This blog was the place of first publication for the play TOO MANY CREEPS, an affectionate "dramedy" (and sometimes farce) about a fictional last film project set to star horror stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Other featured characters include genre greats Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney, Jr., and John Carradine. And also Ed Wood! Written (and illustrated!) by Ted Newsom of Flesh and Blood fame, it's perhaps the wittiest piece of fiction incorporating real-life film stars I have ever read, and features a touching final "confrontation" between Boris and Bela that moved me. I was honored to run it here.
It is nominated for a Rondo Award for "Best Fan Event" as a reading of it was performed last year by a uniformly fine cast. Among the stellar performers are scream queen Brinke Stevens, splatterpunk author David J. Schow as Peter Lorre, author/film historian David Skal as Bela Lugosi, and actor Mark Redfield (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Death of Poe) as Boris Karloff. Below in this post are videos of part of that reading, which took place at the Monsterpalooza con last year.
Any other year, the entertaining, informative, and sometimes emotional reunion of the cast of Night of the Living Dead that occurred at the Famous Monsters Con would get my vote, but Too Many Creeps is a classic and just edges it out for me. I hope the events tie, but I'm plugging the play, which was not as well publicized and needs votes. I hope you give it yours.
You may go here to review the Rondo Award ballot. Send in your votes in whatever categories you want to vote in. You may vote--or even amend a previous vote--until midnight March 27.
TOO MANY CREEPS is shared here in six parts. (Links are to the right.) Parts Five and Six of the play were taped at last year's Monsterpalooza convention. Here's the video--enjoy! (And vote! And spread the word!)
Seemingly coincidentally, I recently saw online this sculpture of a Peter Lorre-looking chef--
7 comments:
I was sitting in that room about ten feet away from that camera. It was hysterical and I thought Perry Shields' Lon Jr. was extraordinary. Very glad to have been present for this moment of monster kid glee.
I used to work at a pizzeria that had almost the exact same statue (different colors) out front! The real reason I'm commenting, however, is that I found this and thought you might be interested: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/23751
Thanks, Max. Wow.
-- Ted
Thank you, Max. And thank YOU, Mike!
Ted and Perry-- Thank YOU for leaving comments! I only wish I could have seen your performances in person.
Gang--for those of you who don't know it, Perry is Perry Shields, a noted actor! Check out this link:
http://www.torrancetheatrecompany.com/Members/Members_PShields.html
Max, for the record, you got my vote for Best Blog, and this was before you posted this. Thanks again!
That is too cool thanks for sharing....yeah, I gotta get to that voting thing....gotta go!
Cheers!
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