“We’ve been given a present with a worth beyond worth, for a limited stretch of time we can walk on this earth” from the closing number of About Time.
Team About Time from left to right - Darius de Haas, Lynne Wintersteller, Richard Maltby, Doris Kearns Goodwin (guest), Eddie Korbich, David Shire, Daniel Jenkins, Shinnerrie Jackson, Didi Conn, Deniz Cordell, Annie Pasqua and me on the ground.
ABOUT TIME has been a present with a worth beyond worth. We laughed so much, worked so intensely in the six weeks we were at the Goodspeed in Chester and cherished this wonderful new piece by Richard Maltby and David Shire. A cast of six grown-ups, who have been around the block more than a few times with nothing left to prove but just to enjoy life and respect the work.
While dining with Richard on the last Saturday an audience member came over to shake his hand “Oh my God, you’re royalty! I saw Closer Than Ever when it first came out in 1989 – it was the soundtrack to my life and now you’ve done it again with this show.” That was the response across the board and I keep my fingers crossed for Richard and David that the show has a further life.
A honeysuckle bank
Shinnerrie Jackson, Lynne Wyntersteller and I lived in the Herb Chambers House in the ‘Actors Village’ – a three-bedroom clapperboard abode. Thank you Herb! He and his charitable donation not only funded our house but the new car park for the Opera House. Each morning we would sit on the porch, sipping a cup of tea or coffee, putting the world to right while watching the gold finch’s flit from tree to tree. Our neighbours in the ‘village’, members from the other shows, Ragtime and All Shook Up, would stroll past and stop by for a chat. A totally unique experience.
I shall miss the magnificent Connecticut River and the heady scented walks courtesy of the wild growing honeysuckle found in every hedgerow or tumbling over stone walls or great beds of the flowers lying lazily on the roadside - it has been a heavenly experience.
No King’s Day in East Haddam CT
While England prepared for Royal Ascot week, PDT had his own big boy bash with carriages and tanks. I heard tell of US flags being hung upside down in response. Meanwhile in East Haddam, they held their own No King’s Day at Two Wrasslin’ Cats – a very peaceful and ‘granola’* affair. A crowd of about 200 people of all ages and persuasions were happily waving banners and flags in the drizzle, when a stereotypical MAGA truck rumbled by with flags protruding from its rear end and a flag wearing bull dog leant out of the passenger window.
Two Wrasslin Cats Cafe
Two days before, missing my cats, I took a walk up to the Two Wrasslin Cats Cafe in the hope that I might get a good cup of tea and a cuddle with one of Mark, the owners, cats. Not only did I get to chat with the cats but hearing a British voice on the next table, I did my best Fawlty Towers Mrs Richards (Joan Sanderson) impression.
“English!” I barked.
To which a gentleman on the neighboring table said “Yes”.
Thus followed a chat about him coming over from Wembley aged 15 with no qualifications just a desire to follow the American Dream. His dream did indeed come true. Now a retiree living in Florida but at that moment up visiting his friends in Connecticut, a couple who turned to ask what I was doing in East Haddam.
I mentioned I was doing the show at the Norma Terris Theatre to which they replied “We’ve got tickets for tomorrow matinee. So you act in London. Don’t suppose you know an English actor and very good friend of ours, John Conroy?”
Well blow me down. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. We did Regents Park Open Air Theatre together the summer of 2003 (the summer Ed Who? directed Rose Rage at CST). And a jolly fine actor and good fellow he is too.”
What are the chances?
SUMMER IN THE CITY
Home in Chicago summer is blazing with temperatures upwards of 30 degrees (95 in American). This is my first full summer here and folks of all shapes and sizes who only a few months ago were wrapped up against the biting wind have thrown off their layers and are now clad in nothing more than a pair of intsy teensy shorts. You can see what they had for breakfast. It is so hot that some aren’t even bothering with shorts, it’s just bikini’s.
I had hardly walked through the door when D2 begged me to take her to the beach – well, after nearly 6 weeks of rain in Connecticut I was just as keen as her to get down there. I mean, it’s just a 20 minute cycle – what is not to love about this city? In my excitement, I quite forgot that the lake, frozen only a month or two ago and fed with Canada’s melting snow and ice would make the water a tad parky but it was and is pure freezing bliss.
Chicago in the summer with sea gulls
Cycling back home from CST along Lake Shore Drive on Saturday night at about 10.30pm the beaches were still heaving with people either swimming, leaping into the lake, dancing beside the water or moon bathing! It was a glorious sight as the famous Saturday night Navy Pier fireworks sparkled on the surface of the lake.
With guests in town we all went to see the new British import 42 BALLOONS at CST, the story of Lawnchair Larry who set off in 1982 for a solo flight attaching 42 helium balloons to a garden chair. As a young man he was rejected by the US Airforce for bad eye sight but he never let go of his childhood dream to fly and hit upon an unconventional enterprise to make his dreams come true. Larry’s girlfriend, Carol van Deusen, took out a $15,000 loan to cover all expenses. It worked out better than anyone could have expected – he ended up reaching 6,000 ft in the air.
To pay off the bank loan the couple tried to see if any media outlets would be interested in interviewing Larry which of course many did, David Letterman included. What no one expected was that he would become the butt of everyone’s jokes. Though the loan was eventually paid off, the media circus destroyed their relationship. Larry was found shot dead in a national park, where he was a volunteer ranger, ten years later.
Carol van Deusen’s niece Cynthia came to see the show at the weekend and together with the whole cast, called Carol …. many tears were shed. RIP Larry - your story is beautifully told in this magical show.
JOFFREY
Another glorious cultural treat was a trip to the Lyric Opera to see the Joffrey’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Apart from being beautifully danced it is also extremely well acted as well as being a visual feast. Bravo Ashley Wheater.
Finished off our Cultural and Sports programme with a baking trip to Wrigley Field – Cubs v Seattle Mariners. How anyone could play in that heat was beyond me. If I were either wicket keeper, I’d be ditching the kit, keeping the protective gear but sticking on my swimmers – how they didn’t pass out is a wonder. Cubs lost but we had JK Simmons and Bonnie Hunt serenade us with a belting ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ and a gloriously camp organ rendition of Pink Floyds’ Comfortably Numb. which warmed any remaining parts that weren’t already baking.
Take me out to the ball game with Vincent’s and McCreery’s
A few more British and Americanisms …
*Any guesses what the British translation of ‘granola’ or ‘crunchy’ might be? Americans are not allowed to play this game.
“Shot my bolt” got a response I wasn’t expecting.
‘You couldn’t even swing a cat in here” received a few raised eyebrows.
“Teach your Grandmother to suck eggs” likewise.
I learnt “Shill” - very pleased with that one.
“They’ve got you over a barrel” - what?
“Am Dram” got a blank stare = “Community Theatre” in the US.
“Suck it up buttercup” (American)
We ‘dry’ on stage but American’s ‘Go up’.
Naked London to Brighton Bicycle Ride - a British summertime staple
No Has Beans here - when you’re friends are in town and they make the Weather Channel with @justinmichaels … whoop whoop. Justin lucked out when he met the Vincent’s - little did he know that Mrs V aka @wideeyedlondon knows a thing or two about city walks …..
The Chicago Bean