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Topic: 'Always, Patsy...' yet again. |
Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 20 Oct 2019 5:21 am |
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I'm now half-way through this relatively massive run of the show, this time at the Florida Rep Theatre in Ft Myers.
This is a 'lean & mean' production - just a four-piece band this time (no fiddle -  - and no guitar -  ). That means a surfeit of steel guitar fills; sometimes ('though not always) a good thing.
We started the run on September 24th and we're scheduled to go until November 24th. There's a faint possibility of a further extension into December; the New York-based cast members want that because it'd mean two more weeks of Florida warmth for them (not to mention more money and more 'employment credits') but I'm hoping for the earlier cessation.
It's good to be back with one of my oldest 'US" friends, bassist David Sonneborn. His wife, Becky Barta, is our 'Louise' and she's another friend from my earliest days in the Colonies (1998!)
I see from my records that, after this afternoon's matinee is behind us, I will have played this show a whopping 702 times! How come I'm still making the occasional blunder???
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 20 Oct 2019 5:27 am
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I have done this show a few times and it is fun. The longest run I ever did was six weeks at the Tropicana in Atlantic City NJ. Our director and “Louise†was Misty Rowe from HEE HAW and numerous films+TV. She was a pleasure to work with.
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Kevin Maul: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Decophonic, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 20 Oct 2019 6:41 am
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I did the show with Misty in La Mirada, CA back in 2000. She is a delight!
Ken: I also did the show at the Claridge Casino in Atlantic City in 2000; our 'Patsy' was Terri Williams from Nashville and our 'Louise' was none other than Jeannie Seely. Jeannie and I became fast friends during that two-month run; both of us tended to keep late hours and we'd conspire to meet in the excellent staff cafeteria at all hours of the morning for yet another free meal.
Atlantic City in January and February has a way of keeping you indoors! I think I sampled the Boardwalk only once - the wind off the Atlantic was brutal.
Another pleasant memory, though, was getting a call from Albert Lee to invite me to an Everly gig down the street at Harrah's (I think - one of the big casinos, anyway). I had a nice sit down with Buddy after the show and managed to pepper him with questions. I took Jeannie, too, and she and the Big E renewed an old acquaintanceship.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Jeff Garden
From:
Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2019 7:16 am
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| Great photo, Roger! |
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Frank Freniere
From:
The First Coast
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Posted 20 Oct 2019 9:30 am
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Roger that!  |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 20 Oct 2019 10:04 am
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Doing that show with Jeannie Seely would be fantastic! Once on the Opry my band shared a dressing room with her. She was a hoot! And what a voice.
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Kevin Maul: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Decophonic, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2019 10:25 am
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Looks like Buddy carpal tunneled his picker hand. And yes, that is definitely a pic to include in the book that we are eventually going to force you to write and publish.
Good luck on the rest of your run. 700 is a lot of shows, and from my experience it probably only seems like 10 times that many... Good players really help to keep you motivated. |
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Rick Bernauer
From:
Kansas, USA
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Posted 21 Oct 2019 3:11 pm
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| Hi, Roger. At least it must be warmer in Ft Myers than it was when we visited after the Kansas City show. Congratulations on 700+ shows! |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 21 Oct 2019 7:02 pm
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Hi, Rick!
Oh, yes - positively toasty down here. Overland Park was a pleasant memory, all except the weather. On top of that I get to sleep in my own bed each night - it's 42 miles each way so I do battle with I-75 every day.
I'll be sorry when this one ends.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 21 Oct 2019 7:07 pm
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Fred:
Buddy was putting that brace on after the gig each night.
By the finish (11/24) it'll be 742 shows and, as I said, an extra two weeks isn't out of the question. It's a lot but I've been grateful for this show over the years.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Oct 2019 8:58 pm
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| Roger Rettig wrote: |
Fred:
Buddy was putting that brace on after the gig each night.. |
At last, I find something I have in common with him. Mine usually goes on the left though. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 22 Oct 2019 4:43 am
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That's funny, Fred. I'm compelled to say that I detected no deterioration in his playing that night.
Another memory occurs to me. Jeanie and I made our way to the hotel room reserved for the Everly's hospitality suite immediately after the last chords had died away. I hung with Albert and Don for a while but there was still no sign of the Big E! When I expressed my concern Don said: 'He's usually besieged by steel players after each show...'
Such was the case - he got to the room half an hour later (where he was besieged by another one!)
I was having severe problems with my SD-10 LeGrande at the time and the 5th string was coming back sharp. 'E' said: 'Are you sure it's not a problem with your 6th?' As it happens I found myself back at the Emmons factory a week later where Jim Aycoth approved the fitting of a brand-new changer in my guitar. Jack Strayhorn did the actual work and all was well after that. It did mean a long overnight drive (NJ-NC-NJ) to get this accomplished, though.
I believe it was an uncommon fault I'd encountered but it certainly disconcerted me!
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 22 Oct 2019 11:48 am
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Roger
Speaking as a many-time Bodacious Bobcat myself, do you know the show by heart now, or do you still have the book in front of you? 
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My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 22 Oct 2019 12:18 pm
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No, Herb - I abandoned that long ago.
I do sometimes have to keep my wits about me, though; if I get roped into singing back-up vocals I scribble my assigned parts on a scrap of paper which lies beside me in the side-pocket of my seat.
Usually, though, and once I've impressed the MD with the complexities of our instrument, I manage to cry off that onerous duty.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 23 Oct 2019 4:05 am
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| I just found out that Jackie Petroccia will be reprising APC next September at Stages in St. Louis. I immediately contacted the artistic director about my availability. I love doing that show... especially with Jackie. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 24 Oct 2019 4:33 am
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So do I, Steve - especially with Jackie! For my money she's among the two or three very best in the role.
Wasn't that a very long run back when you did it before? It's good to know that the theatre sees the potential for another success.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 24 Oct 2019 4:49 am
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Roger, the last run was 184 shows, most of which sold out. I shared the steel duties with John Higgins (I played 67).
Just think of it, Zoe (Louise) had to choke down 7 Twinkies every week... 2 on Sundays! |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 25 Oct 2019 4:18 am
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Ha! I, of course, played the show soon after yours at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Zoe was our 'Louise' along with Jackie.
No confectionery in our production, though.
By 11/24 we will have played it 72 times. As I said, though, there's a chance of a further two weeks. 
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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