What a wonderful day yesterday was! All thanks to the kindness and supreme generosity of Betty Lo, whose son couldn’t make it to the show. I was able to give Cori a second try and this time it was all pleasure - for me if not for him ;-)
I wanted to be sure to get there early this time so that I might have a chance to see the players going in - in the hopes that there wouldn’t be such a rush then. I made it to Brooklyn fine - although I got off at the wrong stop and had to walk nearly a mile. Thank Goodness for that clocktower that was my point of reference. I was on Fulton Street the whole time, so I knew I’d eventually get there as long as I walked in the right direction. I was ecstatic when I saw the familiar Cambodian restaurant and juice bar, then my old friend the Harvey!
It was too early to meet Betty (not quite 5) . I went to the front door and there was but one guy waiting (for cancellation tickets I later learned). He’d brought a book. So, I went around to the back door. There was one gentleman there sitting on the stairs waiting for his friends. I bought a bottle of water and came back to join him in his waiting. He was one of about nine geriatric autograph collectors - not those horrid people who get the autographs just to sell them, not even knowing who the people are, but rather serious fans of the theater. They told tales of their conquests, such as young Anthony Hopkins years ago, or Barbara Jefford when she played the engenue. Several had seen Richard and Cori in London and the only woman in the group had the glossy playbill with her. They still had business with this cast, that is to say, autographs they hadn’t gotten yet. None had tickets to the BAM performances yet, but hoped to get some cancellation tickets the next day. It was interesting hanging out with this group - I was the only one under 70 to be sure!. They were like an international club (like our group) who meets at events like this. They are very serious about their collections. Some had index cards, some had promotional glossies, others playbills and such. Each had several fine sharpees. I, on the other hand, was totally unprepared - even worse than before. I’d left my Richard II script at home, otherwise I could have had a great collection of autographs for it.
Since I had nothing to sign, I didn’t even bother when I passed Miss Jefford as I went back to the front of the theater to be sure I Betty wasn’t there. I asked the guy at the door - now at the front of a growing line -if he would do me a favor and tell Betty to send her around back (she’d said to look for an Asian woman and a younger blonde in a wheelchair). He said he would, so I figured I wouldn’t have to run back and forth every few minutes. When I came back, Miss Jeffords was still signing and chatting, so I did get a photo (not a very good one, I later discovered). I took photos of many of the rest of the cast as they came in and signed for the others. When Oliver Ford Davies got there, however, I couldn’t resist and one of the collectors was kind enough to give me an index card, another his sharpee and a book to sign on. They were very helpful. One gentleman asked most of them how they enjoyed the underground. They said it was fine - not nearly as crowded as in London. Most of the cast came by subway - the line behind the theater. Danielle King said that the Q express was very convenient. She was very relaxed and chatty - having only one line in the play must help. David Burke said that he’s enjoying Central Park the most. When the little boy who plays Coriolanus’ son came out, all of the collectors ignored him since he didn’t even have a listing in the playbill. I went up to him and said that I remembered him and showed him the photo of him and Ralph from last week. He seemed very pleased and I got him to sign the back of the photo and told him he’ll have to get used to doing this. His father grinned. I got to chat with the mother of one of the younger actors (one of the ones with reddish-blonde hair). His parents were in town for three days. She asked me if I enjoyed the plays and I told her how much. She is extremely proud of her son and they’d enjoyed their stay in the city.
Ralph came in by car. He was polite, but didn’t smile much when he signed all the autographs. I’d brought a book to give him (Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams), since I didn’t really want to ask him for an autograph or take a photo of him again, but rather wanted a chance to speak to him. He looked puzzled when I gave him the book and asked him if he knew it (part of me was afraid that he would have already read it) and he said no. I told him that I wanted him to have it because I thought he would like it. I’d read it last year right after Bloodties and found a resonance between them (although they are very different books!). He smiled and said thank you and was gone. He seemed rushed - they say that he’s usually one of the first to arrive and here he was one of the last - or perhaps was just preparing himself for the role. He was not as relaxed or at ease as he was last week.
It was already after 6 and I’d started getting worried a while earlier about missing Betty --- but was distracted, of course, by Ralph ;-) So, rather than waiting on Linus and the few others, I headed back around the front and thank goodness she was there. They had been running late and she’d been worried about missing me. Her son’s girlfriend had already headed down towards the Cambodian restaurant in case I had gone there. We met her on the way.
