crap over with first. It was like getting punched in the stomach. I really felt Kerry had a chance. I had gotten over the fact that I wasn't particularly thrilled with him but the debates made me like him a little better. How did I feel yesterday? For me it was like the day OJ Simpson was pronounced innocent of the double murder he so obviously committed. OJ and George W. remind me a lot of each other. Smug bullies.On to better things..., The benefit in my mind was a success, and the audience seemed to love SCARRIE, The Musical, warts and all. There's still some work to be done on it but people I trust gave me honest, very positive feedback, and some suggestions on cuts such. Funny how opinions differ. I know when people are lying because I'm such a great liar myself. I was sooo proud of the cast, who put their heart and soul into what was essentially two performances. The Tommy Ross poem/power ballad 'Beautiful' soared and the audience was very enthusiastic. Capturing a 70's rock sound has proven more difficult then I thought. Maybe because I abhorred a lot of the music back then, but I have to search out the music I DID like and study the hell out of it. Things I meant to convey as an ode to early new wave came across Hairspray-ish, which makes sense since a lot of new wave borrows heavily from 60's pop, but I don't want that confusion so there goes 'I'm Going to the Prom'. It's a very exciting process for me. It makes me tingly all over. The combination of adrenaline from SCARRIE, The Musical and my anger over the election results was a good mix for some 'Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer' rewrites. This is not a kinder, gentler Rudolph. It reflects the our sad state of celebrity worship and climate of fear, but it's still funny..., I think. And yes, boys and girls, there will be nudity. The benefit flip-side- We had amazing silent auction items but the bidding did not go as quite as well as we hoped so if you're still planning on sending a tax-deductible donation, please do so NOW!!!! Greedy bastards, ain't we? posted by David on 11/04/2004 04:50:00 PM | Link |
11/03/2004My Way of LifeWanna get away? I know I do...,posted by David on 11/03/2004 04:59:00 PM | Link |
11/02/2004My Way of LifeSomebody is killing gay men living on the north side of Chicago although the Chicago police have yet to find a connection.Please be careful. posted by David on 11/02/2004 08:31:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifePlease vote today and help us get rid of four more years of Bush-shit.posted by David on 11/02/2004 08:23:00 PM | Link |
11/01/2004My Way of LifeAs I sit here typing I feel a tinge of guilt because unlike many of the volunteers who helped with our benefit I was just too tired to go into work today. I'm at home. I've just finshed cleaning the house that I've neglected for the past 2 weeks because when I'm preparing a show- even a workshop, it consumes my very being. The benefit went wonderfully and the performance of SCARRIE, The Musical was, in my hyper-critical view, fantastic. Sure, there's plenty to work on, but we're at great place ALREADY. Thanks to all who attended and you can send me your feedback at det442@aol.com. I'll have more for you later- I have to put some clothes in the dryer...,Love-David posted by David on 11/01/2004 10:07:00 PM | Link |
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