Did I Mention the Dolphins?

After two days of cleaning windows, walls, dishes and floors it's hard to believe that only four days ago, Jon and I were standing on a Cape May beach watching dolphins.

When were through touring the Physick house, we decided to see the Cape May lighthouse, not realizing it was part of a little park with a wetland nature center and incredible beach.

Standing on the beach, near the water, in the rain, taking pictures, we started notice black bumps jumping in the water. It took a few minutes for us to realize they were dolphins. We thought it a fluke but then it turns out that at this beach dolphins feed about three times a day and we were there for lunch. There were swarms of them. We watched them for a really long time.

(Talk about romantic - standing in the rain on a beach watching dolphins. Not too shabby.)

Jon was able to snap off this shot. All I kept getting was water.

They were pretty cool. It was the first time watching dolphins for both of us.

The wetlands were pretty amazing also.

Cape May

On Monday, because it was raining cats and dogs, Jon and I drove to Cape May - a charming neighboring town to Wildwood.

Cape May is known for its Victorian houses and beautiful beaches. Because the day started out rainy there wasn't a whole lot we could really do. So we decided to visit the Emlen Physick House - a Victorian that's been converted to a museum.

At the age of 21, Emlen Physick inherited a fortune and retired even though he had just earned a medical degree. His father, a wealthy merchant who wanted Emlen to become a doctor like his own father, died when Emlen was four. He was raised by his mother and a spinster aunt. He never married. The tour guide who took us through the house, at some point, directed our attention to a photograph of Emlen with a hunting buddy. I asked him, "By hunting buddy, do you mean boyfriend?" He said, "Probably, but I'm not allowed to say."

The house was unusual in its design because it was built with a heating system which operated through vents in fire places and a personal bathroom attached to the master bedroom.

Wildwood

Jon and I spent two fun filled days in Wildwood, NJ.

What a fun place that was.

We stayed at the Starlux Hotel which is all done up in a 50's kitsch doo-wop theme. Our room was behind the big neon U in the sign seen below.


Every room was stocked with a lava lamp and cool 50's decor.


We were in our room for about a minute before we went to the famous Wildwood boardwalk.


We had lunch at the Doo Wop diner which was decorated in everything you could imagine from the 50's.


We played tons of skee ball earning several incredibly cheesy prizes. Here is Jon playing AlleyHoops a variation of skee ball.


We went to Morey's Piers where we went on several rides, played several games and ate lots and lots and lots of junky food.


The rides are beautiful and fun.

Stuff 'n' Things

It's very early Sunday morning and I'm awake - up at 6:40 to be exact. Today we're going to Wildwood for a couple of days. We rented a car and we're heading South. I have a vague memory of seeing TV commercials for Wildwood as a kid - either that or hearing them on the radio.

It's a beach resort town in southern Jersey on a barrier beach island like the one on which I grew up, Long Beach. They have an amusement park, water park, boardwalk and beach. Long Beach used to have an amusement park but they tore it down years ago along with the bowling alley and hordes of low income housing (well actually the low income housing mysteriously burned down) with dreams of developing beach side property into casinos and hotels. 25 years later, the developers are still waiting for approval.

I remember going to that adult playground as a child with my cousins. Here we are riding the teacups. The amusment park, in case you want to see images of it, was immortalized in Joan Jett's 80's music video for her song Do You Wanna Touch Me? Joan Jett lived in Long Beach while she was working on her career and some of her best hits were recorded by Boardwalk record label which may have been founded by a Long Beach resident.

Anyway. . .enough about Long Beach. Jon and I are headed to Wildwood, where we'll be spending a couple of nights at the Starlux Hotel.

I'm looking forward to getting away from the big nasty city - from the crowds, the subways, the crowds. Because we're staying Sunday and Monday, I'm anticipating small off-season crowds on the boardwalk, at the amusement parks and on the white sanded beaches.

It should be a great throwback to the time when people really, really got into amusment parks - the turn of the 20th century, when Coney Island was Coney Island.

Serenity Now

It was back to the theater last night for yet another performance of Awake and Sing! Last night's show was especially good. Everyone on stage was on their game - timing was crisper, delivery was sharper. Maybe it had something to do with who was in the audience. I was handing out my usual load of headsets, when someone famous started walking in my general direction. As he got closer, I recognized him as Jerry Stiller of Stiller and Meara - aka the parents of Ben Stiller. Here is our exchange as best as I can recollect.

"I need a headset. How are you doing?"
"Very excited to see you."
"I'm thrilled to be alive and to be here."
"Do you have your driver's license handy?"

He gave me his license and I gave him a headset. Then, in spite of my excitement, I was able to give him spiel about using our headsets. I was very proud of myself because I didn't stumble over my words. I watched him walk back to his seat to see if his wife was with him and she was. Stiller and Meara. That was exciting. I remember them as a comedy team and I'm not sure why. I've always known they were a funny duo but couldn't tell you one thing they've performed together.

Later in the evening people lined up to return their headsets. I had two lines. One to the right and one behind me. I usually favor the line to my right because it's easier. When I turned around after the line was gone, there was Jerry Stiller talking to fans. I heard a fan say to him, "I met you once at Zabar's before your fifty-second anniversary. (Do you wonder why I don't talk to celebrities? I should sound so lame). There was a small group surrounding him. He was busier than me. I let slip,

"Gosh. I thought I was busy."

But I don't know if it came out the right. Because I heard him say, "You thought so, huh." I don't know if that was directed at me or the fan that was bothering him about their meeting at Zabar's, but he did give me a $2 tip, which was very nice. Actually I made $6 in tips last night - for 56 headsets, that's pretty good. I've made less handing out more.

It didn't end there. After he handed me my headset and just before I helped the next person, Anne Meara popped in out of nowhere and asked me where back stage was. I couldn't believe it. She looked right at me and asked me this question like a regular patron. I was so busy, I didn't have a chance to react but still, I can't believe it. She's amazing. She's someone I admire.

As usual, I was the last one to leave the theater. By the time I was done breaking down my headsets, the doors leading out of the front of the theater were all locked, so I had to cross under the stage and leave through the stage door.

Stiller and Meara were there talking to Mark Ruffalo. Actually the little group that they formed was in the way of the exit. Ruffalo's back was to me, so I carefully slid behind him without touching him so I wouldn't interrupt their conversation. But I did take a good look at Anne Meara one more time. She was smiling admiringly at Ruffalo - who was exceptionally good last night.

