EACH TIME I send a story to the Boss I wait to see if she likes it. I hate the call when she tells me my story needs editing, she likes it, but it needs changes. How could my story need changes? Every word was hand-crafted by me, isn't my story perfect just the way I wrote it? Of course not, we all need an editor. I fight the Boss, because somehow I feel censored.

Writing about the new two-hour plus Clint Holmes musical, "Just Another Man" (JAM), I think we both may need an editor. It's hard for me to criticize such a talented man as Clint Holmes, I can't sing, dance, act, direct or anything else it takes to put on a show, and very few people take criticism well. I once criticized Buddy Greco in rehearsal, he turned to me and said "What the F**k do you know about show business." I said, "I know what I like, and if something moves me."

This musical opens with cancer. Unless you're Bob Fosse, death is not entertaining. Clint Holmes has cancer, and before his operation, he flashes back on his life. From here the story really gets muddled, many of his trials—racism, marriage, children, cancer—could be topics of a musical, but not ALL of them in ONE show.

A musical, like any other work of art, must entertain. Great works of art should grab us first, and only then do we see any deeper meaning the artist may want to convey. Susan Sarandon said in an interview, "Any scene that does not move the story along, I'm for cutting it out." To convey her message, Clint needs to move the story along.

The singing, the actors, the performances, the orchestra were all great; it's just Clint Holmes needs the Boss to whip the show into shape. The Boss whips me into shape, and I like it. She could edit the hell out of "JAM," and I know Clint would like it.

     
Speaking of editing, without the Boss, I need self-discipline at these after-parties. After the show, we were at the Rainbow Bar & Grill and the food was wonderful. They had fresh pasta with four different sauces. I couldn't get enough of the pesto. There were giant strawberries dipped in white and dark chocolate. Tons of great food and all the best booze you could drink. Maybe they should have "Before Parties" after an orgy of food and drink, who cares about a story?

     
The Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV

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