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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...5/30/2006posted by David on 5/30/2006 07:56:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeHell in a Handbag is now officially Amazoned. You can make all of your Amazon purchases through our website and we get some money. We will have an official link on the homepage and hopefully the Blog but I'm playing around with product specific links and what better way to start then with this:posted by David on 5/30/2006 05:30:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeMy three day weekend has come to an end and I'm at the computer to work on Caged Dames rewrites. I worked the International Mr. Leather beauty pageant Saturday and Monday and met many a porn star and genuinely nice folks. I tried to look sexy in a fireman photoshoot that crazy Rick Aguilar had me do (last year I was a boxer) but I ended up doing Backdraft-The Musical in honor of Waiting for Guffman. I can't wait for those pictures. It was fun flirting with all of those strangers but it was also difficult to keep a straight face or even follow through with the initial flirting. Not because I'm married, but because I was never good with that in the first place. I tend to turn into the class clown. It's a defense mechanism from way back. As any funny , slightly fey boy you happen to know.Sunday I celebrated my youngest nieces first birthday and got caked from head to toe as Madison ate her first piece of birthday cake. My sister has the cutest kids in the world, and the bossiest. Unca Dabid, Unca Dabid! I felt like a porter in an old MGM film. Sunday night I tried to go to Handbaguette's Melissa Ponds 30th birthday party in Lincoln Park but when I saw the line around the corner of the bar it was to be held at I turned around and drove back home. Today I worked the last day of IML and found dreamy parking on Wabash Avenue. It was too good to be true because when I left I realized it was in a tow zone so I had to fork out 160 bucks to the City of Chicago. That was my fix the air conditioning in my car money! I saw many a familiar face at IML but as they say, what goes on at IML stays at IML... posted by David on 5/30/2006 04:00:00 AM | Link |
5/25/2006My Way of Life- Ionesco and The Countdown Tonight Brian, Ed and myself are going to see our good friend, Doug Vicker's in Red Orchid's production of Eugene Ionesco's sprawling HUNGER and Thirst, a show about how a man tries to rejuvenate his stagnant life. The show has been getting great write-ups but it's long, so I asked Doug if I should bring a magazine. Doug's reply: Yes-- Bring a copy of "Snippy Comments Will Get You Nowhere Magazine" That was my best laugh of the day-so far. Afterwards I'm going to TRY and drag my ass to The Darkroom at 2210 W. Chicago Ave. at 11 to see my new favorite band, The Countdown. I've been obsessively listening to the songs my friend Jeff Ramone sent me. They are simply the best band I've heard in a long time. You know how it is when a band clicks with whatever it is in your head that makes things click. I don;t click with many bands, especially today. What do they sound like? Well, what if Devo, Missing Persons had a baby with Blondie's sense of humor and Iggy Pop's rock sense. No wait...what if The Dickies and Bananarama has a baby? No? How about The Revillos meet Trio? If you know any these bands you're either cool or old or both. They have old school influences but sound very fresh. Today. Hip, happening, now, with it, um...Da Bomb. posted by David on 5/25/2006 10:11:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeI'm thinking of starting a garden this summer.posted by David on 5/25/2006 06:02:00 PM | Link |
My Way of Life- Things to do this weekend... Merrie reads a rather disturbing recipe in Invasion of The Minnesota NormalsInvasion of the Minnesota Normals, originally uploaded by Hell In A Handbag. Hanging out with the leather set not your thing? Well why not see Handbaggers bagging their hands elsewhere? Both of our gals are in critically acclaimed shows. Lil' Merrie Greenfield plays a 50's housewife complete with pearls and pumps in Invasion of the Minnesota Normals. The Chicago Tribune really, really liked her! posted by David on 5/25/2006 04:27:00 PM | Link |