Wednesday night - the night I took off to go to trivia - another famous patron used one of our headsets. Paul Newman. But I wasn't there. He was at the show with Joanne Woodward and I missed them. Oh well. I guess I can't meet every celebrity, but this is the second time I've missed Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

Trivial Pursuit of Happiness

So. Wednesday at the Belasco was extremely busy. I handed out 89 headsets.

By the time the show was finished I was ready for my scheduled evening off. I had arranged with our friend Jonathan Bloomfield to go to the Drunken Smartass Olympics, the pub quiz at Dempsey's Pub. Through no fault of our own (wicked traffic on the BQE), we got there late missing the first two rounds. Shortly after the third round began we were joined by our friends Bill and Gilda (seen right).

2 good
2 be
4 gotten

That was our team name. I got it from my dad's yearbook. I used to look at that thing all the time. He graduated highschool in the early 60's - the hairdo's, the clothes, the activities. I was fascinated by that thing. Everything was different. The early 60's were so innocent when compared to the later 60's. After high school my father joined the air force and then later met my mother while stationed in France. . .but that's another story.

We didn't get there in time to really build up a good enough score. We finished in last place.

It's been a long time since I've hung out with that crowd. Jon came down after his work shift and joined us. Jon was one of the original hosts of the trivia night at Dempsey's pub. The last night that he hosted with current host Janet Rosen, was the first night I had ever attended. It was not called the Drunken Smartass Olympics then. At that time, it was just Wednesday night trivia.

Meanwhile Back at the Belasco

So. I'm back at the Belasco for another thrilling and demanding week of Awake and Sing.

Tonight was the busiest I've ever been on a Tuesday night. I handed out over 60 headsets. In the week since I've been there, I think the audience has aged 20 years and the number of people over 60 has increased 4 fold. I can only imagine that tomorrow's matinee will be an utter nightmare. My company decided that a second person in the balcony isn't necessary anymore so I'll be working the matinee alone.

The Belasco is one of very few theaters that hasn't undergone complete renovations. They still have a separate entrance for the balcony which harkens back to the days of segregation which is why a second person works there handing out headsets to the balcony crowd on matinee days. A patron seated in the balcony can not easily get into the main section of the theater.

But the powers that be have decided that person isn't necessary anymore. It's a bad decision.

This evening I had my first famous customer - TV, Stage and Film actor Fritz Weaver.I didn't make a fuss but I'm guessing the guy didn't even think I recognized him. If I'd seen only his name I wouldn't have known who he was. But that face is very recognizable. He is a frequent guest on Law & Order and he was one of the suited men that comprised the secret conspiratorial body from the X-Files. He's had an incredibly long career as a supporting actor, voice over artist and narrator.

The truth is I was too busy to make a fuss and I wanted to because he probably would have appreciated it. People were lined up waiting for the use of my free headsets.

After the show I got locked in the vestibule. Don't ask. Just know that I was stuck in that little vestibule where you can purchase tickets and enter the theater. While I was waiting for security to let me out, I watched James Franco having a conversation with friends and then eventually Lauren Ambrose. If I'd had my wits about me, I would have taken a picture but I didn't. All I could think about was getting out of that cage. He looks exactly the same in person as he does on screen as do most celebrities.

6-6-6

How are you spending June 6, 2006?

Do you believe that on this day and age of evil will be ushered in by the birth of the anti christ?

Or are you spending it in remembrance of the invasion of Normandy in 1944?

Or did you sleep late this morning like me and spend a lazy day drinking coffee and spending time with your husband?

The Last Exit

Last night, Jon and I played bar trivia at The Last Exit in Brooklyn. We were joined by our friends Jonathan and Neil. This is a very competitive pub quiz where you pay to enter and win a large cash prize if you win first place.

We played an impressive game but finished second in the end after answering a third tie-breaking question incorrectly.

I was a little sore. The third tie-breaker question asked how many friends are listed at the Last Exit page in My Space. I didn't even understand the question when it was first asked. We guessed 53 while the other team guessed 83. The correct answer was 91. We walked away with $64 which came to $16 for each member of the team.

Neil had to leave us but Jon and I went with Jonathan to Neptune Diner on Astoria Blvd. It's been a while since I've eaten there and since then they've updated their menus. On the cover, an extremely hunky Neptune and his trident stand on a rock while water flows through his beard and shmata. I don't recall ever reading any mythological descriptions of Neptune as a beau hunk. But it was a good for a laugh.

Look at how his muscles bulge every where. Judging from how pumped up his bicep is, that trident must weight about 200 pounds.

It's a good diner.

Saturday in the Theater

This past Saturday matinee I met and shook hands with Edward James Olmos. This is the first time I can remember since I started doing this job, that I registered recognition of a star to the star himself.

My booth was set up next to the bar. I spotted Mr. Olmos while I was handing out my headsets. At some point, he made eye contact with me and I exlaimed "WOW". He looked down and smiled and I said. "Normally, I don't make a fuss, but I think you're great." He said thank you, shook my hand, and walked away to get some cash for a candy purchase at the bar. When he came back, the bartender asked him for an autograph and in Spanish he asked her if I wanted an autograph too.

So. I got one too.

The only reason I spoke with him was that he smiled at me when he saw that I recognize him. He opened himself up to me and acted in a friendly way that invited conversation.

Most stars don't really do that which is why I probably never feel comfortable going up to them.

In direct contrast, Jay Mohr came to the theater Saturday night. He did not put out the vibe that he wanted to be recognized. He didn't hide but he didn't really invite recognition or conversation. This isn't a bad thing. You don't want to bother people when they are relaxing. Going to the theater is relaxing.

You may be saying that if stars don't want to be recognized then they shouldn't become stars. Well, I don't agree. If a star wants to be recognized they will telegraph that feeling to people around them.

Respect celebrities when you see them and only talk to them if they are acting like they want you to.

Doubt at the Walter Kerr Theater

I just finished up a week of Doubt at the Walter Kerr Theater. Doubt was written by playwright John Patrick Shanley who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for this very good piece of work. The show is in its second year and will be finishing its run in July.

I watched 8 performances in a row and enjoyed the play each and every time. It's performed in 90 minutes with no breaks which is a great way to do a show. Art was done the same way. The momentum of the story is never broken so the climax at the end is really meaningful and wrought with emotion.

The dialogue is crisp, witty and direct. The characters are earnest and believable. And though the play is set in 1964, the story is interesting and relevant.

