Okay, my Nathan Lane story:
(Apologies to those who've heard the story 20 times before!)
I was posting on another message board many years ago using the same screen name. One night Nathan Lane was appearing on Seth's "Chatterbox" and the conversation turned toward message boards and chat rooms. Now, I was not there, but several other "regulars" were and they reported that the moment the words "message boards" were uttered by Rudetsky, Lane moaned, "Oh no! Don't tell me you're Dollypop!"
This indicated that Lane lurks the message boards, so I wanted to get his attention. With lop-sided logic, I began posting negative messages about Lane's performances. It went on for a while.
Eventually I received an e-mail from Lane asking me to stop. He said that such comments were "hurtful" to his career and his self-esteem. (Yup! He used the word "hurtful"!)
I responded with an e-mail explaining that I was only doing this so that he'd notice me and obviously it had worked. I explained that I not only admired his work but also found him to be quite attractive. I concluded by inviting him to dinner. He never reponded. I stopped posting negative comments about him.
Fast forward to a BC/EFA Flea Market three years ago: Nathan Lane was at the celebrity table and when it was his turn to go into the photo booth, I paid my money to have a picture taken with him. As I approached him, he was smiling, but he froze when he saw that I was wearing my famous HELLO, DOLLY! t-shirt. I smiled and told him that I was Dollypop. He commented, "I'm scared. I'm terribly scared!" His fear is evident as the photo was taken. It shows all over his face. (He's so short he barely came up to my chest!)
Now a friend and I had tickets for the Off-Bwy play TRUMBO that afternoon. As luck would have it, Lane was playing the title role that week. He was exceptionally good in it. After the performance we waited at the stage door and when Lane came out he saw me and screamed, "It's YOU again!!!!" and he literally ran into the Town Car that was waiting for him.
People have suggested that I should do an interview with him for BWW. I don't think it's a very good idea.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
