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June 10, 2002

Blessings from an Appendectomy Last

Blessings from an Appendectomy
Last weekend I was really looking forward to hosting my 9-year-old cousin Katherine in New York City. My aunt Margaret was bringing her husband and stepchildren to NYC for a visit and was also going to escort my cuz from Houston. I didn't have a whole lot planned...just some ideas of things we would do. The Statue of Liberty of course. Maybe one of those big, red buses riding through town and pointing out all the interesting landmarks around the city. The Bronx Zoo. Central Park. And if I could get tickets spur of the moment, The Lion King, which I think my cousin would love. But these plans abruptly crashed on Tuesday night when I got a phone call from my mother. Aunt Margaret had an emergency appendectomy that day and the trip was indefinitely postponed. As disappointed as I was I couldn't be too disheartened. I hadn't prepaid for any tickets or anything so there was no money lost. The trip would happen eventually and before summer was over. Aunt Margaret was also okay. She seems to be recovering nicely from her impromtu surgery. So I was faced with an open weekend. I could attend TITC's post-party meeting that Thursday. I could maybe even try to catch "The Crucible" on Broadway, a show that I really wanted to see but had given all hope of seeing since it was closing that weekend and I was doing the cousin thing. I now had an opportunity to do both. But alas, the post-party meeting was postponed for the next day and I was sitting at work faced with cancellations and a free evening.

I decided tonight was the night to see what I could do about The Crucible. I would take myself on an "artist's date". If I could get half price tickets from the TKTS Booth I would do so. That would be the deal breaker....if I could get tickets half price or not. As I emerged from my building at around 6 o'clock there was a blustery wind and a light drizzle greeting me. No worries though, I had tucked my umbrella away in my canvas bag for just such an occasion. Although I didn't really need it. It was mainly a precaution. A warning to the weather that, unlike the day I lucked into house seats for "Urinetown" last fall, I was ready for what it had to offer whether it be a thundering deluge (like that Urinetown night) or a wispy mist. I picked up my tickets at the TKTS booth and had enough time to treat myself to a meal before the early showtime of 7:30pm. I chose a diner at 52nd and broadway that turned out to have the best swiss cheeseburger I had ever tasted. It was yummy. Then I walked the half a block to the theatre. I didn't recognize it until I got inside. It was the same theatre where I had seen Gore Vidal's "The Best Man" the first winter I lived in New York City.

The lady took my ticket and I was making my way up the stairs to the orchestra and praying to the TKTS gods that I had a decent seat. (I had sworn off the TKTS booth for a long time because of a really bad seat at the last week of "Fosse".) Then I remembered this is a long play...three acts to be exact. So before I found my seat I turned right around and made way for the the Ladie's Toilet. A small line gave me plenty of time to congratulate myself on my forethought. I did my biz and was now ready to make my way to my seat hurriedly as the curtain was about to go up. Then disaster reared it's laughing head. I couldn't find my ticket stubb anywhere and I had only a vague idea of where I sat. Twenty rows back in the far right...that was all I knew. I decided to bluff. To go and find an empty seat twenty rows back and hope for the best. I was promptly busted. "You'll have to go to the House Manager and speak with her about your, ahem, dilemma." I was beside myself with grief. I had just spent $40 some odd dollars for a show that I had lost my "TKTS" to see. OH WOE IS ME!!! OH Cursed Fate and Absentmindedness. Where had that foul ticket gone. Bleakly, I searched for the House Manager. If she was anything like House Managers I had run into in the past I was in for a rough ride. But to my utter joy and amazement, she was lovely. She managed to be gracious and help me out while mostly masking her bewilderment at how a person could get herself in such a pickle. She pulled out a business card. Wrote a seat number on the back and directed me to give that to the usher. I did so and discovered I was now in a better seat than the one I had paid for. About 10 rows back and three seats away from the center section.

I took a deep breath and awaited the sensations that were soon to envelop me. I must tell you, the show was so good and so deeply satisfying. Liam Neeson was good. Laura Linney was better. I did more than just enjoy her performance...I learned something as an actor. She stayed true to the character so steadfastly that by the end when she finally does give into the emotions of the situation the audiences catharsis is magnificent. A weaker actress would have played the love more and not the obstacle. I realize I am not making much sense, especially to those who aren't in the acting vocation. Suffice to say it was a brilliantly realized performance.

At intermission I was already feeling heady and happy and so grateful for a life full of the arts. I looked to my left and my good friend Bill Cannon was a few rows ahead of me and to the right. We said hello and then rushed to the restrooms. (I hate being distracted by my bladder during a good show.) Bill also mentioned I should come with him at the end of the show to go back and see Brian Murray. Brian played Judge Danforth in the show and was nominated for a Tony. WOO HOO! For the second time in as many weeks I was going backstage. Brian is a lovely man. A gentleman's gentleman so to speak. He seems very intelligent and genteel. He invited Bill and I to have cocktails at a restaurant down the street. The cast was having a "thing" there. I giddily accepted. Finally we made our way downstairs. Backstages at Broadway houses have many floors. Brian's dressing room was on the 3rd. So we get to the 2nd floor landing and there are a small gaggle of young girls with Playbills impeding our progress. What's the hold up I wondered? It turned out to be Liam Neeson signing autographs. I was starstruck and that is SO frustrating as I never know how to act. I don't want to be all ga-ga in front of my pals or Liam Neeson for that matter. ARGGH. What sweet torture. Liam noticed our intent and stepped back. I and my party brushed past him and all I could muster was a very quite but smiling "goodnight." To his shoulders. He responded in kind but to my face.

Back at the restaurant I sat at a table with Brian, his friend Fiona, her friend Robbie, and Bill. We had a lovely time chatting about theatre and things. Liam and his wife, Natasha Richardson, were at a table with Crucible's director, Richard Eyre, and Laura Linney. At one point, Brian flagged Laura over and introduced us. It was so much fun.
"Laura this is Meredith, Mereidith this is Laura"
"Nice to meet you, Meredith" Hand shake.
"Nice to meet you, Laura".
And now, I can live another day. I love this town.

Posted by mermu at June 10, 2002 04:13 PM

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