It's about a nun, principal of a catholic school, that suspects the parish's priest has "interfered" with one of the children at the school. When the show ends you really aren't sure of the truth. You 'doubt' the actions of the characters. You question what happened, what you saw, what was said. You think about the play as a whole to make sure you didn't miss anything. I watched the show 8 times in a row looking for clues from the characters, their actions and words, to make sure the truth wasn't hidden somewhere in the text or the subtest.

But believe me. You won't know what the truth is either.

It's a good show and the attendance has been light. You will be able to get a ticket if you want one and most likely for a great seat.

Eileen Atkins is a treasure. She is wonderful as Sister Aloysius, Catholic school principal. She took over the role from Cherry Jones who I have yet to see on Broadway. Jena Malone is also in the show playing Sister James - a young sweet naive nun and teacher incapable of believing anything bad about Father Flynn or anybody else for that matter. Father Flynn is played quite well by Ron Eldard who you probably remember best as a paramedic from the first few seasons of ER.

Both Jena Malone and Ron Eldard do good jobs in their Broadway debuts.

See this play.

Rain Rain Go Away

Did anyone else have trouble getting in and around the city last night? Due to heavy rains, Queens Plaza was rendered useless. I left the house around 6:20 to make it for my 7:00 call at the theater.

I arrived at 7:40.

What did I do in that hour and 20 minutes?

I went to my station and found out the N wasn't running. Then I walked briskly to another station to catch an R train where I learned that nothing was running into the Queens Plaza. Then I got a call from my boss who told me there was a train running from Queens into the city. So I walk/jogged to a different station to see if it was the N that was running. Then I got another call from my boss saying that the 7 train was running. He offerered to pay for a taxi to get me to the nearest 7 train. Then I called him and told him I couldn't find a car. Then I started the long walk to the nearest 7 train when he told me he would get my headsets ready for me and handle the walk-in at the Walter Kerr. Then while I was walking through the rain, getting soaking wet, miraculously the N train started running again.

I was hot and soaked from rain and sweat when I finally arrived at the theater. My boss was grateful and relieved to see me.

As of last night, the R train was still not running properly. But mercifully the N was back on track and hopefully will be today and forever.

Doubt

This week I'm working on the play Doubt by John Patrick Shanley.

90 minutes. No intermission. 'Nuff said.
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Last night Michael Stipe was in the audience. I saw his bald head from the distance but I didn't get to see his face. Of the 6 ushers that were working the floor only 1 recognized - one was too old and the other 4 were too young.

Can you imagine people old enough to be considered adults but young enough to have never even heard of REM? I know it doesn't seem possible but none the less. The closest I got to Mr. Snipes was his friend asking me for the bathroom.

In person, he looks like he should eat a sandwich.
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May's End (cont'd)

Sunday, after my final performance of Awake and Sing! I pushed my way through the Broadway crowds and an impromptu street fair on 7th Avenue in order to get to the New York Sheraton, where Jon and his parents were waiting for me. We had all arranged to meet Jon's cousin and his wife for dinner and evening stroll up 5th Avenue.

We ate dinner at a Korean restaurant on 32nd and Broadway - table BBQ. It was divine and a big hit as most of the people at the table had never eaten it before. It's always exciting when you can turn people on to new things. We ate shrimp and beef and whatever side dishes the restaurant would give us. That's the thing with Korean restaurants - lots of free side dishes.

After dinner we wenned our way up 5th to Rockefeller Center. I was happy to see that the skating rink was finally converted back to a restaurant. Believe it or not, it was still a skating rink as of the beginning of May.

Here's mom with Dave's wife Mary posing in front of Apollo and the dancing waters.


Here I am with my father-in-law.


And here's Jon with cousin Dave and his father.


Dave and Mary are visiting from Texas. So, guess where we'll probably be going on vacation some time in the near future. Yes. That's right. Texas. We have an invitation to come down any time we like.

So that was all Sunday night.

Monday, we gathered everyone for a visit to the Museum of Modern Art.

What can one say about MOMA? It's a great museum with an impressive collection. Chagall, Picasso, Monet, de Chirico - they've got it all. And we saw a lot of it. Two hours is enough to see most but not everything. I always want to see as much as possible when I go there because the admission is a ridiculous $20.00 per person but you can really only see so much. With a museum like the Metropolitan Museum of Art where the price of admission is left up to the patron, you can pay less and visit more and spend more time in each section rather than rush through to see everything whic you can't do anyway.

Back to the MOMA, every time I go I discover something new like this cabinet full of egg shells. I'm not sure what it's called but probably "cabinet full of egg shells" or something like that. I like this piece and I'm not quite sure why. Maybe because it's simple or quiet or ironic or something. I don't know.

But it does have a soothing effect on the eye. We had a nice time. I love how when you go to a museum with a group of people, you keep splitting up and meeting up over and over until finally somebody makes a big break and then ultimately calls have to be made and message left and directions given in order to find each other. As a group we did very, very well.

It took about 2 hours for two of our group to break off and not be found again until we met up later for gelato in the scuplture garden.

After a late afternoon nap we all met up later for dinner at a great Greek restaurant on 44th between 6th and 5th. Very good. Go there soon.

Here are a couple of my favorite paintings in the museum.


And here are some other images from MOMA.

The End Of May

May is ending and right on schedule warm and humid weather has arrived with the Memorial Day weekend.

Saturday was beautiful and busy.

In between the matinee and evening performances of Awake and Sing, the cast, crew and house staff of the Belasco theater had a holiday cookout. I was cordially invited by the woman who organized the event. I guess for other people it could have been fun, but for me it was uncomfortable. Like I've mentioned before, because I work in a different theater every week, I'm more a like an interloper than a part of any group that has bonded by working together on whatever show is playing. And then on top of that, I feel uncomfortable and intimidated by stars. This is why I left after eating a plate of food within 1 foot of Lauren Ambrose. As it happened, I was standing in the only available space in a crowded alleyway and it was near her.

She is a nice person. I overheard a conversation she was having with one of the ushers. I won't tell you what they were discussing. Just trust me when I tell you that both people in the conversation sounded very nice.

I tried having a conversation with one of the ushers. She was young and had a baby with her. I asked her if she was working that night and she replied that she hadn't worked in that theater for four years. I could have sworn she'd been there the whole week. That made me feel a little embarrassed. All this took about 20 minutes. I left to go the library.

On the way, I saw this construction sight at the corner of 42nd and 6th Avenue.


And then I saw this Bentley randomly parked on 42nd across from the library.

