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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...6/30/2004My Way of LifeGood morning everybody! Now that 'How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened' has closed I have time to answer some of many letters I receive from various fans and admirers across the country.Q: Mrs. Betty Parker of Arlington Heights, IL asks: David, I simply had to find out how you keep your legs so fresh and toned. I was greener then a freshly picked avocado (with envy! Ha Ha) when I saw your shapely gams onstage in 'How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened'. Is there any hope for the rest of us girls? A: Dear Betty, My legs seem to be the envy of all the woman who see them onstage. Am I proud of them? You bet! But you can bet I didn't just wake up one morning and there they were. These gams are the result of discipline and hard work from the desk of Joan Crawford herself. I followed Joan's strict leg regiment and intend to do so for the rest of my life so I too will have circus ringmaster 'Berserk' legs when I'm in my 60's. posted by David on 6/30/2004 03:04:00 PM | Link |
6/29/2004My Way of LifeNo, I haven't forgotten about the rest of the weekend. I still have to report on the Pride Parade but let's see if this works. Here's a link to pictures from our opening night party. A little late, yes, but I've been busy.posted by David on 6/29/2004 03:23:00 PM | Link |
 Here's Hell in a Handbag big cheese Steve Hickson enthralling the 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' opening night party guests with yet another colorful theater story. Time to play CAPTION THAT PHOTO! 
posted by David on 6/29/2004 05:30:00 AM | Link |
6/28/2004My Way of LifeClosing NightBaby Jane ended with a bang Saturday night playing to a near capacity house with several familiar faces in the audience including fave actors from previous shows, former and current co-workers, many Joan and Bette adoring strangers and even a carload of relatives from Gary, IN. The cast was it's usual jovial/mischievous self. There are 23 people crammed into the narrow Theater Building dressing room and sometimes it can get a little tight back there. Particularly if you're in the middle of a quick change. I have to say I'll miss doing the show, although I certainly will have other things to occupy my time. This great thing about this show was watching it evolve. Since it was a new piece it was difficult to gauge it and we cut some of it the week after we opened. We were also a lot more comfortable with the show a week after we opened and it just got better and better as we progressed. Many of the people who came to the show were either fans of the company, fans of Bette and/or Joan or came because of word of mouth. God knows, most of the reviews weren't very supportive. There were some good ones, and even some fair observations, but some of them were just rather um...,shitty or bitchy, or huh? Everybody has their own agenda and some of the critics just seem to want to show everybody how clever they are. When I was in high school I had aspirations of being a movie or television critic, because I wanted to part of that world, and the longer I'm involved in theater the more I see the hurtfulness and mean spiritness in everything from Entertainment Weekly to the Sunday Parade section of the newspaper when it come to reporting on anything entertainment related. From interviews to reviews, it's just not a pretty industry. Not that I'm above snickering at some of these things myself. It seems to be the American way..., All you have to do is check out past Blogs. I will try not to dish Sharon Stone for a bit. That said, I'm proud of the show and especially the cast, crew and director who really gave it their all, and I think that translated to the stage based on the feedback I received from total strangers. And yes, I did get 'not so glowing' feedback from a few friends as well, so I'm well aware of Baby Jane's warts. Warts give you character and can be removed! Except for the venereal ones, they can come back..., posted by David on 6/28/2004 04:50:00 PM | Link |
 My first test photo. The always space age BC Kalz, Steve Hickson and some Spanish Hussy in 2003 at the Miss NTAC Pageant. Let the madcap captioning begin!
