7/8/98...Today i went to see {Jim - ummm...i mean >>>} RENT :) i enjoyed myself immensely - beyond words. well, that was obvious enough hehe... anyway, to the story --
** there are three parts to this story - all highlighted in red if you don't feel like reading the whole thing (it came out longer than i expected) :)
PRE-RENT: I took the train and got to Penn Station by 3:15 - a perfect 1 hour trip! I walked up to the theater enjoying myself the whole way - i just LOVE NYC!! The guy at the ticket window (or whatever it's called) was really sweet!! I asked him for one SRO ticket. The best he had was 15 on the left (about four from the wall for those of you who aren't familiar) - all in all not a bad spot but you can't really see the band or the people on that little balcony thing where they hold the life support meeting. No big deal. I mean - it is $20 after all. So anyway, i had about an hour and a half to kill before the lottery. It was hot and i was thirsty (parched...if you know what i mean.... ) so i walked up to my favorite place in all of Times Square - it's called "Ellen's Stardust Dine-O-Mat" or something like that on the corner of Broadway and West 43rd St. They were pretty empty (it was about 4:00) so about five waiters kept asking me what i'd like and was it ok and everything. I love the guys there - they are really cool and SO hilarious!! So i sat there studying for my (yikes) mid-term in English that i still have to do tomorrow - actually that's today already...what a geek - coming to NY to study... Well, i finished my black-and-white shake and went wandering around for the next 45 minutes - something i can do FOREVER in NYC and never get enough of ... When i got to the theater at about 5:20, there was already a pretty long line of people lined up for the lottery - so i got in line. You know the deal - the guys with the megaphone tell you the rules, where to stand, blah blah blah... I met these two nice girls there (Julie and Marny i think were their names) - Marny had seen RENT 22 times she said, her friend Julie had seen it 4 and is a devoted Max Casella (did i spell that right?) fan. The more frequent Rent-seer had a photo album with pictures of probably everyone who had ever been in the cast. I looked at some of the pictures but i must say i began feeling really strange at this point. I guess it has something to do with that groupie thing. Ok, so these girls adore Ant ( i definitely respect that but would NOT like to open this topic for discussion here!!) but what can i do - i never saw him! So he is not MY god. What can i do? not much. I don't know if i want to either (do something i mean). But there were a lot of cute pics in there - including some Jim ones (yay!!) - entertaining. What next? the lottery. No - i didn't win - BIG surprise.... luckily i had SRO. So I called my anxious dad to tell him i was alright (get this: i tried 4 payphones and NONE of them accept change - WHAT is wrong with this picture...?) and returned to "Stardust" to have some dinner before the show. As i said, i REALLY do love those guys!! My poor waiter , "Taz" they call him, was swamped with work. As if as that wasn't enough, some *snobby* couple sitting at the table next to me were giving him a hard time and he just couldn't take it anymore so he got sarcastic - bad move on a waiter's part but...he is human... and then they called the manager and said "they're not coming back if that guy isn't fired" - yuck! I mean - this guy has waited on us before - he is always SO sweet and funny and charming - he didn't deserve this sh*t!! Well, i hope he has a better day tomorrow... If you ever go there - be SURE to get him - he really is the best! So on i went to the theater - it was getting late... |
RENT: As i said, i had SRO 15 L(eft) - not too bad. I was happy. Plus some people closer to the center must have gone somewhere else later on so i got to see about 50% altogether (in bits) from the second window - left of the left aisle - that was perfect! The cast? sorta wierd - i mean - lots of new/different ones : Jim (of course), Norbert, Michael, Robert Glean(for Jacques), Gwen, Shaun, Marcy, Kristen, Tracey Langran (i think?), Byron, Shelley, Mark, Scott Hunt, Juan, Tina Ou. Hey - i noticed something wierd in the Playbill - a sort of typo? Tracey is listed but her picture isn't shown - wierd. I guess 'cause she's leaving soon - right? The show started off a bit slow - is it just me or is the tempo faster on the cd - aLOT faster? Oh well, i got used to it {though it wasn't that easy - i get used to faster beats like that!(snap) but going back to the slower one is usually quite painful for me...anyway...