Open a New Window

Open a new window,

Open a new door,

Travel a new highway,

That's never been tried before;

Before you 

Find you're a dull fellow,

Punching the same clock,

Walking the same tight rope

As everyone on the block.

The fellow you ought to be is three dimensional,

Soaking up life down to your toes,

Whenever they say you're slightly unconventional,

Just put your thumb up to your nose.

And show 'em how to 

Dance to a new rhythm,

Whistle a new song,

Toast with a new vintage,

The fizz doesn't fizz too long.

There's only one way to make the bubbles stay,

Simply travel a new high way,

Dance to a new rhythm,

Whistle a new love song,

Toast with a new vintage,

Open a new window ev'ry day!

Angela Lansbury sings “Open a New Window,” from Jerry Herman’s 1966 musical Mame.  Rather than following instructions to enroll her nephew Patrick in an exclusive, restricted, and extremely safe, boarding school environment, Auntie Mame decides to introduce the boy to a life of adventure out in the big wide chaotic world.

Composer Jerry Herman was one of the few people who actually saw one of the nine performances of the infamous Sondheim flop, Anyone Can Whistle. “It was just a number of wonderful circumstances... Nobody had ever seen Angela Lansbury on stage, singing, dancing, playing a leading role and they didn't know whether I could do it.” Luckily for Angela Lansbury (and Broadway audiences), Herman recognized a great leading lady, and he cast Lansbury in the role of Auntie Mame.  Herman's show about a rich socialite going bust during the Great Depression was a hit, running for 1,508 performances earning Lansbury her first of five Tony awards. Now 87, with a theatrical career spanning over 70 years, Ms. Lansbury plans to return once again to Broadway this fall in Enid Bagnold's play The Chalk Garden.

Alas, we hear that the automated dialing system called to say that teachers should report for work on August 12th. Can it really be that school starts in less than a month?

News like that calls out for a witty response, a wry bon mot — 

something more Cole Porter-ish than Jerry Herman.

“Another opening, another show... Cross your fingers and hold your heart!”

“Do, do, do,what you done, done, done, once more.”

“Experiment, make it your motto day and night.”
“Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today.”

Oh well, how about we just open a new window and enjoy the overture? 
We still have a bit of time before the curtain goes up!