posted by David on 6/28/2004 05:09:00 AM | Link |
6/25/2004My Way of LifeThursday started our final week of shows and the house was noticeably larger then past Thursdays. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the show. I can always tell because they take the time to talk rather then rush hurriedly by you. Steve and I always thank everybody a la' Joan Crawford as they leave. There were many hardcore Baby Jane fans there. One man had a 'But Ya' ARE Blanche' t-shirt on with a pin depicting Bette and Joan on the beach in the final movie scene. There have been a lot of older people in the audience for this show (just like Touched By Jayne Mansfield) and the best compliment for me is when somebody in their 60's tells me that I embody Joan Crawford. A wonderful elderly woman did that yesterday. She was not the first older person to tell me this and I know I'm doing my job when I get that reaction from people who actually went to Joan Crawford movies when they were released in the theater. I don't pretend to look exactly Joan, nor does Steve with Bette, but I do believe their essence translates well through us.By the way, did you know Steve Kimbrough is in Parade? posted by David on 6/25/2004 07:57:00 PM | Link |
6/24/2004My Way of LifeThe End Is Near!Today is the beginning of the end for How 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' Happened. It's been a fun run and I've learned a lot from this experience. We've also made some friends I hope we'll be working with again. I will be working on SCARRIE! The Musical and many other Handbaggers are already in rehearsal with ARFTCO for a show featuring Christopher Durang one acts. I will also be featured in the next Feast of Fools show July 28. Something to do with me competing in the Gay Games as a transgendered Joan Crawford thing. I get to sing a Helen Reddy song! Is there no limit to what I will do for a little attention? Apparently not. posted by David on 6/24/2004 04:10:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeHappy birthday to Tim Piotrowski, our rockin' set designer.posted by David on 6/24/2004 03:10:00 PM | Link |
6/23/2004My Way of LifeDick O'DayLast night Steve and I participated in Dick O'Day's Big Lovely Liberry and it was indeed a gas. It was great performing with the very talented crew from the Annoyance Theater. Damn, they're funny. Dick covered The Osmonds, Mercedes McCambridge, Lana Turner, Ally Sheedy, Liberace, BD Hyman, and of course, Joan and Bette. The Mercedes McCambridge reading was a particular favorite reading of mine. That voice! Speaking of voices..., The Mother of Punk This is Nina Hagen's immodest self proclaimed title. Is she the mother of punk? No. Is anybody going to tell her that? No. Nina Hagen has been around since the late 70's. Nina is part everything. Punk, goth, hippy, drag queen, dominatrix. Her look is sort of a caricature of all of these things and she pulls it off magnificently. After the Dick O'Day show I ventured to Metro to meet BC Kalz. He gave me a Nina Hagen ticket as my birthday present. I've been a fan of Nina's since I first discovered her in the early 80's. She is not everybody but should be. Her voice ranges from operatic trill to Mercedes McCambridge Exorcist growl and she was in full blown Nina mode last night. She's in her late 40's and looks fantastic. She talked about everything from LSD to the plight of the women in Afghanistan to AIDS to the snot building up in her nose without blinking an eye. This is a woman I could listen to all night. Her stage presence and comic timing are truly inspirational for me. She sang gospel, rockabilly, ROCK, speed metal and Cole Porter. And she sang it as it if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to sing these varying styles, never blinking an eye or using irony to say, 'Look, isn't it funny that I'M singing a Mahalia Jackson song?'. The crowd was surprisingly low which although was disappointing was also nice. It was very intimate and I was right at the stage watching every single facial expression she made with the commitment of Maria Callas. Actually, she reminds me of Miss Callas, Joan Crawford and Janis Joplin all rolled into one delicious sweet surprise. I arrived early and caught the opening act. A mohawked punk band from Virgina, and the room was filled with a rainbow of people. It was kind of strange seeing the people I assume were my age, who had been in 'the scene'. Some of them still wore the uniform, to varying degrees of success and dignity. Tight bondage pants and guts just don't cut it. Spiked colored hair when you're balding looks stupid too, but they are soldiers in the army of punk. Some of them reminded me of the Japanese holdouts they found those islands after WWII ended. I wanted to tell them, YOU'RE war is over, hand over the uniform to somebody else. I chose to compromise, wearing my very tight Blondie t-shirt- a gift from my sister-in-law, Marianne. It's