K, after reading Kay's posts, I don't think my loong posts are that exciting, but I make them anyway, tomorrow's classes so I'm gonna have lotsa trouble sleeping. For the sake of trying to make posts shorter, I shall put all DRS-related stuff of the day here and then little other tidbits in another.
So went down to the city just in time to lose Wicked lotto. Figured I'd head over to TKTS to see the DRS matinee so I could lose wicked lotto again at night. My seat was orch q, seat 18, which is like 5 seats from the end, which marks the very first time I have seen this show and not been all the way on the end! First time I never saw into either wings, that was cool, kinda wish I could be more center but new perspective.
And just when I planned to write and laughed during the day about seeing this show too much and noticing all these different things...I didn't notice Andre was lacking his mole? I feel ashamed. And if you tell me John wasn't wearing his wigs and I missed that...::hangs head in shame::
So performance...the more I see, the more I realize such an important part the audience plays in the show. The audience seemed kinda dead at the beginning. I was determined to get Greg an entrance applause, so he walked on I cheered a "woot" clapped like 5 times until I realized I was absolutely the only one and the woot kinda went flat and the clapping stopped. Hmm, he needs a more applausable entrance.
Ehh, I'm debating, but there's not that much I can say about the performance that I haven't before, it was my 7th time, still wonderful...though somewhere after Ruprecht I got absolutely exhausted and was fighting to keep my eyes open. Finally ran out during intermission to gulf down two starbucks, then I was awake. Oh, and the audience really got into Ruprecht. After Norbie licked John, he started giggling and then John did, so Norbie started sucking his thumb to cover it but John was still laughing, but the audience was so they saved it.
By the time I was recaffeinated by the second act it seemed the entire audience was recaffeniated, and they were much more into it and enthusiastic so it was great. Noticed a tad bit of diff stuff, little teeny oopsys or changes that would go unnoticed from someone who hasn't seen the show 7 times(some of Norbie's cheoreography, the orch off w/ Norbie at the beginning of Son of Great Big Stuff and Sherie momentarily having a blank when she's getting the money from John, she went th-th-th-th-then which seemed perfectly in character and the audience laughed.
Anyway, great to see the show again and full cast and yaay. Stood up for Greg, felt I was the only one, in fact I don't think ppl stood for Joanna, waited for the big 3, oh well.
Oh, so do you guys remember I mentioned getting a poster in honor of my last day before classes? Got that right before the coffee, so I rushed to the stage door and throughout the show tried to familiarize myself w/ some ensemble members that I didn't know, after enough repeat trips, I hope to have it signed by the whole cast, don't know what to do about Joanna though...well, I'm a long way off.
So I got a prime spot in the front of the stage door, esp. b/c I was trying to get ensemble. First one out I recognized was Joe Cassidy so I called him over and he looked really surprised and shocked, I told him I saw him as Freddy and thought he gave a great performance, that I had seen the show 7 times(he suggested I get a frequent buyer discount, I agree), and when he left he was like thank you sooo much for calling me over! It seemed to mean a lot, if you guys remember my Andrew experience, I vowed to make the ensemble members feel more credited, appreciated, so that felt great.
Then a couple came out but I guess they're so used to not being called over, some I just didn't know names and I tried to hold the poster out, some I even called their names but they didn't hear me. Oh, I did get Paula, mentioned Damn Yankees, that was cute. So finally I told Kevin to help me out w/ the ensemble members, he sarcastically joked that I should look at my playbill, but said yes he will direct them over to me(at this point the ppl around me are like do you know everyone? b/c I called Kevin by his name and such, I laughed, I was like...not everyone)
Oh, so then Kevin says Rak's coming, he'll direct her over, so I was like well thank you but I know Rak(weird looks from other ppl at stage door, hehe) She came out w/ Andrew so I was able to call them both over and I think Timothy was with them so he signed too and I briefly talked to them. The girl next to me realized Rak did a lot of the dance solos, so she asked for her autograph too, I was very excited to pass on ensemble love.
Though while they were signing and I was chatting w/ them, Jeremy and Greg(softballers) walk out and I screamed their names, but they didn't hear and walked past, I was upset b/c I actually know them, oh well. Then John and Norbie walked out, and I informed them both I was seeing it for 7 times and that all performances were of the same great quality...so I told Norbie I don't know how he does it everyday and he said he doesn't either, and John said then I probably know every goof so I laughed and said yeah but you save most of them and they crack me up.
So w/ John and Norbie gone ppl started leaving. Eventually it was just me and another lady who I was chatting with for a while. She lurks here and ready for this guys...I am not the only DRS whore, in fact I think I am less of a whore...she saw the show 15 times! I told her I'm so happy to not be alone in seeing it a lot...so maybe I'm the #2 whore. Oh, and then I realized Sara had snuck out and was across the street, was gonna run after her b/c I know her, but then decided know her or not, I really didn't like the idea of running down the street chasing someone w/ a poster...
So the lady and I were talking for a while and then Greg eventually came out, she knows him too, so we're both total whores, we met Jan(I think she's his ex-neighbor or something b/c someone asked who she is...she had an English accent though, that was cool) and then we all left. So I still have lotsa work to do on my poster...
Though at the end of the night, I was walking to my car, actually passed Greg again, but pretended not to see him, he was with someone and I certainly don't need to say hi twice...but then I saw Sherie walking towards me, I was holding my poster in the bag, but of course she was gone, before I had the nerve to say Sherie, etc. Oh well.
Ooh, forgot one more thing! While I was chatting w/ the lady and waiting for Greg, Jack came out...I must have been in a crazy mood b/c I was like Jack! and he's like oh hi...and then I guess I realized that was quite loud and I was like oh yeah I know Greg and I watched the cam a lot...so wanted to say hi...don't quite remember the rest of that convo. Also realized Dolly had walked out earlier, but I was too busy trying to recognize ensemble members. Oh well.
K, that's my DRS story for the day. Wow. I really can ramble. Most ppl who discuss backstage visits which are far more interesting than this ramble post shorter. I greatly apologize guys, feel free to skim, or hope you felt free to do so before you got all the way down...And I hafta be up at 8:15 tomorrow for 3 classes. Should be an interesting day.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
Updated On: 9/1/05 at 02:49 AM