Assassins Brigitte's tight hat makes her sing really loud....Assassins, originally uploaded by Hell In A Handbag. See Brigitte Ditmars sing, sing, sing while wearing a hat! in Assassins at The Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph posted by David on 5/25/2006 04:24:00 PM | Link |
5/24/2006My Way of LifeThis weekend is the International Mr. Leather contest and I will be working the photo booth with Rick Aguilar. Rick does lovely portraits of the attendees, an assortment of free spirited individuals, many who aren't afraid to share as much as their body as possible with the world. Those are my favorites. The really big people in g-strings, or the old men with pot bellies and ribs sticking out wearing chaps with their skinny butts hanging out with a young twink on a leash wearing his really low self esteem on his forehead. There are some unbelievably gorgeous men there, but as Steve Hickson would say when they open their mouths a big purse usually falls out. Don;t think I don;t have my share of admirers! Last year I received an invitation to gentleman's room to play with his penis pump. It was easy to see how it worked since he was walking around the IML Market with it on. "I'm really busy" I said as a tumble weed rolled by our booth. It's my job to help 'leather up' the clients when they want their photo taken. Many of the people who come to this thing are 'tourists'. They're not really into the leather scene. The leather community is a pretty tight knit group and it's pretty funny when they all get together and start talking like a bunch of leather hens talking about last nights orgy and then exchanging bundt cake recipes in the same sentence. I try my best to fit in but I think they know I'm a tourist too. I tried the leather thing once upon a time ago and it got tired really fast. I think I'm too self aware, because some of the role playing was just a little too silly for me. Just shut up and do it, for Christ's sake! I come from the Linda Rogo school of pleasure...posted by David on 5/24/2006 05:58:00 PM | Link |
5/23/2006My Way of Life- I've Got a Secretposted by David on 5/23/2006 05:24:00 PM | Link |
Samantha Stevens and family
posted by David on 5/23/2006 05:24:00 PM | Link |
Vito, gay mobster Last night I got my Sopranos fix. I think my mobster obsession has more to do with my dad then my Sicilian heritage. My dad loves all things Cosa Nostra, always has. He used to play the soundtrack to The Godfather when we ate Italian. I am currently hooked on the adventures of Tony Soprano and his family. I wasn't year or even the year before, but this HBO on Demand is really a great thing. Chris and I have refused to conform to the TIVO craze. 70 bucks a month is expensive enough to watch television and we can't get a satellite dish due to the fact that are landlord is crazy about his new roof and the fact that our building is over 100 years old. The allure of the Sopranos? The acting is amazing. James Gandolfini, to me at least, is wonder to behold. He inhabits the character of Tony Soprano and everything he does from his heavy breathing to his 'looks' totally captivates me. Most of you know there's been a storyline involving Vito, the recently outed gay mobster who went into hiding, found true love and an idyllic community. SPOILER ALERT! I knew it wouldn't last. I knew Vito was getting a little taste of 'what could have been' before he met his fate. It was sad, but this is the life of a mobster. What is with secrets that fascinate us? The secret life of a mobster. The secret life of a GAY mobster. My other new favorite show is Big Love, the HBO polygamist soap opera. This show reminds me of another housewife we all loved that was forced to live a lie- Samantha Stevens. Laugh if you will but don't the fundamentalist from The Compound remind you of Samantha's crazy family? My favorite character on this show is Chloe Sevigny's neurotic Nicki, dressed in her Joan Crawford as Vienna in Johnny Guitar garb with her hair braided ever so tightly to remind her of how Jesus suffered.