beautiful, with a shot of Debbie's eyes and lips from a Plastic Letters promo 12" (Of course I knew this, because I HAD it) along with my obscenely expensive rock and roll pants I got in NYC at J. Lindeberg right before my financial crash. I could never afford to look that good when I was an actual punk. I think I looked good, but the only kids that really put any effort into their appearance any more are the Goths as far as I can tell. There were a lot of young girls with Bananarama hair but they would combine them with these awful Fashion Bug summer dresses. Even a lot of the official 'punk' clothes looked very pre-fab/store bought. In my day, the girls (and the boys) would spend HOURS getting ready to go out making sure that every single detail from the separation of the spiked hair to the buckles on the bondage boots. And the make-up and hair was just better- more precise. Now the mohawks are all shabby looking and I cringe when I see a punk driving a Ford Taurus. It's just not right. posted by David on 6/23/2004 06:52:00 PM | Link |
6/22/2004My Way of LifeLast night the lovely Mike Miller and I went to the premiere of The Last Sunday in June directed by Baby Jane director Jay Paul Skelton. I enjoyed it. It started off pleasantly enough although I thought it was going to be a typical 'gay show'. Well, I should say 'smart, urban, tale' because shows featuring straight characters like this our the same. The dialogue has be crisp, constantly and many times unbelievably witty. Unbelievably not in a 'I can't believe how funny he is' way but a 'I can't believe a room full of people could come up with this many bitingly clever things to say at once. However, the show explored some things that ring true for all relationships, including what many perceive to be 'perfect relationships'. I could relate to a lot of the issues it brought up. The cast was good, ranging from 'ehhhh' to great. Afterwards Mike and I went to the opening night party crashed by the shameless Steve Hickson. My lady producer friend Brooke Allen and superstar Joshua 'Robin Shelby' Campbell were there so it made for a fun evening.Tonight is a busy night as well. Steve and I have a show at the Green Mill tonight and afterwards BC and I will be going to Metro to see the legendary Miss Nina Hagen. This is BC's birthday present to me so needless to say I will be exhausted tomorrow. posted by David on 6/22/2004 03:36:00 PM | Link |
6/21/2004My Way of LifeWait a minute..., Did you enter our coloring contest? The Baby Jane doll created by Dan Crowley is extraordinary. Seriously, you should enter...,posted by David on 6/21/2004 09:56:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeHello Handbaggers and Bagguettes. It was our weekend before closing and we had consistent audiences, but to be honest I was expecting bigger houses on Friday and Saturday. We had great houses for a Thursday and Sunday though. Oh well. There are three more days to see How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened. If you're reading this and haven't seen it please remember that I do remember who and who doesn't attend. Let's just say if you don't show up and we're on a sinking ship I'm more apt to toss the life preserver to the person who attended the show.As I've reported earlier I'm working on retooling my first musical 'SCARRIE! The Musical' performed at the Sweetcorn Playhouse back when most of us were in Sweetback at The Sweetcorn Playhouse. I just have this vivid memory of climbing into a cellar door, which was basically a hole in the ground that led to the basement/dressing room in heels and a bra with a towel wrapped around my waist. This was after I gave up the booze..., Ah, good times..., Back to 'SCARRIE!'. We're compiling a crack team and I'm thinking of workshopping this. Something we've never really had the luxury of doing before. We shall see. I want to try and see some shows myself, like The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World at Looking Glass and Rocket Man, the show by those young whippersnappers at The House Theater. posted by David on 6/21/2004 07:01:00 PM | Link |
6/18/2004My Way of LifeCome sees Steve and I next Tuesday! Is it Steve and me?posted by David on 6/18/2004 05:38:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeWe had a great audience last night. About 40-50 people, which is good for a Thursday. I really enjoyed performing last night and Steve and Ed Jones just make me laugh- sometimes on stage..., My friend from WAY BACK, Andy Frendreis came along with his mother, Mrs. Frendreis. She's like a second mom to me and it was great seeing her there. I spent many a nights on their basement couch back in my wilder nightclub days. You see, we would always continue the after party at Andy's house. Usually watching Female Trouble or Blue Velvet and drinking until all hours of the morning. Ah....youth!Right now I'm working on a new song for Margaret White for SCARRIE! The Musical, called 'My God Tells Me Everything'. Thank goodness for Rhymezone. posted by David on 6/18/2004 05:10:00 PM | Link |
