Spent a lot of the day working on Maplepunzel. Scott asks to see Victor and find out what happened to him after he was kidnapped. Pavla, speaking with Maple's voice and wearing her hair woven into her own, brings Victor back to the smaller Wennaria Castle. She charms elderly King Thomas, but Queen Gertrude is suspicious when this woman who claims to love her oldest son won't heal him or let her help take care of him. She hypnotizes Victor into believing she's Maple and puts him to sleep before Gertrude can ask him what happened. Gertie's even more suspicious when "Maple" insists on marrying Victor within a week...to the horror of the real Maple!
Watched Seven Hills of Rome while I worked. I go further into this charming Italian-set vehicle for Mario Lanza at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Headed out as soon as the movie ended. It was too beautiful to sit inside all day. I treated myself to lunch at Amato Bros on the White Horse Pike instead. The lunch crowd was just leaving as I had my tasty flounder sandwich with thick crinkle-cut fries and perfect Cole slaw that wasn't soupy at all.
Since it was still too early for work, I went for a long bike ride around West Collingswood Heights. I don't often go down there, and if I'm going to work there, I figured I might as well get to know the territory. Not to mention, it was just too darn nice to be hanging out inside. Though it was warm again, in the mid-80's, it was also breezy, sunny, and dry. Couldn't have been a nicer day in mid-September.
Arrived at the Thomas Sharp School just in time. The younger kids were in the library again today. That seems to suit them just fine. They can play, draw, and have their snacks while hearing stories. I kept an eye on the older kids while they washed their hands in the bathrooms, then joined the pre-schoolers outside. Boy, did they have a good time. Unlike many schoolyards (including the ones at Oaklyn and Cape May Elementary), the tiny playground area at Thomas Sharp is ringed by huge trees and has ample shade. Some kids hung out under the slides. Others gathered ivy to make a home under a tree for a ladybug. Others argued over how long they'd been on the swings. There wasn't music this time, but they all had a great time chasing each other nevertheless.
Went straight home after work for Storybook International. "The Three Coins" is a Spanish tale where a farmer gives his sons a silver coin and tells them to find suitable work. One becomes a master thief, one a flamboyant fortune teller with a crystal ball. The youngest becomes apprenticed to an honest coppersmith. They all have to work together and use their different skills to rescue a princess from a wicked black knight.
Switched to Match Game Syndicated during a leftovers dinner. Most of the episodes tonight were from the week where Jack Klugman took Brett's spot while she was out doing a play. He spent the week complaining about not getting gifts and the radio they did give him not getting his horse races. Betty White got to sit in Brett's seat for the first and only time in the last episode of the night.
Finished the night with the soundtrack from the 1954 movie Deep In My Heart. This is another MGM semi-revue revolving around the life of a composer...but the composer in question here is Sigmund Romberg, who specialized in ragtime, early jazz, and florid operetta. The former is represented by Jose Ferrer and Helen Traubel having too much fun with "The Leg of Mutton Rag." Ferrer does even better playing all the roles in a typical Al Jolson vehicle himself in an attempt to impress the girl he met at a summer resort (Doe Avedon). Other notable numbers include Ann Miller dancing to "It," a comedy number from The Desert Song, James Mitchell and Cyd Charisse dancing a sensual "One Alone" (also from The Desert Song), Vic Damone and Jane Powell's lovely "Will You Remember?" and "Road to Paradise" from Maytime, and Howard Keel and the chorus' rousing "Your Land and My Land" from the rare Civil War operetta My Maryland.
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