posted by David on 5/23/2006 05:23:00 PM | Link |
Three Wives
posted by David on 5/23/2006 05:23:00 PM | Link |
5/22/2006My Way of LifeOur friend Tippi Hedren comes to the rescue of Michael Jacksons tigers.posted by David on 5/22/2006 10:23:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeWell it looks like we finally decided on a season, or at least decided what to do for the remaining of 2006. One new work and another familiar old friend. Now...anybody wanna be a producer? posted by David on 5/22/2006 06:12:00 PM | Link |
5/19/2006My Way of LifeSo I went for my annual year and a half eye exam. I originally went to check out the frames but the doctor was available so I had my eyes examined. Many of you who are used to seeing me on the stage aren't aware that I wear glasses. Well I do. The exam took much longer then any I've ever had before and it was not fun. It was exhausting. Look here, look there, keep your eyes open, don't flinch! How the hell do you not flinch when you've got this giant rod a millimeter from your cornea? When it was all said and done the doctor said I should seriously consider 'progressives', the modern term for BI-FOCALS. I smacked him across the face and stormed out the door. posted by David on 5/19/2006 05:03:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeTonight!- Power rock quartet or ill fated Blake Edwards comedy? You decide. JOIN friends of Handbag Taylor Ross and Aaron Smith: Switched is a mix of 80s power pop, girl rock, and dance rock with a hard edge. They cover everything from Olivia Newton-John to Pat Benatar and everything in between, and even a couple of originals! 2515 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago posted by David on 5/19/2006 03:54:00 PM | Link |
5/17/2006The Poseidon Adventure 1972WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, NO TIME FOR WOLFGANG, CAUSE WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS...
posted by David on 5/17/2006 07:49:00 PM | Link |
My Way of Life- Poseidon LOOK! It's our character development!, originally uploaded by Hell In A Handbag. Spoiler alert! Like a hollow chocolate Easter Bunny. I was kind of pissed, because the way Wolfgang Peterson was pontificating about filmmaking, and 'capturing ordinary people in extraordinary situations'etc., well, I was expecting something that rose beyond today's action films. It doesn't. It falls woefully short and now I think Mr. Peterson is a kind of full of shit. Poseidon uses the method most action films today use. The dialogue bag. You get a paper bag, fill it with snappy sentences on individual sheets of paper and then have the actors choose slips of paper. Whatever they happen to choose is their dialogue. posted by David on 5/17/2006 07:43:00 PM | Link |
David Cerda pissing his pantsMe, in the middle of a Birds sandwich, the incredible Veronica Cartwright and Tippi Hedren posted by David on 5/17/2006 05:49:00 AM | Link |
5/16/2006My Way of LifeHandbag gets a shout out in the Windy City Times Poseidon review by Richard Knight. Warning: Contains spoilers- sort of. I will post more on my Los Angeles Poseidon experience later.posted by David on 5/16/2006 08:19:00 PM | Link |
My Way of Life-The Birds Benefit in HollywoodThe 3 Cathy Brenners...Ed Jones (Chicago Cathy), Hal Perry, Los Angeles Cathy and Veronica Cartwright (the orginal and only female Cathy Brenner). posted by David on 5/16/2006 06:14:00 PM | Link |
5/15/2006Tippi speaksTippi looking FINE. posted by David on 5/15/2006 11:47:00 PM | Link |
The Birds Q & AThat big gay blur is me in a post show discussion with from left, Eric Bunton (Lydia/Jessica Tandy), Lori Evans Taylor (Tippi Hedren/Melanie Daniels), Kelly Ann Ford (Director), Tippi Hedren (Actress) and Veronica Cartwright (Actress). My camera's batteries died and BC Kalz was nice enough to click away... posted by David on 5/15/2006 11:46:00 PM | Link |
David and TippiFlowers on stage... posted by David on 5/15/2006 11:43:00 PM | Link |
Ed meets TippiEd Jones, the orginal Chicago Cathy Brenner stalks, I mean 'meets' Tippi Hedren. posted by David on 5/15/2006 11:43:00 PM | Link |