6/17/2004My Way of LifeTwo more weeks of Baby Jane to go. So get your ass off the couch or out of the Starbucks or gym or AA meeting and get to the Theater Building Chicago, PRONTO, Mister!I met with Mrs. Matt Gunnels, Handbag ensemble member and the longtime director of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Matt is a former Rudolph himself (so are Delta Burke and Phyllis George, ) and works with the Porchlight people as well. He's very pumped about SCARRIE! The Musical. Yay! Now to find a space. My lady producer, Brooke 'Nicole Ritchie' Allen is working hard on this dubious task. Seems like many places are booked up. Maybe I can call my good friend John Mahoney at the Steppenwolf and see if he can help me out. Have I told you this story before? Okay, I was at the opening night party for 'Hollywood Arms'. I forced Tracy Repep, who was understudying for the show to take me as her date. Her real date hated my guts and was pretty rude to me. Jealous asshole..., Anyway..., I see John Mahoney standing by himself and I say to somebody I was gabbing with , "There's John Mahoney. I'd like to say 'hi' to him but I want to think of something clever to say besides that. You know, engage him in a little conversation, tell him how great I think he is on 'Frasier'", etc,. The person I was talking with said he had just came back from doing a show in Ireland. Wonderful! There's my 'in'. I walk over to him. Me: Hi! John Mahoney: (Eyes darting around) Hello. Me: Quite a party, huh? John Mahoney: Yeah. I'm waiting for friends. I'm leaving. Me: Oh. So, how was Ireland? John Mahoney: What???? Me: The show, you did in Ire... John Mahoney: (Looking at me like I'm fly on his freshly baked cake) That was two years ago... Me: Oh (Laughs) John Mahoney walks away. Me posted by David on 6/17/2004 08:58:00 PM | Link |
6/16/2004My Way of LifeNot much to report today. It took me a little longer to recover from my weekend then expected. How I love my sleep. I'm currently working on SCARRIE. Reviewing it, taking out things that our just dumb and adding things that are even dumberer. I'm also writing new songs and that can be a chore particularly when I'm at work. It's pretty hard to crawl under my desk and sing the melody into my tape recorder so I don't forget it, then pray it's not from a song I heard buried in my mind from years ago. I've come to the conclusion that not much is new and everything can be traced to something else, no matter who the composer is. I mean there are just so many notes. SCARRIE has a lot of 70's rock influences in this version, so the window gets even smaller. I'm meeting with Mr. Gunnels tonight to talk about the possibilities. Oh, did you know that Steve Kimbrough is in Parade?posted by David on 6/16/2004 06:50:00 PM | Link |
6/15/2004My Way of LifeJOAN NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!!!This is from one of my Joan Crawford Yahoo Groups: Hi Everyone - Well, as promised I would keep you all updated on the goings on of my book, 'Joan Crawford, Her Life in Letters'. I'm VERY happy to report that I have some wonderful news! - Last night I received a lovely e-mail from Carla, (Joan's granddaughter) and Cathy (Joan's daughter)about my request for permission to print Joan's letters in my book. They couldn't have been happier or nicer and they were thrilled about the book and its content. Cathy gladly gave me her blessing to use the letters, so now, it's full steam ahead! - Now I need your help........... Can everyone PLEASE write me an e-mail, directly to me account - mvozus@aol.com and in that e-mail say why you think my book will sell, that you can't wait for the release, that you feel it will show another side of Joan Crawford that is sadly lacking, etc....Please just title the e-mail 'Joan Crawford Book.' I’m going to gather these e-mails and submit them to the publisher with the book proposal. They will go a long way in telling the publisher how popular Joan Crawford still is today, and the most important thing will be to show them that this book has good potential sales. We ALL have the chance to right some of the damage that 'Mommie Dearest' did to Joan, and I believe Joan Carwford: Her Life in Letters' does that. Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your support over these past few weeks and I know you've all been pulling for this outcome. YAY! Best wishes - Michelle So I sent mine- now, get to your computers and TYPE! Type like the wind! posted by David on 6/15/2004 04:33:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeOkay, why hasn't anybody mentioned the weird grimaces of Reagan wild child Stevie Nicks wannabee Patti Davis throughout this whole ordeal? Peering through her hair curtain as if she were posing, saying, 'Gee, I have to be here, he was my dad!'posted by David on 6/15/2004 01:08:00 AM | Link |
