My most recent theater afternoon, Fallen Angels, with Kelli O'Hara and Rose Byrne
My love of the theater started early. We didn't go often. We lived in Connecticut and tickets were pricy, when it was possible my mother and I would go to local plays. I remember seeing Oklahoma in a local "summer stock" production when I was nine or ten and from then on, my dream was to see a show on Broadway. That didn't happen for years, but our family vacation was a week in New York City in 1965.
Once I was in college I was making my way on the New Haven Railroad to see theater. Tickets were three and four dollars -- approximately a few hours of my wages at my college job -- and I saw as much as possible. Getting tickets ahead of time was cumbersome. There was no internet with seating charts and credit cards. I had to mail a check and hope for good seats. Two plays from that era stand out. One was a revival of Our Town with Henry Fonda and the other a revival of Harvey with Helen Hayes and Jimmy Stewart. They were both so worth the effort and still stand out as some of the best theater I've seen.
Once I moved to New York theater has been one of my favorite activities. Some plays have been as memorable as Harvey and some much less so. Ticket prices have gone from a treat or a splurge to at times, astronomical. I've become a very smart ticket buyer, using discount websites and when there's no discount, choosing carefully. I've learned that I'd rather see one thing I really want than several things I don't particularly care about.
My latest theater event was seeing a revival of Noel Cowards, Fallen Angels. The play was described as not one of Coward's best -- which I agree with -- but I wanted to see Kelli O'Hara, one of my favorite actors. The play itself was okay, but Kelli O'Hara and Rose Byrne were delights. I remember seeing Rose Byrne in Bridesmaids and she was fabulously funny on stage with terrific comic timing. These two performances are now part of my theater memories.
Is anyone else in Buttercupland a theater fan? What are some of your favorite plays?
It's a beautiful day in New York City, sunny and no humidity. I've got a synagogue volunteer event tonight and a haircut scheduled for tomorrow. And on Sunday I'm going to a very off-Broadway theater event with friends.
As ever, thanks for visitng and have a great weekend.
14 comments
Oh yes. Over the spring I drove to Deland to see Steele Magnolias in its original fan. Pittsburgh was more musicals—started Isaac with Peter Pan—while my favorite remains An American in Paris—Of course Phantom and Grease are up there too!
*original form*
Your weekend plans so good ... have a good one ... and Happy June for Monday :)
All the best Jan
I'm impressed that you saw Jimmy Stewart and Henry Ford in person. Great memories, I'm sure.
Years ago (many) when I was living in NJ, I caught a bus to NYC on weekends and would wait in the TKTS line for discount seats to that day’s matinees. In the mid-70s prices were reasonable compared to now. I saw many shows with well known actors: Kingfishers with Rex Harrison, George Rose and Claudette Colbert, I Love My Wife with the Smothers Brothers, Dracula with Frank Langella, and one with Lauren Bacall. My favorite was a one-woman show featuring Lily Tomlin.
I'm a serious theatre fan (I was a theatre major), but what I love most are the musicals. My memory bank is filled with moments of joy -- original productions of Company and Follies, Bacall in Applause!, longing to see the perfect production of Gypsy, which has long eluded me. The Lion King remains an all-time awe! But non-musicals move me too. I was riveted by the recent Oedipus, which I saw in London and if I could have made it to NYC to see those two again, I would have. I would love to have been at Fallen Angels with you! Now I work with our University theatre coordinating community classes around plays of the season to bring in the actors, directors, designers, sometimes (if new) a playwright. People come a week prior to the production for the first class, then a week after for the second, with lots of interaction between the speakers and participants. I'm lucky to live in a good area for local theatre -- community, professional, educational and touring. Two of the best things I saw last year were a drama called "Fatherland" and a piece about the WWI Christmas Truce called "All Is Calm." Sigh. I'd love to live as close as you do to the NYTheatre scene!
My theater experiences have been limited to movies for the most part. Our local college used to have performances of live plays but I never got to go to one. Nice you could have these wonderful memories of the plays you've been to!
I've only seen a couple of plays but have always enjoyed them. I saw Annie, Les Miserables and I Do I Do. I would have loved to have seen Cats!!
When my dad was in the army he was stationed with Jimmy Steward and was his driver!!!
A great number of times, when I'd be visiting my daughter in NY, we'd go see a play. Phantom of the Opera was one that sticks out as does... well, heck, they all were fabulous. I love the theatre.
Oh yes! It's been many years, but I've always loved the theater -- starting when my parents introduced me to a Summer stock production (now forgotten). One of my fav souvenirs from a NY getaway is a Playbill autographed by Vivian Vance. I was probably too young to know who she was, but my dad was thrilled - lol.
Those live productions that will live forever in my memory are Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom and Les Miz.
How fun! I have seen a few productions and in my teen years did a few dramas and was a part of our local community theater. I am not so much into them as much but I do like the occasional one if it is of something I am super interested in. I don't have major fantastic places in our area. If I were to visit New York I would see one for sure. I am more into symphonies and ballets. I am glad you get to do something you enjoy!!! :)
Would have loved to see Jimmy Stewart and Helen Hayes...sigh
All, sounds fun!
hugs
Donna
Sounds like fun.
Yes love theater. Early yrs of marriage had seasons tickets to actors theater in Louisville for few yrs Saw several productions while living in Birmingham. And here we have seasons tickets to Studio Tenn because tired of driving to the city to see the Broadway shows. I miss them. Loved lion king, les mis, phantom, cats, Stomp, Little shop of horrors , all sorts of musicals are usually my favs
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