My Way of Life- Take a bowThe final bow for the The ROAR Foundation benefit performance of The Birds! I kept pinching myself. Here I was with Chris, Ed Jones, and Brian Kalz, talking to a very funny Veronica Cartwright about her first interview with Alfred Hitchock. The Alfred Hitchcock. You see, Veronica was in the film, The Birds. The classic, 'one of my favorite films of all time' The Birds. My hand was shaking so much I had to to discreetly put down my diet coke so not to shower everyone around me. We had all trekked to Hollywood for the ROAR Foundation benefit performance of the LA Weekly nominated production of The Birds that myself and Pauline Pang had written. Tippi Hedren and Veronica Cartwright made cameo appearances as strangers that had wandered into the world of Bodega Bay. How was it? As Carrie White said about the prom, "It was like being on Mars". Tippi to my left, and Veronica on my right, surrounded by the perfect audience. People who loved Tippi, loved The Birds, and knew the film inside and out. They understood every reference and joke and TheSpyAnts were on fire. Fire Ants they were! You would have never have known they hadn't performed the play since the fall of 2005. They were dead on, brilliant and even better then when I saw them last. They've taken our piece and made it their own and the crowd loved them for it as did I. The entire cast was wonderful and I hate to single people out but knowing how difficult the role of Tippi Hedren/Melanie Daniels is I have to give props to Miss Lori Evans Taylor. Her comedic timing and Tippi-ish 1963 mannerisms were a joy to watch, adding much more to the show with her presence, much like our Chicago Tippi/Melanie, Tracy Repep. Marias Tomas who played Suzanne Pleshette/Annie Hayworth was so good I wanted to push her off the stage. Instead I will steal her best bits when we remount the show in Chicago. Eric Bunton and Brett Hren had wonderful chemstry as the very close Lydia and Mitch Brenner and Hal Perry as the big orange monster from the Bugs Bunny cartoons as Cathy Brenner was almost as charming as Ms. Cartwright herself. We have loads of pictures and as I get them I will post them periodically and let anyone interested know where the can find the entire lot. posted by David on 5/15/2006 10:50:00 PM | Link |
5/11/2006My Way of LifeI was pleasantly surprised to read an article in Time Out Chicago last night entitledThey Was Robbed...Our (Affectionate) Rebuttal to the Jeff Citation Nominations Other notable neglectees include Joey Steakley and Robyn Senchak who transcended the genre of parody performance in Hell in a Handbag's, SCARRIE-The Musical... People are so kind... Of course we all know the entire cast was fabulous, but it's still nice to know some people are appreciating our efforts. I'm almost packed for Los Angeles tonight for the ROAR Foundations presentation of The Birds w/cameos by Tippi Hedren, Suzanne Pleshette and Veronica Cartwright. Handbaggers BC Kalz and Ed Jones will be joining us as well. We got our tickets to see Poseidon at Grauman's Chinese Theater this Friday and we're being joined by my internet pal, Kevin and POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical. I've deliberately avoided reading any of the Poseidon reviews. In more Poseidon related news the special edition The Poseidon Adventure DVD was released yesterday and the mini lobby cards are ADORABLE. I haven't received mine yet but a co-worker showed me his along with the special edition Towering Inferno DVD. It's funny when the rest of the world catches up with you. posted by David on 5/11/2006 05:08:00 PM | Link |
5/10/2006My Way of LifeJoin Handbag's very own Brigitte Ditmars in a heartwarming musical about life and the choices we make in Open Eye's ASSASSINS, An Upside Down Musical. NO, wait, it's just ASSASSINS penned by a fellow named Stephen Sondheim presented by Open Eye Productions. Who could forget lovable Squeaky Fromme who while in prison made pot holders from her very own hair. You may have to see this twice as Brigitte is understudying as the other woman who tried to kill Gerald Ford, the original desperate housewife, Sara Jane Moore. "There comes a point when the only way you can make a statement is to pick up a gun"- Sara Jane Moore DCA THEATER and OPEN EYE PRODUCTIONS
posted by David on 5/10/2006 06:09:00 PM | Link |
5/09/2006My Way of LifeDyslexic Trekkie or Merrie Greenfield giving the international symbol for Party Girl? You decide. Or you can ask her when you go to see her in WNEP's Invasion of The Minnesota Normals. Miss Greenfield is the LEAD normal. Now that's acting! posted by David on 5/09/2006 04:32:00 PM | Link |
