Last night at the Bickford

A quick note to check in, say hi and promise to increase my posts in the near future. Working a lot of hours, but it's all good. Transition is going well. But sometimes, just getting to the shows is tough. I started work at 8:30 a.m. yesterday to try and wrap everything up for the weekend and still get to the Bickford by 8 p.m., but it still wasn't enough; had to go back after the show.

Anyway, a Review Preview will soon follow for "The musical Comedy Murders of 1940." For those who can't wait, here's the abstract: you probably haven't seen it, so it's fresh and a lot of fun. But it's a tricky show to pull off. Good cast and good direction, but some of the jokes fly by too fast, or too soft, to register with the crowd. Fortunately, there's a lot of them, so it's worth a look. I suspect most people will be entertained.

More importantly, I wanted to comment on the new lobby/entrance to the Morris Museum and the Bickford. They should be terribly excited and proud because the facility, a well-kept secret in some circles, really makes an impression. With the recent and dramatic improvements to the Museum and the Community Theatre, Morris County really has become a legitimate cultural destination to be reckoned with.

I loved the $78,000 music box they have for sale in the gift shop. A critic can dream, can't he? And the lady promised to come down on the price, so I showed it to Mrs. Willie, who keeps asking what I want for Christmas.

I'll keep you updated on that little campaign. It would great next to my jukebox. Or the gong.

Also, chatted with actors and Morristown residents J.C. Hoyt ("Mass Appeal," "Roar of the Greasepaint") and Katrina Ferguson ("The Poetry of Pizza," "Quatermaine's Terms"), often seen on professional stages in North Jersey. They and a few others are headed for Germany to do a production of "A Christmas Carol."

Check them out if you get to Deutschland. Otherwise, you'll have to settle for the half-dozen or so "Carols" to be found in North and Central Jersey in the coming weeks.

Go R.U. Talk to you soon.