What lovely people! - and that’s not just for making this experience possible, either. We had a delicious dinner (if you go there before the theater, make sure to ask which dishes you can get quickly), some Springrolls and an interesting and tasty chicken dish cooked in coconut milk. It looked almost like it had the consistancy of an omelette - but was flakier. It had fish and chilies in it, too. The dinner was Betty’s treat as well as the tickets. I’ll never be able to thank her enough for her generosity! The conversation was as delightful as the food. We chatted about Ralph, of course, among other things, and how much we enjoyed his work. I showed them the photos I had brought.
As we headed back to the Harvey we saw someone who’d told us that curtains went up in 30 seconds - so we rushed. There were lots of other people rushing in, so I suppose they held the opening a little bit. There weren’t the mobs of people coming in late that I recall from last week.
The play - it was much better this time. I think everything I’d said about the performance last week was true. It was me, the seats, the lights as well as the play and the performance that made the play less than wonderful. This time, my seats were wonderful (just a row back from where I’d sat for Richard), the lighted floor no distraction and the performances much stronger. I was ready for the play as well. All this made all the difference. The duel this time was as powerful as I‘d heard reports of previously (Ralph gave Linus a peck on the cheek at one point). I told Linus afterwards that the performance was much stronger this week and that the duel in particular was much more powerful - he said yeah, that they would kill each other one night if they’re not careful.
Now, I still have to admit that the play isn’t nearly as good as Richard II - the actors agree, by the way. I think that’s where the fault must lie, really, for any lacking in performance or direction in the long run. I think that during the final confrontation between mother and son when I found the timing/staging of the moment of his capitulation to be unconvincing last week was less so this time. Most of all, I have to say that I don’t like Ralph as Coriolanus as much as I enjoyed him as Richard. That’s just one of those preference things. I like him better smiling than scowling, I guess. His costume is much nicer for that play, too. He walks like a stuffed shirt in that jacket with the high collar (reminded me of the way that Amon Goeth walks, too.) He did look great in the one scene after he has joined the Volscis and has the lovely long coat, white shirt and white cravat, but no jacket. The next scene he put the jacket back on, though. Trivialities I suppose. More importantly, he has much more beautiful lines when he is brooding in Richard and as Richard he gets to develop in ways that Coriolanus never does.
I do have to say, however, that I was much more moved by some of the speeches he made - the ones perhaps that he’d think Bush and Gore should pay the most attention to. It is a dangerous play. I can see how people have interpreted it from every political direction. Last night, however, I was ready to side with Coriolanus and the nobles against the ignorant populace and their manipulative tribunes!
This double worship,
Where one part does disdain with cause, the other
Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom,
Cannot conclude but by the yea and no
Of general ignorance,--it must omit
Real necessities, and give way the while
To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd,
it follows,
Nothing is done to purpose.
Shakespeare, Coriolanus
Afterwards we went back to the old stage door and waited. The barricades were set up differently this time. Rather than a double barricade, they were set up as an inverted L so that we were able to line up right next to the bus as well as where we were last week. It was a much better angle to catch the actors who were rushing to get into the bus. Betty is not shy at all (but also sweet and not pushy) and she got them to come meet and greet and sign autographs. I got to tell Oliver again how much I enjoyed his performance and ask him what was next - he said he expected the employment line or something like that. Everyone asked lots of questions. I couldn’t believe that they only have two days off between the end of this run and the beginning in Japan! Several - including Ralph - agreed that a few days on the west coast wouldn’t be bad. But they fly back to England during their two day break and fly from there to Japan.
I asked Linus which of the two plays he prefers. He said that it’s a difficult question. Richard is the better play, he says, but he has a much easier part in Coriolanus. One of the ladies said that he gets to wear that leather coat in it and he laughed and said, yeah, he doesn’t even have to act but just wear the coat. I told him that the coat and the beard were quite fetching. Actually, I think that he comes off better in Coriolanus than in Richard somehow. It is a more dynamic role for him and it suits his physical energy. Also, the contrast is better.