6/14/2004My Way of LifeI'm having an underwater kind of day. This is when you see the images going on around you, but feel a bit disconnected everything. Everything sounds a bit muffled. I'm sure this is due to several factors. I'm always a bit tired after four shows in a row. Joan takes a lot out of you, as she should. After last nights show we had cast members over to celebrate my...Birthday. It's just weird for me to be starting my mid 40's, particularly when I look so incredibly youthful and vital.It's been a strange past few days. I attended the wake of my 30 year old cousin, Brian. A brilliant, sweet guy who just couldn't conquer whatever demons haunted him. He was found dead in his apartment Tuesday. He OD'd on heroin the Friday before that. The day of his birthday. The next day I found myself at my sisters college graduation party. This was not just any graduation party. This was the result of 12 years of perserverance and 5 KIDS inbetween, who I spent most of my time with singing 'Old McDonald' while we sailed along the big backyard swing. Ethan, the four year old, kept trying to get us to sing 'poop' as one of Old MacDonald's animals. I played dumb, telling him I didn't know what kind of noise poop made. Baby Jane has been really fun. We've gotten into our groove and the audiences are coming despite some less then enthusiastic reviews. Friday's house included a large group from Chris's company and they roared. It had to be more our most enthusiastic audience yet. What a rush that was..., Saturdays house was even larger, and by the time Sunday came around we were all a bit tired and goofy. We actually had people from NYC who had seen POSEIDON! at the Fringe. They were visiting friends in Chicago and saw we had a show running. They loved the show. Sunday night we had the Baby Jane cast over for burgers and beers (and soda). I received some lovely gifts, including the SCTV first season boxed set which I didn't even know was out. I immediately watched the Lola Heatherton 'Bouncin' Back to You' episode played by the genius known as Catherine O'Hara, which is one of my all time favorites. I also received a vintage School film video from Miss Hillary and a framed photo collage of How Whatever to Baby Jane Happened stills from Mike Miller, along with cards and hugs. Not bad for an old broad from Hammond, Indiana. posted by David on 6/14/2004 05:01:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeI believe this falls under the category of EWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!posted by David on 6/14/2004 02:50:00 PM | Link |
6/11/2004My Way of LifeRonnie, Dearest...,posted by David on 6/11/2004 05:39:00 AM | Link |
6/10/2004My Way of LifeLast night was the Baby Jane Birthday party benefit organized by our very own Chad McLaughlin and it was a rousing success! I really had a good time and I think I needed it(I'll tell you later). I got there a little after 7:30 and the backroom was buzzing (not in a dirty way) until I left after midnight. There were plenty of familiar faces, some I haven't seen in quite a while and some new ones. Little Timmy Howard made RAT cupcakes, Kristen Folzenlogen was there and I conned, I mean..., convinced Brooke into helping me produce SCARRIE, which will truly be scary.I finally got to meet Lissette and Esqui, two very talented artists and all around nice people. I originally started corresponding with Lissette when I found their prints when I did a Baby Jane search on Ebay. I found a fabulous Bette Davis colored print and noticed that their Ebay Store, Waiting Chair Gallery was located in Chicago. I e-mailed them, they came to opening night of How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened and the rest is history. Visit their store-, you're sure to find your favorite pop icon somewhere. posted by David on 6/10/2004 08:34:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeIn today's news under the heading, "Huh?". We can put this in the idiot file next to the gay 'Catholics' that wear the rainbow sash in silent protest.posted by David on 6/10/2004 05:34:00 PM | Link |
6/09/2004My Way of LifeI can't stop this Reagan rant! Thank God for the OnionReagan To Be Honored With $5,000-A-Head FuneralWASHINGTON, DC—Former President Ronald Reagan will be honored with five days of memorial services, culminating in a $5,000 a head funeral in Washington's National Cathedral Friday, Paul Darlington, a spokesman for the Bush re-election campaign, said Monday. "At 5:15 p.m. EST, former President Reagan will be escorted from the U.S. Capitol and received with ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral, where a dinner of baby arugula, roast beef, and herbed red potatoes will commence," Darlington said. "As Reagan lies in repose, a host of leading Republican party members will be available for photo opportunities. President Bush, who will