But I guess it wasn't that random. There were a bride and groom in the back seat.

Anyway. The library was closed, so I headed back to the theater.

Sunday, I worked my last show of Awake and Sing and the work week ended with a bang. I handed out 92 headsets. After the show, it took about 15 minutes to get all my headsets back and then 20 minutes to get them ready for the next shift. There was a second person working with me. He was working in the balcony, handing out 15 headsets or so to the patrons all the way at the top of the theater. He could have helped me get out of there after the show but he left me with my hands full. I thought that a very poor display of team work. I was the last person to leave the theater, except for the person who was waiting for me to leave.

Breakfast at Tifanny's

I just finished Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. It's a wonderful book but I found the last three chapters confusing.

I guess one is about her daughter, one is about her son and is the last one about her as an older woman? Des she move back in with Doc Golightly's children and end her days living the life she ran away from as a child? Or is it about someone else? Some of the dates mentioned don't make much sense.

It's just hella confusing.

Awake and Sing!!

I'm working on a new show this week called Awake and Sing! It's a revival of a play by Clifford Odets, starring Lauren Ambrose, Zoe Wanamaker, Ben Gazzara, and Mark Ruffalo. It's part of the Lincoln Center Theater subscription series. More so than most other shows I've worked on, the patrons attending this play are mostly over 60 years of age. I've been handing out headsets hand over fist. And the show, although very good for the most part, is excessively long. It's three acts and there are two intermissions. No one writes three-acts any more. The more common trend is two-acts or one-acts even like the play ART.

On the fun side, this is one of those shows where a lot goes on before the theater is opened for walk-in. For example, before the Wednesday matinee, Lauren Ambrose practiced slapping Mark Ruffalo - for one of the climaxes of the second act, where most of the play takes place.

Wednesday night, I left the theater via the stage entrance and had to walk past Zoe Wanamaker. She's been working for quite some time. The ealiest performance I've seen of hers was in Prime Suspect, the BBC mini series starring Helen Mirren. She's truly wonderful and she's English. I only say that she's English because walking past her, I heard her speaking with a British accent. In Awake and Sing! she plays Bessie Berger, a Jewish mother of two living in the Bronx with her extended family during the depression. And by that I mean, she sounds like she could do 5 minutes of standup at one of those venues in the Borscht Belt which I don't think exists anymore.

Last night, I walked through the stage door with Lauren Ambrose. It was awkward. I always feel oafish and clumsy around stars. I would rather just avoid them altogether. Anyway, Lauren Ambrose plays Hennie Berger, Bessie's only daughter who gets into 'trouble' in the first act and by trouble, I mean pregnant. She is amazing in her Broadway debut. She's made me cry the last three performances I've watched. Talk about throwing yourself into a role. She's completely believable.

Both look in person exactly as they look on screen.

If you like a good old fashioned stage play, I recommend strongly that you see this show. It is a little dated and sometimes lags when Ben Gazzara as Jacob, grandfather to the Berger children, starts rallying against the evils of capitalism. His character apparently has read of lot of books about individual rights, slavery, capitalism and Marx. It's those times that you can really see how old this play is because Odets heroic grandfather character, rails against capitalism with the same passion that Ayn Rand's heroes rail against communism.

But don't let that be a discouragement. It's an excellent time capsule for the 1930's.

Taylor Hicks Won American Idol

I'm glad he won. But why did they write such a dreadful song to be his first single? I guess the label that puts out American Idol records writes the songs that are performed by the two finalists in the final night of competition. The songs written for both Katharine and Taylor were equally awful.

The final show. Well, I taped it because I was working and ended up fast forwarding through most of it. I paused every now and then to hear what the guest celebrities sounded like. For example, Dionne Warwick sounded great when she soloed but I fast forwarded through the idols performing Burt Bacharach's songs. Not coincidentally, both Burt and Dionne were promoting an upcoming album release.

Mary J. Blige made an appearance singing a duet with Elliot Yamin. Meatloaf performed with Katharine McPhee. Al Jareau performed with Paris Bennett.

None of the celebrity appearances surprised me really. Most were either looking for some additional publicity or promoting an album. I was amazed, however, to see Prince performing. American Idol seems so commercial for him. But he was amazing and so were his sexy, identical twin backup singers. He performed before Katharine and Taylor came out to perform one more duet together - that dippy song from Dirty Dancing. I thought it was unfair to make anyone perform after Prince. Honestly, how do you follow Prince?

The show was definitely too long. All I wanted to know was the results but I didn't want the surprise ruined either, so after an hour of fast forwarding I finally got to see Taylor win his final reward.

Congratulations Taylor. It's a shame I won't be buying that single you performed on the show. I apologize in advance. I'll just wait until you aren't affiliated with the Idol producers anymore and start recording music I might listen to. I hope that comes soon.

The Martin Beck Theater

...was erected by Martin Beck in the 1920's. 75 years later or so his theater would be renamed The Al Hirschfeld Theater. It's my favorite theater. It's different from all the others on Broadway with domed ceilings - it gives you the feeling of standing in an old church. It also has a big beautiful mezzanine lounge with a lot of wall space where the theater boasts several framed Hirschfelds.

The earliest they have is for the play that opened the theater in 1926 - The Shanghai Gesture. It's a charicature of Florence Reed who starred in the show. It's drawn sparsely in the Art Deco style and looks strongly influenced by the famous Erte, reproduced from the NY Times cartoon. It's kind of interesting to look some of the portraits done before Nina was born because he hadn't yet starting hiding her names in crazy hairstyles and the folds of skirts. You know about the Ninas, right? In many of Hirschfelds works after his signature he would write a number. This number indicated how many times he had hidden his daughter Ninas name in each drawing.

Naturally, the theater dipslays mostly illustrations for the plays that appeared at the Martin Beck but they have a few others that don't. For instance, did you know that Al Hirschfeld once drew an ad for Absolut Vodka? Instead of Ninas, he hid Absoluts.

Did he sell out? Probably. But isn't that the dream of every artist? To make money doing what they love?

Did you know about the Ninas? I've known about that since I was 10 years old. I thought everybody in the world knew about the Ninas or at least everybody in New York which is why I was surprised, when working at the Martin Beck, that at least two people who worked there didn't know about it. I had to explain it to them. It was fun taking them around (on two different occasions) and watching them count the number of times they could find his daughter's name.