5/08/2006My Upside Down Way of Life My Upside Down Way of Life, originally uploaded by Joan Jr.. Picture from The Poseidon Adventure.com Today the New York Times article on the cult of The Poseidon Adventure came out and it was really wonderful to see our favorite film with the big fancy New York Times write-up by the very nice Thomas Vinciguerra. I mention this because I'm quoted in the article. Steve Hickson re-connected me with Tom who had wanted to write this article back in 2003 when we went to the New York International Fringe Festival but the stupid war got in the way and the foolish editors thought that was more important. Read the article here. You'll have to register, but it's free and you should read the New York Times anyway you caveman! posted by David on 5/08/2006 05:51:00 AM | Link |
5/05/2006Caption ths picture!Thats right folks, it's time to play CAPTION THIS PICTURE! Special thanks to the Mississipi Muds for the photo. When in Ontario check out the Muds for fun and theater! posted by David on 5/05/2006 03:56:00 PM | Link |
5/04/2006My Way of LifePHONE RINGS Heather: Like, hello? Denise: I can't believe you, you, you...bitch! Heather: Is this Joan Collins? I told you I couldn't to the Dynasty reunion because Linda Evans creeps me out! posted by David on 5/04/2006 06:01:00 AM | Link |
5/03/2006My Way of LifeI'm Sunset Boulevard...I know, I'm shocked too! posted by David on 5/03/2006 05:23:00 PM | Link |
My Way of LifeSo, the guys of the Kentucky ACLU office were sitting around, bored, and came up with this. I thought this might happen and I was wondering how you all felt about this. When I first read about 'Reverend' Phelps and his rather insane antics I thought. Well,maybe now they know how it feels. 'They' being no one in particular, just not 'us'. 'They' were simply going about the business of their daily lives. In this case it was the heartbreaking task of burying a loved one who died in a senseless war that is supposedly over. 'They' just want to live their lives and do what they have to do when suddenly they're assaulted by the Phelps and his army of lost souls, a nemesis of the GLBT community for quite a while. But since it is 'THEY' who are being threatened a law is passed to protect THEM quicker then you can say 'Oh, but this is different'.posted by David on 5/03/2006 03:11:00 PM | Link |
5/02/2006My Way of LifeGood heavens, what is the world coming to when the normally staid Jeff Committee nominates a MAN playing a WOMAN for a Joseph Jefferson Award??? I'm so happy, shocked, and delighted for my co-star Todd Schaner on his Jeff nomination for the role of Christine Penmark in The Bad Seed-The Musical. Todd really deserves this and I can't help but think this is for all us who toil away onstage in a wig and heels bringing the true CLASSICS to the stage. Fuck Shakespeare, give me Jacqueline Susann anyday... posted by David on 5/02/2006 04:20:00 PM | Link |
5/01/2006My Way of LifeThe versatile Brannen Daugherty specializes in furry mammals. I caught Brannen in the final appearance of BARK today... The actors were informed the show was closing very last minute. Brannen was adorable playing the puppy 'Rocks' short for Rachmanonoff. The show itself was all over the place jumping from light children's fare one minute to adult humor and swear words the next. I'm sure there were a few embarrassed parents. I half expected the show to end with Brannen being put to sleep to a song, it was that odd. Afterwards my date Brigitte Ditmars and I went to he Handbag storage space. This is where we keep all of the infamous Handbag props and costumes from POSEIDON! water costumes to Rudolph's panties. Brigitte needed a love doll. For a show. For Open Eye's Assassins... At least that's what she told me. The key I had to the lock didn't work. It came close but no, it wouldn't turn completely. I went home, found more possible keys and drove back to the space but it was to knoww avail. I'm 99.9% sure the key I had was the key and it's just not working. Boy, was I mad. I called Steve, Timmy, Derek and Ed and asked them the same question I always ask them. Do you have an extra key to the storage locker? We have one somewhere but that's another story. I went to Target to try and quell my rage with shopping. I bought the special edition 9 to 5 DVD, a 10 dollar shirt for work, toilet bowl cleaner, light bulbs, a birthday card for my nephew, and new replacement heads for my Oral-B Braun toothbrush. See? I'm just like an ordinary person! I considered buying the new Mr. Clean bathroom cleaning system but imagined my loving partners face when he saw it. posted by David on 5/01/2006 05:47:00 AM | Link |
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