Ralph was late coming out again. Last time he was being courted by John Tuturro, this time by Lauren Bacall. Some people risked losing their place at the barricades to get her autograph as she left. Finally he came out. He was more relaxed than earlier, but still not as many smiles as last week. Betty asked me to get him to sign a DVD of Onegin for a friend of hers. He looked at it and asked if it was a DVD, I said yes and that it was a very good film. He said yes, that he’d seen it. Betty asked him several questions, which she promised to post to the group herself. She asked him about the screenplay for Sunshine, which she’s had a hard time finding. She asked him if he’d thought of bringing a production to the West Coast and he looked up and asked where she’d had in mind. She said San Francisco and he said that he’d love to do that. He much prefers San Francisco to LA. I’ve forgotten what the other question was. Soon he was off. Then, so were we.
We took a bus together to Burrough Hall and a train from there to Penn Station where we parted. I hope I’ll hear from them again! My journey from Penn Station to Metro Park was uneventful and I got to my car at the parking deck there with no problem. I was surprised at the number of people traveling at that hour - but was a little relieved by it, too.
I got home around 2am to some very hungry kitties. I called my mom so she wouldn’t worried, called Tony in Germany - but he’d already left for the day - and e-mailed Betty that I’d gotten home safely.
What a perfect day! Although I’d still love to see Richard II again and would jump at the opportunity, I feel as if I’ve had the full experience and am thankful to have been able to see and enjoy Coriolanus like I did last night. I’m also glad that I got to erase my feelings of having been an overbearing and pushy fan and talk to Ralph and others more calmly (although there’s still room for improvement there!). I’m only sorry we didn’t meet up with the other two listees - Mary D and Thérèse.
Thanks again, Betty!
It's hard to believe, but I got to do it again!!! Betty Lo twisted my arm (like I really needed any arm-twisting!) to go and stand in the line for cancellation tickets on Tuesday for Richard II. We figured that we were too close (she stayed in town an extra day -- and I'm only 2 1/2 hours away by rail ;-) to not at least try. So, we were the first ones there at 4:30 pm on a chilly and rainy afternoon [why did Fall wait until Tuesday to come???] and I was trying to get over a cold, but what the hell, anything for Ralph, right? By 7:00 there were about 30 people in line, I'd say and we were told repeatedly that there aren't usually many cancellations for Richard..... Anyhow, despite the cold, I had a lovely time in line chatting with Betty. We also met a man who's a filmmaker from California and two other ladies who were in line for the longest time with us. There was lots of giggling in line and it was fun, until it came down to the wire and it looked possible that no one would get in.
By the way Salmon Rushdie (sp?) was there without a ticket -- *he* didn't have difficulty however getting one.
Linus did wander through the lobby while we were waiting (later he said he recognized me from there -- must have been because I was the only one bold enough to call to him from across the room! ;-)
Well, to make a long story short .... shorter, I was first in line (Betty insisted) and got a great ticket from some lady who had one extra. Then, there was a gallery seat that Betty rejected, not wanting a bad seat after having seen Richard from the orchestra on Saturday. But, there weren't any other good ones to be had it seems. From my estimation only about 4 people total from our line got in that night. Betty sent me ahead and I'd hoped to see her at intermission, but she wasn't there :( I have to say that it spoiled the mood for things because I feel like she should have gotten my ticket. I was especially frustrated by the empty seats up front. From now on, I swear by God, if I should ever have tickets to a show and not go, I will call to cancel so that someone else can enjoy the show! It's tragic really....
Well, the performance was marvelous as expected. Afterwards I finally had worked up the courage to shake Ralph's and Linus' hands. I am, by the way, now a confirmed Linus fan -- had to go out and rent Wings of the Dove yesterday just to see him again ... of course, I watched The End of the Affair the night before; Ralph's still my first love (after my husband and Neil Finn, that is ;-)
I have to say how wonderful it is to be on the fiennes-fans list and to meet some of the listees -- so many incredibly nice, fun people! I got to meet Mary (of the Ralph and Jini Fiennes page), Cecily and Dar on Tuesday night. [I am quite envious of Dar, by the way, because everyone always remembers her! ;-) ] They got to see Hamlet on video at Lincoln Center on Wednesday! So, I'm envious of them for that, too.
And, as for the performance, I swear that if it is in my power, I shall never miss another chance to see Ralph live!