My favorite picture is the one Hirschfeld drew for Bye, Bye Birdie which starred Dick Van Dyke, Paul Lynde and Chita Rivera when the play first opened in 1960. I can't find it anywhere online. It's just pretty cool.

Anyway, I still don't recommend that you see The Wedding Singer.

Quiz

Which One of The 7 Main Arts Are You?

You are ~Story Writing~
Take this quiz!

Scattered Thunderstorms

During last night's performance of The Wedding Singer, a young woman was laying down on a bench in the mezzanine lounge (where I hang out during the show) because she was sick. She threw up every 20 minutes, retching so loudly they could hear her downstairs in the orchestra section, into a bag that she never emptied. I was happy to see her carrying her vomit bag out of the theater when she left with her friends and family. She was with 8 people and not one of those people, including her mother, thought to get her out of that theater and bring her home. It was a pretty selfish display.
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American Idol is almost over as the final two contestants perform one more time on Tuesday night. I predicted that the final two would be Paris Bennett and Taylor Hicks. I was right about Taylor Hicks but Paris was sent home a couple of weeks ago which is really a shame. She was the most talented singer in the bunch but she was also the youngest and I think her youth may have worked against her. She's got a lot of a grownup talent but she's is very young and looks it. I think people may have found that disturbing - people like Simon Cowell who commented every week that she looked like a little girl playing dress-up instead of commenting on her actual talent and performance.

The two finalists are Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. They are equally talented. I like Katharine McPhee but I never quite caught the McPheever. I hope Taylor wins because I like him better.
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I cured my infected ingrown toenail. I was really worried on Sunday when I found pus under the painful corner that I trimmed away. And then I got really scared when I stubbed my toe on Monday night and woke up in pain early the next morning. For two days I soaked my toe in salted soapy water and dressed it with Neosporin and a bandage. Like a miracle the infection went away. Now my toe feels just fine. And for now, it seems to be okay. I just wonder what happens when the section I cut away grows back. Hopefully it won't burrow back into my toe pad.

The Wedding Singer

Don't even bother. Don't waste your time. It's not very good. Strangely and beyond my understanding people are laughing at the jokes and the gags. Somehow it was nominated for 5 Tonys. It must be because mostly everything else that's premiered this year has been pretty lame. That has to be the reason.

To me all the songs in show pretty much sound the same; the jokes are cliche, lame and hackneyed; and the story line is bland. The people in the show are . . . well they are talented. Because no matter how lame the Broadway show, the cast is always extremely talented. But not necessarily well cast if you know what I mean, for example, I can't figure out what Laura Benanti is doing in this show. This is a woman who sings Sondheim for a living. She is way more talented than the show is good. She just doesn't seem to fit the part she's been cast in - the part of Julia Sullivan played by Drew Barrymore in the movie. It's either because she's too old or too angular or too sophisticated or too experienced. I don't know. Something is just not right with this match up. This is a part that probably should have been originated by a bubbly, young and slightly chubby ingenue.

The most awful part in my opinion is when they make Robbie Hart's grandmother rap in the second act. (I threw up a little in my mouth the first time I saw it.) When the original rapping granny did it, it was cute. But the song is so lame and the performance by her co-hort George (the boy George wannabe) is so forced, you have to wonder what TONY was thinking when the show was nominated for Best Musical or Best Original Music. And you have to wonder why these actors are putting their careers at risk? Why do they believe in this show? Why do they want to be associated with it so badly that their willing to pour their hearts and souls into every performance?

Just don't go see it and whatever you do, don't be tempted to buy the cast album which is scheduled for release in a couple of weeks.

Pontiac Garage

What is the Pontiac Garage? I don't know. Who is Christine Milian? I have no idea.

Yet, together they made walking through the Times Square area nearly impossible last night.

In a combined effort to promote both the club and Milian's new album, a free concert was staged that blocked up people traffic for blocks and blocks. Her music doesn't really sound too much different than anything else from the Beyonce genre. Add the hammering sound of thunk thunk base and you're got the kind of Times Square annoyance that seems to happen on a weekly basis.

It was so loud I could hear it underground. My destination as always was the subway station at 47th street and Broadway, underneath the concert and all the people crowding the sidewalks. I started my journey at the Al Hirschfeld theater at 45th and 8th where The Wedding Singer is currently playing (a generally lame ass musical surprisingly nominated for 5 Tonys).

I decided to walk east by way of 46th Street, avoiding 45th because of the enormous crowd that had gathered to see Julia Roberts exit the theater. Rumour was she was going to walk and breathe proving once and for all that she is human like the rest of us. Honestly, you'd think she was an alien sent here from another universe the way people crowd to see her. I know she's famous and all, but really folks. She's a beautiful person who acts for a living. She's not some aberrant freak of nature on display in a sideshow. Give her some space. Let her leave work in peace at the end of a hard day.

Anyway, I avoided the star struck crowds on 45th by walking up 46th. I was just walking past the back entrance of the Imperial Theater, squeezing through the post Dirty Rotten Scoundrels crowd, when I heard it - the thunk, thunk and people screaming in response. Up ahead the SW corner of 46th and Broadway was densely populated with stunned tourists and rowdy youths. I was instantly annoyed and I could feel my temper starting to rumble.

And thenmy temper exploded as I got closer to the street and realized a live concert was being given in Times Sqaure by some inconsiderate assholes. As I started to realize that I was walking into a living people trap I shouted "I HATE THIS CITY".

My elbows went up and I started bullying my way through the sleepwalking visitors from Florida, Connecticut, California, France, England and from wherever else visitors come to crowd our sidewalks and make our lives miserable.

I pushed and shoved and barrelled through the crowds and onlookers like a bullet through a Kevlar® vest. It was slow going. I didn't think I would make it to the subway when all of a sudden, right before the entrance, the crowd broke and I was able to get downstairs to the platform. I could still hear the music and at some point, the station started getting smokey. At first, I thought it was a fire. It took me a minute to figure out that dry ice was being used to make smoke for the performance.

Just as the platform was filling up with smoke, the N train pulled in and the conductor of that train looked a bit confused thinking what I had thought moments earlier - that the station was on fire. To make matters worse, the MTA was working on the tracks. Men with orange vests and orange flags were helping to control (or slow down) the train traffic. Our train was held in the station for 15 minutes after I got on. That was fun. Soooo much fun.