deliver a eulogy at the close of the solemn gathering, is urging all Americans to dig deep into their hearts to honor this great leader." Several thousand people are expected to pay their respects. posted by David on 6/09/2004 10:56:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeIf I see one more loving tribute with the cowboy hat and the smile...,Well, there's this, and this, and this. There's so much out there. posted by David on 6/09/2004 05:23:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeWe're having a Party/fundraiser for "How 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'Happened" and Hell in a Handbag Productions! When: Wednesday, June 9th, 7pm till late Where: T's Bar and Restaurant, 5025 N.Clark St., Corner of Clark and Winnemac. In the back room! 10% of all sales of the back bar will go to Hell in a Handbag Productions. We're also having a raffle and even a bake sale! It's going to be like a children's birthday party for Baby Jane Hudson, except in a bar. See you there! posted by David on 6/09/2004 03:17:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeInteresting trailer.posted by David on 6/09/2004 05:00:00 AM | Link |
6/08/2004My Way of LifeLast night Christopher took me to Andies for a lovely dinner. I miss lovely dinners with Christopher, but now that rehearsals are over. Chris calls them 'nice' dinners. 'Let's go out for a 'nice' dinner he says. Sure...,As I sat at our table I noticed an older man, in his 60's looking at me. He caught me off guard and I smiled at him. He spent the next 30 minutes staring at me. Grant it this was flattering and I was certainly happy to play a role in his erotic dinner fantasies, but show some decorum! When I'm at the gym I'm certainly not above stealing glances at certain individuals. There are about 3 guys I regularly ogle, but they most likely aren't aware of it. You look when they're turned around or slowly turn your head in their direction pretending to look at something else. You just don't stare at them lasciviously during the dinner hour. Men are such pigs. I hurt my ankle. I would like to think I did this while lifting heavy weights at the gym but we all know this most likely happened while I was stomping around onstage in ankle strapped high heels getting the snot smacked out of me by Tim Howard. So I've got this ankle brace on. Makes me feely manly. posted by David on 6/08/2004 10:17:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeDavid 'Baywatch' Hasselhoff was picked up for drunk driving. No, I'm not saying this to tease him. I hope he gets sober. However, I found this link on one of the many mean-spirited Yahoo messages regarding this story and well, see for yourself..., He must have been drinking when he did this.posted by David on 6/08/2004 07:18:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeThis just in....HIAH Ensemble members Brigitte Ditmars and Kristen Folzenlogen BOTH received Jeff Awards last night for Pinafore! and Dr. Sex choreography respectively. But we all know awards don't matter- unless we get them. I know I speak for the entire ensemble when I say I can't think of more deserving recipients. You can catch Brigitte in How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened as nosy Mrs. Bates/Anna Lee and you can catch Kristen in Ohio. She is the head of the HIAH Ohio Chapter. David Zak, or Zakky-poo, director of POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical also won for director (Dr. Sex). Bailiwick won 11 friggin' awards! Those hogs..., For a complete list of winners click here. posted by David on 6/08/2004 04:38:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeInteresting. I'm getting pretty tired of this 'great man' bullshit.posted by David on 6/08/2004 04:15:00 PM | Link |
6/07/2004My Way of LifeMourning, George W., $tyle...,posted by David on 6/07/2004 07:55:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeAnother weekend has come and gone. My weekend was, of course filled with How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened. Friday night we had a low attendance which was rather disappointing. Saturday I was inexplicably blue and nothing I did could shake it. Doctors like to tell people a good workout helps depression, but I guess that doesn't work for the truly insane. What lifted me out of those miserable feelings was Saturday nights audience. What a great crowd. 