} and began to enjoy myself. The cast seemed a bit tired in the first half. I don't know - maybe it was just the fact that i was so far away instead of up close like i like to be. Jim ~ the sweetest, jumpy as always, luv everything you do there and a WONDERFUL voice too - (my) perfect Mark!! The jumping on the table in LVB, the B-E-S-T Tango i have EVER seen ,the squiggly (only way i can describe it) dancing that is oh-so-cute!!! "...when Dorothy and Toto..." - the CUTEST!!!! In Halloween he sounded really sad. On the phone he sounded like he was almost crying. I too had never seen a sad Poulos - it really just makes you want to cry! Norbert ~ has a BEAUTIFUL voice - *my god*!! He also does an excellent job in the role. Last time i didn't notice him that much - this time i got to and it was ... ( i don't know a good enough word - forgive me - but he is SO GOOD!!!) I love how he does all those little phrases like "...i have the best ass...what??..." and everything else. Michael ~ i love him as Collins. Robert as Benny...hmmm...i think he needs some practice - he'll be good with some polishing. Gwen ~ amazing as always!! Shaun ~ i just love all those little facial expressions he throws EVERYWHERE - such character! He did the guy voice thing - i like it - the way he does it is funny! I GOT TO MEET HIM!!(more below) Marcy ~ ok, she's not my favorite. Please don't flame me. She just didn't click with me i guess. Her chemistry with Norbert is very good. Some of her parts were very good. I thought she changed the original melody a bit too much with improvisation or something - didn't like that. Something missing. She also wasn't completely in touch with the music - not REALLY connected to the beat like she should be - at least for the faster songs. Truth is, i don't remember Sharon THAT much from April but i still liked her better than Marcy. Just my opinion. Kristen ~ you guys are right - the short red hair looks FABULOUS!! She was great!! and so funny and strong!! loved her!! Tracey ~ pretty ok - still think Jessica was perfect for the job. Shelley ~ hmmm...her solo was ok - actually i liked Shayna more - Shelley has TOO much facial expressions for me. Scott ~ liked his voice! Now to Juan ~ loved him!! He looks like he has SO much potential!!! He was all over the place - quite amazing!! looks real sweet too! Tina ~ your basic Alexi - takes some time to get used to - slightly different intonations and stuff - but good! The crowd was great - almost TOO hyped! They laughed at everything they were supposed to (and more...) and clapped and shouted and whistled - they were great!! I, well i think it's safe to say we ALL >>>>> LOVED JIM'S TANGO :) !!!!! |
POST-RENT: So i waited for everyone to clear out (yes - Jim flails his arms out - as someone said - in the "No day but today" line !!) and went outside to wait for the cast!!!!! First out - Juan. Then Kristen and Norbert (all those *little* girls really pounced on him for autographs and pics and pics with their moms etc.) - while he was being attacked by a small mob (average height 5'3''), i was standing right behind him so i sort of said in his ear "great show!" and he turned around and said a very sweet thank you:) Now, i can't be sure about this (the guy kept looking far ahead as if someone was waiting for him....) but it seems he appreciates that more than all the Hanson activity. I might be wrong - shoot me! I really feel sorry for them though - while they're doing their best to sign your limp playbill, you and everyone else photographs them - side, front, back whatever - nuts!!! Like some animals in a cage at the zoo (...oooh - let's get a pic of this specimen...) i mean - they ARE just people who have had an exhausting day of work after all!! Just MY opinion... Then Robert. Then (drum roll...) JIM!! so i let him get done with all the 15-year-old groupies - no offense but i WAS reminded of a Hanson gathering at this point. So - then i go up to Jim and tell him i would love for him to autograph my playbill. He was SO SWEET!!!!!! Ok Jim - i now officially adore you (no - i'm not a groupie) - what a sweet guy (though you could see all of them were really tired and were trying to go home...)!!!! Then i waited for Shaun (btw - Jim autographed my playbill and says he'll be happy to receive mail sent to the Nederlander - can't blame a guy for wanting some privacy... :) so Shaun finally came out and signed my playbill too and i got to thank him and everything. He was so nice!! I'm sad he's leaving :( I thought i would be so much more nervous than i actually was. I was *relatively* calm and collected - no hyperventilating (LOL) and i only stuttered a bit ... something i usually do a lot when talking to people i don't know well... Do i feel like a groupie? i try not to - but i still sorta do. Then i met Gina !! real cool!! BTW - i did not see Sharon or Richard :( oh well, next time... :) . I also did not take any pictures - i really felt sorry for them all - it's a wonder they can see at all after everyone flashes them like that!! |
Jim Poulos Nederlander Theater 208 W. 41st St. NY, NY 10036
**one more thing: Jim - meeting you was so much fun! where do you get the energy that you bring on stage?? It's more AMAZING every time i see you! thanx for a wonderful show and for making my day!
well, i'll add more later - feel free to send input !! oh - and to all those of you who i didn't mention - you were, as always, the best!:):):):):)