The drunk young woman next me started talking to me out of boredom. She noticed I was reading America: The Book pointing out to me unnecessarily that the book was sarcastic. I started telling her about the shannanigans above ground. She understood and explained to me that she moved out of Hell's Kitchen for just that reason. She was funny and she smelled like liquor. Normally, I don't speak to drunk people sitting next to me in the subway but I outweighed her by several hundred pounds so I thought if worse came to worse I could take her, so no worries there. I got home around 11:30 or so.

The Last Exit

Last night, Jon and I joined a couple of friends at The Last Exit in Brooklyn for a comptitive game of trivia. We won first prize which was an envelope of cash. My best contribution of the evening was the name of Dora's monkey from Dora the Explorer. I also knew that John Coltrane recorded a very famous version of My Favorite Things and that there are three teaspoons in a tablespoon. I knew the answers to other questions as well but for those three questions only I knew the answer. It always feels nice when you can contribute something, especially when I'm playing with three people that are way smarter than me.

I learned some things too. For instance did you know that stubbing a toe with an ingrown toenail is one of the more painful things you are likely to suffer in your lifetime? I'm not sure how it compares with labor and giving birth but right now, my big toe is throbbing. It hurt so much I had to wake up (at 5:30) and take care of it. In the little corner where I cut my offending nail too far below the safe point two nights ago, there was a little tiny touch of blood. I put on the NEOSPORIN recommended to me by the pharmacist. Now I'm waiting for the urge to sleep to come back over me.

Gone With the Weekend

Monday mornings are so much nicer when you don't have to go into work. I have off on Mondays because most theaters are closed -- the same way as NYC museums. What makes this an exceptional Monday morning is the weather bonus. At this moment a thunderstorm is hovering over Queens and rain is pouring down. Usually around 8am the local birds remind me that I'm sleeping by waking me up with their petulant chirping. This morning, around 9:30, it was the sound of water hitting the ground hard and fast. Guess which way I prefer to wake up.

Saturday, I finished out my work week with two performances of The Odd Couple. After watching it for a week, I feel like I know this particular production. This play has been around for over 40 years so it's pretty tried and true. When you're mounting this show, you really only have to worry about casting and production design because the script is tight. If performed properly, every joke hits and audiences roar with laughter every few minutes.

Which is why I'm amazed that Matthew Broderick was able to get so many laughs. He gave his most wooden performance as Felix Unger. At times it seemed like he was on stage for the first time - insecure, stiff, uncomfortable and so quiet at times, you'd think he'd forgotten about that one deaf person in Secaucus to whom he's supposed to be projecting. But then at some point you realize either Joe Mantello, the director, told him to act that way or these were choices that Broderick made for his portrayal of Felix Unger. The performance completely lacked energy and for the most part the voice he chose was just awful. (The man's been on Broadway since he's 17 years of age. That's more than half his life. He should have been the best one on that stage.)

But maybe I shouldn't be amazed, because as I said earlier The Odd Couple is a very good play - so good that even if one of the actors turns in a so-so performance the play could still be a success as it is. Every performance I saw had the audience in stitches.

There's a really good and honest review of The Odd Couple at Gay City News. I agree with Christopher Byrne's review regarding the performance of Matthew Broderick and his criticisms of the director Joe Mantello for not helping Broderick give the best performance possible. You may not know this, but it's the director's responsiblity to make sure his actors aren't screwing up on stage and in the case of Broderick, he didn't do much to help the situation. (It's interesting that Montello is also the director for Three Days of Rain. Julia Roberts could have used some help and it seems Montello failed her as well.)

As much as I think Mr. Byrne accurately described Matthew Broderick's performance as the weakest point of the show, I don't necessarily agree with his criticism that the play is an anachronism and doesn't hold up - that people don't get it.

And here's why. Most theater goers know this play and understand that it takes place 40 or so years ago. There's no reason to underestimate the American public by assuming that the values and expectations of the 60's are so foreign to us now that a play like this can't be successful. The proof is in the ear splitting laughter. It's pretty clear that this play is set in the 60's. It says so in the Playbill and the set design, costumes and language couldn't make it any more plain.

I still recommend seeing this show if you can get a ticket. The performance turned in by every other cast member is delightful - particular Jessica Stone and Olivia D'Albo as the Pigeon sisters. They are wonderful and save the dinner scene at the opening of Act II . If it were up to Broderick, evereyone would have used a nasally head voice and whispered all their lines but Stone and D'Albo light the stage on fire with their oxigenated energy and comic spark.

That's my favorite scene in the play and Nathan Lane as Oscar delivers the line "Is everybody happy?" perfectly. He also does well with "It took me three hours to figure out FU stands for Felix Unger."

Go see it. Go see it now. Nathan Lane is always good without exception.

Happy Mother's Day

To all mothers, mothers-in-law, aunts, grandmothers, mother surrogates, and mothers to be

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Random Smattering of Stuff and Things

Fit for a Dolphin
Yesterday I used the treadmill at Dolphin Fitness - my new gym - and did some tricep dips.
Because today is a double feature I decided to skip a day but I'll go back tomorrow for some eliptical machine and stomach work.

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An Odd Pairing Indeed
Last night I started a new schedule at the Brooks Atkinson theater. They are currently showing The Odd Couple by Neil Simon starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. It's good. I was expecting Matthew Broderick to sleepwalk through the play but he didn't. I'm not going to say he was great but I will say he was good. He chose to give his Felix an annoying voice, which, considering Broderick's natural voice is already annoying, wasn't really necessary -- but he delivers well enough. He doesn't suck. Nathan Lane is the real star of the show. He could act with a box and make the box seem interesting - luckily for Broderick whose good enough performance was a little forced and wooden at times.

The key to performing in any play is energy and Nathan Lane has enough energy to pull the whole cast through the show. It's a good show. I recommend it. It's worth the money. This is good advice indeed considering I don't even like Neil Simon with one exception - this play. The women who play the Pigeon sisters are really fun as well.
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Coconut Lime Verbena
Bath and Body Works has a wonderful new family of scent that combines the essences of coconut, lime and verbena. I bought the bubble bath, the hand lotion and the body spray and I smell good enough to eat.

New Gym

I joined a new gym. A couple of months ago, I let my NYSC membership run out. It was a beautiful gym but it was always so crowded and I never used the shower or sauna. Heck, I didn't even like going into the locker room.

I found a gym that's closer to my house, much smaller and much cheaper.

I just bought a 3 month membership for the same cost of a session with a private trainer at the New York Sports Club.

I checked it out today.

It's clean and nice. The only problem is the thunk thunk music they play but as long as I have my own portable music player, I'll be okay.

Yay me!!

