Well, I am such it is a little miserable there today, since it just has to be hot as hell! But, I am talking about over the weekend, when the Ducks invaded Broadway.
Now, as you should know, I grew up in New Jersey. There are a few things you learn when living in the Garden State.
1.You dont wander too far from the casinos in Atlantic City
2.If you do have to go to Newark, you take the train
3.Don't get lost in Trenton.
Number 3 was the problem this weekend, or at least it was the problem in my silly head. We took the train to Manhattan out of Trenton. It was the closest spot and it would guarantee us getting a seat, but when there is no parking and things arent marked well, and you have to turn off from the safety of the train station parking lot into what could be an abyss, you get a wee bit cranky. Sue me, its the ABC's of me.
We did finally find $13 parking close to the station, though $13 was a tad painful to part with since its a $1 a day if you park at Septa. And we were off.
New York is crowded, Manhattan is even more crowded, the area between Madison Square Garden and Broadway is more crowded then papparazi chasing Paris on a drunken bender! It is rather overwhelming, at least to the senses. Sounds, and noise and guys begging for smokes and people shilling for the Grey Line bus tour and the $1 jewelery and the pretzel guys and on and on and on. Oh and don't forget the giant billboards and the cabs!
We ducked into the giant Toys R Us, which would be sensory overload for anyone under 15, or probably over 50. But, the bathrooms were clean, easy to find and we almost got run over by Geoffrey the Giraffe only once.
Dodging and weaving, we get ourselves settled in the Broadhurst Theater for Les Misarebles, flipping through the Playbill as the lights dim to see the Saturday Matinee is a understudy haven and I feel some anticipation as the lights dim. Of course, for the first 10 minutes of the show, I can not engross myself in whats going on because there is the ushers still trying to seat people and the theater ain't that big.
Jeff Kready played Valjean and did an amazing, amazing job. His "One Day More" caused my second brim of emotion and tears, always good since you easily get caught when the lights come up for intermission. Lea Salonga was stunning as Fantine. Stunning! When she sang "Come to Me", I was engrossed. I had been waiting a good ten years at least to see this play and as she sung, I could not believe that I was actually finally getting to see it. That was the first time I welled up a little bit, ok more then a little bit. I was so happy and I was just in my own happy little world. Eponine was an understudy as well, but I am sure we will all here the name Megan McGinnis again. Even, Mrs Duck, commented upon how amazing she was. Goddess, they were all amazing.
We got out of the city and survived the trip home, but I had the Finale still ringing in my head. It could have been a 3 hour trip and I would have been happy.
I swear, any chance I get I will see this play, touring group or in someplace that they have it showing. I will see this play again.