80+..., Laughers. Big laughers. Better then all the workouts, porn, and anti-depressants in the world. Sunday we had a smaller crowd, but I had sustained enough of the buzz from Saturday night to carry me through. Christopher took me shopping and I got a sporty new pair of faux athletic shoes and nifty t-shirt at Nordstrom's Rack on State Street. I had never been to this particular Nordstroms Rack- it's a pretty good one with some genuine deals on some decent clothes, not just really ridiculous items that nobody would buy. I wanted more, but decided not to be a little piggy. I'm notorious for not being to decide on shoes and clothing, so I passed on many items, but I keep them all in my little pile of thoughts in my scattered mind.Christopher had to go to Iowa Sunday night so I got home after the show and watched the Sopranos finale- which was rather slow and uneventful. At 10 PM Steve 'Baby Jane' Hickson picked me up and we went to the WCKG headquarters to be interviewed for Windy City Radio to promote the show with Amy Matheny and Jim Bennett. I was tired, but managed to put on my Joan face for a few minutes. Amy and Jim are very nice and we were lucky to get scheduled at all because Pride month is a very busy time for them. We were followed by Rufus Wainwright. No, he wasn't there, his CD interview was. What else? Oh, yeah, Ronald Reagan died at the ripe old age of 93. Although I didn't care for him as a president..., how could any self respecting gay man who lived through the Reagan administrations reaction, or shall I say non-reaction to the beginning of the AIDS epidemic? Many of the gay and lesbian youngsters have never had to watch a long time friend slowly die from this disease. As a somebody who worked in the Aids Ward at Illinois Masonic Hospital for a few years, back when there was an Aids Ward, believe me, it's not a memory that will ever leave you, and whenever I think of the Reagan administration I can't but think of his ignorance and perceived indifference to the entire AIDS epidemic. His last 10 years were spent fighting Alzheimer's, which is ironically a disease just as insidious and cruel as AIDS, and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. posted by David on 6/07/2004 04:52:00 PM | Link |
6/04/2004My Way of LifeI'm a tad sleepy today as I had one of my allergy related coughing spells in the middle of the night. The first one in a few days. I felt it coming on during the show last night. My voice felt strained, but that certainly was no excuse for my rather half-baked performance last night. I just didn't feel 100% and I felt Joan was arching her eyebrow at me from above as I stumbled through a couple lines. Needless to say today I will be reviewing my script as I should be doing every Thursday before the show. We had a small but enthusiastic house yesterday. I feel guilty that we have to start our show at 8:30 because on a Thursday night , 10:30 can be pretty damn late.POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical will be the main attraction at the Nebraska Aids Project fundraiser this December. A talented young man, Randall Stevens, who played and produced his own Hedwig and the Angry Inch caught wind of the show last year and we've been corresponding. He's read the script, bought the CD and loves the show, so look for a very special POSEIDON! this year in Omaha, NE. Yes, Omaha! If anybody can do it, I think he certainly can. Oh, I had to share this with you. God Bless, David posted by David on 6/04/2004 05:36:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeOH, REALLY? DID SHE LIKE IT?Did you like 'How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' Happened? Well, don't tell me, tell the world! posted by David on 6/04/2004 02:58:00 PM | Link |
6/03/2004My Way of LifeMemorial Day Weekend- Pt. 3The Day After Tomorrow! Due to the many Poseidonites in HIAH we are required by law to see disaster movies. Some Poseidonites are much stricter in defining the movies they are required to see. For example, anything with a ocean liner warrants a must see. Not true for me. Ships don't fascinate me. Cataclysmic events on unsuspecting ordinary people do it for me, and 'The Day Afer Tomorrow certainly fits the bill. I loved it. For two reasons- the special effects were truly special. Amazing, creative, sometimes funny. Really shut the audience up. We just sat there slack-jawed. The other reason? Some of the most unbelievably dumb, bad dialogue, 'what the fuck?!' editing/storylines, cliche characters in the world. The latest HWHTBJH review? No! This is the kind of movie you can watch with a group of fans over and over and be scared and laugh at the same time. It made our beloved Poseidon Adventure look like Tennessee Williams. It's a perfect 'add-your-own dialogue' movie. As a matter of fact we've already started casting the musical version on the Hell in a Handbag Yahoo Group. Chad has decided I'm to be Sela Ward, the older, beautiful compassionate doctor. Well, that was a no-brainer, wasn't it? Here's Chad's cast list. Jake Gyyygenghhhal- Jennifer Connelly Dennis Quad- Me, Chad McLaughlin, of course Sela Ward- David Cerda Guy who gets hit by a Angelyne billboard- Steve Hickson Asian female scientist love interest- BC Kalz Guys who falls though the shopping mall window-Derek Czaplewski Little boy cancer patient- Dan Hickey Homeless guy- Ed Jones Homeless guy's dog- Todd McConville Nurse- Brigitte Ditmars Vice prez- Mike Miller Sexy wolves- Tim Howard, Al Spera, Keith Survillas Librarian - Merrie Greenfield Rich kid-Ludwig Of course we'd have an ensemble of twirling twisters and dancing snowflakes! Hey...,It could happen..., posted by David on 6/03/2004 04:27:00 PM | Link |