The Worst Pies in London

Other people can be so noisy. And by "other" I mean everybody else except me. The ushers at the theater I worked at this week couldn't stop talking and yapping to the exclusion of everything else going on around them.

For example, the other night, the cast all came out on stage before walk-in to rehearse with Benjamin Eakely - who is filling in as Anthony for Benjamin Magnuson who sprained his ankle.

The cast came out pre-makeup including Patti Lupone in a warmup suit with her hair tucked into her snood.

This is one of the plum bonuses of doing this job. It doesn't take that long to set up so between 7 and 7:30 there's a lot of downtime. Several times I've seen the cast warming up, but usually it's only 3 or 4 cast members - never Patti Luapone. Michael Cerveris (see right) was also warming up. He plays Sweeney - quite well.
They were all out and singing intimately to each other helping to get the understudy ready for the show - to work out the kinks. They were rehearsing the duets between Anthony and Johanna and Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd.

And the whole time they were giving me this private performance, every usher in the theater was running his or her yap, making sure to increase their volume as the singers on stage got louder. They weren't even discussing anything interesting.

Here are snippets of conversations overheard during one particular rehearsal from a different night.

Usher 1: Rumor has it Elizabeth Taylor is on her deathbead.
Usher 2: Oh. That's too bad.
Usher 1: Yeah. Heart failure.

This lead to a fascinating discussion about who's still hot and who's not from old Hollywood.

Usher 1: Paul Newman still looks soooo good.
Usher 2: Now he's also got Oreo cookies ...
Usher 3: Without the cream inside.
Usher 1: Yeah. His cookies are good.
Usher 2: Debbie Reynolds still looks like a kid.

(pregnant pause)
Usher 1: Betty White is still beautiful.
Usher 2: Of the Golden Girls, she always looked the best.
Usher 3: Bea Arthur was never really fly.
Usher 2: What was she? Like 6'2".
Usher 1: She always looked a little bit like a man.

Yes. I was sitting near them with my notepad writing down some observational notes based on what was going on in the theater. Yes. This was a conversation from Friday night and not from Thursday night's impromptu full cast preshow rehearsal.

I've got other notes too but they are mostly bitter observations about the not-so-friendly ushers at this theater. So... I'll keep them to myself. There's no need to be mean.

My Own Private Idaho

Is it wrong that I enjoy being alone so much?

I have been spending days by myself and I don't seem to be getting tired of it.

A friend told me today that pretty soon I'll start getting antsy but I don't see it happening too soon.

Granted soon there will have to be some kind of daily activity outside of household chores otherwise I'm going to become boring to those who know me rather quickly.

But for right now . . . I'll enjoy this just a little longer.

Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This week I'm working on Sweeney Todd, over at the Eugene O'Neill Theater.

I saw it for the first time tonight.

It was amazing, absolutely amazing.

But the theater was practically empty.

If you want to see it, see it on a Tuesday night.

Much Ado About Nothing

Before I continue writing about my theatrical experiences, I give you one more picture from the Jacobs Theatre. Here is a picture of the crowd gathering to see Julia Roberts at the Stage Entrance after the show.

100 Years of Solitude

Looking at the title of this post, you may think that I'm writing about Three Days of Rain - yet again. But I'm not.

This week I read a book called 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

It's a beautiful and strange book.

I recommend it if you're looking for something to absorb you and make you think.

Have you read it?

What do you think?

Three Days of Rain

Okay. I've seen the show five times this week. I really wanted to be fair to Julia Roberts before I reviewed her performance, giving her ample opportunity to improve. She never does. She just doesn't get better.

Every show she gives the same flat, soft-spoken, low energy performance. It's like she's on valium. There are scenes where she interacts with either one or both of her male co-stars who run around the stage with abounding energy. They give her so much to work with. Yet she somehow sucks it all in and then neutralizes all the life force being given to her as a gift from the other actors.

And she drops practically every line - well, maybe dropped isn't the right word. She seems to speak downwards. She ends every sentence at a lower pitch than she started. And she does seem as wooden as the reviewers said. Especially when compared to Bradley Cooper's performance which is like bubbly champaign next to her flat gingerale.

I realized for the first time last night that she must not have any formal theatrical training - that she's probably been getting by on her sweet personality and good looks. In film, she's great. She connects immediately with audience and is usually instantly sympathetic. She was great in Erin Brokavitch - so great in fact she won an Oscar.

But there won't be a TONY anytime soon, that's for sure.

Today I have to work on the revivial of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park which the critics absolutely hated. With the exception of parts of the Odd Couple, I generally hate Neil Simon. He always portrays women in a bad light.

Disney Plus Times Square Equals Misery

As if Disney's monopolization of 42nd Street and its slow takeover of Broadway weren't enough, now Disney is filming a movie in the heart of Times Square. Yesterday, Disney was filming what looked like a stunt for one of their movies.

Here is the shot they were working on when I got to the evening showing of Three Days.


If you look closely, on top of the bus you see a man dressed in a ridiculous outfit with puffy sleeves.


I can only imagine that Disney is filming yet another one of their "brilliant" fish-out-of-water sagas where a colorful and arrogant (or heroic - doesn't matter) prince from the general past (usually in a history made up by the geniuses at Disney) somehow ends up in modern times. By watching what they were doing, I'm guessing that the prince most likely will have fallen out of the sky only to find himself in a world full of mechanized monsters that transport people from one place to another.

In the meantime, trying to get to the subway station under that sign in the background that says Guest Suites is becoming increasingly difficult.

Every day it's something new preventing me from making a quick escape from the congested city. If it's not the premier of a show like Le Stat The Musical next door to the station, Disney is filming a crap movie.

Welcome to life in the big city.

The Rapping Granny

With a limited engagement of a hot play with a star as huge as Julia Roberts, there are bound to be a few celebrities in the audience. At the matinee performance, I missed seeing Tracy Ullman as she got a drink at the bar, just four feet away from me, because I was helping customers.

As I was getting my headsets ready for the evening performance, Julia Roberts walked right past me while my back was turned. I didn't know until I turned around and she'd already passed me. I saw her back. So, I can only tell you that from the back she looks like pretty much every body else, except that she was wearing a really nice spring coat.

In the audience, as people were getting into their seats before the show, I spotted Ellen Albertini Dow who much to my delight has her own website. You know her. She's the character actor who is always playing a part where she is doing something out of character for an old lady like her role as the Rapping Granny in the Wedding Singer.

I'm sure there will be others. I'll keep you posted.