6/02/2004My Way of LifeMemorial Day Weekend Pt. 2- The Leather MartRick Aguilar, our official Handbagger photographer and company member has a photo booth every year at the International Mr. Leather event that takes place here in Chicago every year and for the past few years I've helped out. Saturday it was an all day affair from 11-6 and I must admit I enjoyed the festivities. Sex as far as the eyes can see. Some of it HOT, some of it curious, and some of it downright incomprehensible. Well, not to incomprehensible. Any decent therapist will help you understand why you enjoy getting smeared in poo poo, but I was not there to judge, I was there to observe, looking rather fetching in my tight leather pants and black t-shirt. I'm no stranger to the leather lifestyle. In my youth I was involved in a 'leather' relationship, being involved with a man much older then me- real daddy type. During the act he would say things like "How does feel to be with a REAL MAN?". After the 157th time of asking me this I started to find it difficult to come up with a convincing answer. I mean, I couldn't just say 'fine'. I had to say things like, "You're so fucking hot, Daddy", but it got to the point where I realized I was a bit too bossy myself to be such a submissive little boy. Just didn't feel right. The fact that this guy preyed on young guys with desperately low self-esteem is another issue best left for the sex panel talk show I'm sure to participate in one day. Dirty talk cannot be forced. Back to the Leather Market... Working with Ricky and George is always fun- Ricky is hilarious and always makes his customers feel at ease, even the tough leather daddy types. Ricky offers 'leather make-overs' for the many posers that come to the leather market to observe or cruise and it was my job to dress, or undress the customers, which can be a curse and a blessing. Thankfully this year it was a blessing. We had some hotties, and I gladly fitted harnesses and cod-pieces on our leather curious clients. Some of my favorite clients included an adorable 20 something hottie that gladly stripped down to his birthday suit while I decided on the best accessories for him. One of the more amusing episodes was me playing tug of war with porn star Bobby Blake, who grabbed me by the back of the head and grinded my face into his legendary crotch, taking me by surprise. Ricky of course got all of this on camera. Ah, the things I do for Handbag..., posted by David on 6/02/2004 03:20:00 PM | Link |
6/01/2004My Way of LifeHowdy Handbaggers. I'm back in the swing of things after a busy Memorial Day weekend with IML and Baby Jane.Baby Jane went smoothly this weekend. Actually it felt like THIS should have been our opening weekend as the comfort level felt right for all involved. The cuts have been incorporated and although yes, it's a tad long (2 hours), if you like any of our shows you'll love Baby Jane. The cast is great and the feedback from fans has been wonderful, which of course makes it worthwhile. We're taking a lashing from critics, and I have to admit I was not in a good space for a couple of days about that. Steve, rightfully doesn't like to discuss bad reviews around the cast, but unfortunately sometimes reviews effect the houses, and I felt I had to mention it because this is supposed to be a Blog about Handbag and there are so many things I CAN'T write about already..., It's funny, sort of like not acknowledging your drunken rage-aholic father. We're not really used to this kind of reaction to our 'material'. We had good houses Memorial Day weekend, and that's notoriously slow, so hopefully all of you Handbaggers are spreading the word. We need you now more then ever kiddies! I can give you the link to Jonathan Abarbanel's audio review of the show who's the first critic to actually comment on what I wanted to convey with this play on WBEZ , public radio. A very nice and fair assessment of the show. What's funny to us and them is purely subjective and if you've been a fan of any of my work you're sure to have a different slant on what is 'funny', so it doesn't really bother me when somebody that looks like the president of the chess club circa 1975 doesn't find humor in my writing. Even if he fell asleep during the second act..., I just decided to get over myself and have fun with the neato cast, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of hard work and dedication. It's so easy to obsess and think what could have been done differently and place blame, but that really gets you nowhere but down. More weekend updates later, time to work. posted by David on 6/01/2004 05:27:00 PM | Link |
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