Three Days of Pain

Okay. I get it. I understand why the critics are being so hard on Julia Roberts, but it's not her fault. Three Days of Rain is kind of boring. And her part in the first act is kind of lame and the fact that she's practically screaming may have had something to do with, what some critics called, her wooden performance. It's not fair when actors and actresses
have to worry about the sound quality of a show because it detracts from their performances.

Sound on straight plays is always lame. I don't know why they don't attach microphones to the actors like they do in musicals. If actors in this play had individual mikes they could concentrate on acting instead of projecting. But no. Like all straight plays where TALKING is the most important thing, only the stage is miked which means instead of individuals you hear all of it, everything. Even if you're wearing one of my headsets, instead of hearing the sounds being eminated from the people acting in the show, you hear every sound in the entire freakin' theater - including candy wrappers, coughing and the beeping of phones that weren't silenced during the walk-in (the half hour before the show starts where everyone takes their seats).

Now as far as the play goes, it's like watching someone's playwriting graduation project. I don't know how this show was chosen for Broadway - and mind you some these tickets are going for over $600. In the first act the three actors play a brother, his sister and their friend. In the second act they play their parents. Snooze. Nothing much happens. Although, the second act does afford Julia a meatier part by way of a dramatic Southern woman. Paul Rudd's character stutters in the second act which makes it even LONGER. I smacked my forehead in frustration and released a huge sigh when his character started stuttering.

I've heard that some people find the play confusing but is that Julia Roberts's fault? No. It's not. It's the play. I understand why some people found the play confusing. If you were bored by the incredibly boring first act you may have missed all the important but boring exposition and boring background stuff about the characters that would show up later in the slightly less boring second act.

Bradley Cooper is the third actor in the play and he is very good. His energy is what pulled me through the show. Paul Rudd turns in a decent performance and Julia Roberts is Julia Roberts. She is lovely, talented, sweet but very soft spoken. The Jacobs Theater seemed to swallow her voice. I listenedto her. She was talking in top voice. It's not like she was whispering.

But gosh I sure do wish she would speak louder. I hate when the patrons complain to me about the sound quality of the show. Patrons don't understand that I'm not associated directly with the theater - I'm just a vendor providing a service. Because of the nature of my work they want to talk to me about the sound of the show. I can only shrug my shoulders.

Le Stat, The Musical

Last night, on my way to the theatre, I walked by a big to-do in front of Le Stat, The Musical. There were mobs of people, boom mikes and photographers with huge cameras set up on tri-pods watching what looked like some kind of red carpet spectacular.



Actually it was the opening of the show. And it didn't get very good reviews. Not surprisingly. Most shows crash and burn within two months of opening. I remember seeing AIDA in the same theater and that was absolutely wonderful - moved me to tears. Perhaps Elton John was trying to make lightening strike the same spot twice. Of course, critics absolutely can not be trusted. If I actually get to work on this show I'll let you know how it is.

But until then save your money. Do not spend $100 or more on a show unless someone you trust and whose taste you agree with recommends that you see it.

A New Week - A New Show

I'm going to the Jacobs Theater tonight and I'm psyched as all get out. I'm leaving in 5 minutes or so.

And I'm hungry.

Yesterday, I bought a new jacket at Macy's on sale. Macy's is what Lord & Taylor was.

I couldn't believe the sales. I'm going to have to go back with a bigger plan than just buying one jacket.

Things I Missed This Week

American Idol - Now that I'm working nights, if I don't tape a show I like, I'm not going to see it. This is what happened with A.I. this week. I forgot to set the VCR but this was not a problem as the guest judge was Rod Stewart. Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe the musical talents of Rod Stewart? So no loss there.

Chris's housewarming/birthday party - Friday night my friend had a party. Due to allergies and a late shift I ended up bailing. Sorry buddy. I'll make the next one. I promise.

One thing I didn't miss this week was my old full time job.

Dirty Rotten Commute

Today was a long day, not that I'm complaining because I'm not. Because I have an amazing part-time job that is giving me a lot of joy, so I wouldn't dare complain. But Wednesdays and Saturdays are very long days because of the matinees.

Matinees end around 5 which gives me two hours before I have to be at the theater for the evening shows. I get to the theater an hour before the curtain goes up in order to get ready for the shift. So, I have to be there at 7. I would go home except that by the time I got home, I would have about half an hour to relax before I had to turn around and head back into the city.

With that said, today was a hard day to kill two hours walking around mid-town because of the unusually cold and rainy weather. I had a plan and that plan was to walk over to the lending library at 39th St and 5th and get a new library card, which I did - in the cold and the rain. I had dinner at a quiet Chinese restaurant and worked my evening show.

But then the night got really long. First, my last headset was returned 10 minutes after the show ended. Then I had to fight my way through the rain and crowds of theater goers exiting their respective shows. When I finally made it to the station I was psyched to get on the train and head home to our nice warm apartment. I waited from 11 to 11:30 as 3 R trains stopped and picked up the lucky passengers headed toward Rego Park and Forest Hills.

I didn't get home until midnight. After 30 minutes of waiting I finally went up to the clerk at the ticket counter and asked him if N trains were indeed running. He said they were running but were behind schedule. (NO KIDDING.) My question naturally prompted the N train to come and rescue me from the cold, damp station.

Three Days of Rain - Premier

I was working at the Imperial Theater the night that Three Days of Rain premiered across the street at the Jacobs Theater. Three Days of Rain stars Paul Rudd, some other guy and Julia Roberts in her Broadway debut. As you can imagine, the scene was complete chaos. People were losing their minds for a glimpse of Julia Roberts. Here is a shot of the Jacobs as the stars made their wait out of the stage entrance after the premier. If you look closely you can see a black SUV parked by the stage door amidst the crowd in which takes Ms. Roberts home every night.


And here is the rainy scene three days later. You can see Julia's SUV more clearly but not as many people. In all fairness, I did take this shot an hour before the play was scheduled to go on, but I thought it was an interesting contrast to the madness of three days earlier.


I have to admit I'm pretty excited to be working this show all next week. It's even more exciting than when I worked on Long Days Journey Into Night and that show had FOUR big stars in it. There's something about her star power that transcends reasonable expecations of her as a human being. I think critics were expecting her to give a TONY winning performance in her Broadway debut not thinking that she might actually have to practice live theater for a while before actually getting good at it.

Any way, I'll be sure to let you know what I think as soon as I have an opinion that can be expressed in 200 words or less.