We went inside and paid our way in. Luckily, they trusted me when I said I was a member of a Trek club—which gave me a $5 discount. I was prepared if they didn’t believe me though: I had a Camelot shirt on, my Official Star Trek Club membership card, and I had made my own USS Camelot ID badge. *G*
After the video, they announced that since Dick Gordon (NASA astronaut I met before) had to leave earlier than expected, so he and Robin were switching places timewise. Robert, Ethan, Robin, and Dick came up front (Robin didn't go up on stage, but she stood to the side), and all of them said hello. The mood was set to be light and silly, as Ethan and Robert teased Dick relentlessly.
I bought a small snack-size Pringles and some chocolate, and Carmen decided she wanted something more to eat. So she stood in line at the Subway. I took my stuff over to a little table they had by the front windows. I munched on my snacks awhile, but couldn’t eat much, so I stood up to see where Carmen was in line. I was glad to see her already at the counter. And behind her...was that...could it be? *gasp* It was! Ethan Phillips was standing right...behind...Carmen. I nabbed the digi-camera and stepped over where she could see me. I waved at Ethan, who saw me, and said, "Carmen..." in a sing-song voice. She looked over and I pointed to Ethan. She looked over her shoulder and said, "Oh, hi!" And I snapped a quick picture, and Ethan turned away. He muttered to Carmen, "I don’t want a picture of me standing in a Subway!" So now I feel bad. LOL
Gathering up what little courage I had, I got the picture (and the black marker I brought) out, and approached him.
"Um, Ethan," I said, my voice cracking. "I have something strange to tell you, and ask you..."
Raising his eyebrows at me, and looking for a drink in the coolers, he replied, "Alrighty..."
I took a slow breath, held it, then blurted out, "My friend in Canada just loves you, and Neelix especially...and well, she sent me this photo of..." I looked around and whispered the next word, "Toys..." That caught his attention and he paused to look as I pulled the picture out. “She named one of them 'Neelix'..."
Laughing, and blushing, he took the black marker and signed it, "Hi! Ethan". He told me that he now had a new most odd request ever story to tell. AWK! LOL
Absolutely dying of embarrassment, and knowing my face was bright red, I thanked him, apologized, and went back to Carmen. She laughed at me and finished off her sandwich. Ethan left several minutes ahead of us, and on the way back to the hotel, I kept saying that I could never face him again. LOL
We hung out in the hallway while Dick was still speaking. Carmen was drawn to the little Neelix again, and when the guy asked if he could help us, I told him we were just looking. He looked thoughtful, then offered to sell it to her for $15 (normally it was $20). So Carmen immediately said, "Okay!" She was happy, but she turned to me and said, "Oh no, does this make me officially a Trekkie?" LOL
Yes. Yes it does. *evil grin*
It was Leah, a new member of the LNEB, who I had told about the convention. She brought a friend, and we got to talk a little. We went inside as Robin took the stage, but we didn’t have any extra seats for Leah (and friend), so they had to sit on the other side, towards the back. I felt bad, and wish she could have sat with us...
Close after this, Robin began her talk. She was so bubbly and friendly. She introduced a series of clips that she had compiled into a video for acting jobs. If someone wanted her for a part, they could request the video. She wanted to make it as funny as possible, and I think the end results were good. We watched the little video, and then she took questions. Robin also spoke at length about her recent life problems—her husband, whom she had married under sweet and romantic circumstances, had broken her heart when after four years of marriage, told her last November that he wanted a divorce. She got choked up about it, but she soon lightened the mood again.
And Ethan said, "Well, actually, my weirdest question was today! I was across the street and this young lady came up to me—"
Picture Helen melting in her utter embarrassment, oozing from her chair and onto the floor.
Bob said suddenly, "You know this lady might be here right now, and she might not want to be talked about!"
Ethan looked out into the audience and asked, "Is she here?" Sheepishly, I raised my hand, laughing. "Should I tell the story?"” he asked. Laughing so hard I could hardly breathe, I shook my head emphatically.
To my relief, he shrugged and didn't tell the story. I will never, ever, live this down. Although, I wonder what he might have said about it...
Bob said that one of his favorite things was when he got to "take care of" the captain's back pain..."the lowest back pain in the Delta quadrant!" LOL One lady asked where they were living now and Bob replied, "Here. I'm living in room 317." Another funny Bob moment was when he pointed out that every time Ethan has appeared on a TV show, the show ends up being cancelled (ex: Providence). But when Bob is on a show, it's still around (ex: Crossing Jordon).
OH! And it was SO cute when the baby in the front row started making baby noises (blbhalalalalala), and Bob began to sing along, turning it into opera! LOL
A highlight was when Bob sang a couple of songs from his newest CD, "Extreme Bob". He told some stories about the songs, and then sang. LOVE HIS VOICE!!!!
Their talk was very entertaining, although I worried that my story might come up again. They helped with the auction, each running the bids on an item of their own. Ethan’s item was a playbill from Kate Mulgrew’s play she's in, "Tea at Five", and Bob’s was the very last call sheet from the last day of shooting on the last day of Voyager. Ethan’s proceeds went to the Obsessive Compulsive charity he usually supports. Bob's went to the building fund for his church---St. Peter's. Then, just because Bob liked to hold the picture, he helped bid off a signed photo of Roxanne Dawson, Kate Mulgrew, and Jeri Ryan. He made a show of studying it closely. LOL
Next, was Ethan. *gulp* I stepped forward and said, playfully, "Here I am again!" He looked up and laughed. While he was signing my photo, and the photo for another friend, I said to him. "You know, I get the impression you didn't believe me when I said that *ahem* other picture was for a friend. I swear it was! Really, it was!"
"Ooh," he replied, looking up with a smirk. "Sure it was!"
I laughed and shook my head, flushing again. Carmen got her autograph and we stepped out of the line to talk to Ina. Spotting Robin's table, I steered Carmen over to it. As I got my picture signed, Robin told me such a nice thing! She said, "Thanks for being here! I used your smiling face as an anchor in the audience, when I needed to pause and collect my thoughts."
Since she was so friendly, while she signed the next person’s picture, I told her that I ran a group online called the "Leonard Nimoy Estrogen Brigade". She grinned and laughed, and said, "Oh, that’s wonderful!" and wished me luck with that on the web. Then, seeing her get a picture with someone else, I went back to her and asked if I could get a pic too. She posed with me, and she wasn’t one of those "barely touching the strange fan" kind—she got a good grip on my shoulder. I love that type of star.
And now, a word about "Housecall".
A summary of the play: It is two years after Voyager came home to the Alpha Quadrant. The Doctor, getting ready for a date with Seven, is interrupted by a long-distance call from Neelix. After reminiscing and gossiping about the crew, the real reason for the call is declared: Neelix's son is ill, and he needs the Doctor's help. Insisting that he go there, the Doctor beams all the way back to the Delta Quadrant. Using creative deducing, they are able to figure out what is wrong with the child, and cure him. The last scene is of them singing and acting for Neelix's son, who loves Don Quixote. The End.
Here's my critique: This play ROCKED!!!!
Okay, okay, I'll explain a little more. LOL The play had everything people love about Neelix and the Doctor. Playful barbs, taken at themselves, and at their crewmates were done in such a way that you knew it was said with affection. One of my favorite aspects, though, was when Ethan and Robert would break character and tease the other, mercilessly. Robert kept begging Ethan to "keep up with me" and to "pay attention to your cues". LOL How easily they slipped right back into character, even after Ethan got the giggles and couldn't speak for several beats. And the song Robert sang at the end, as Don Quixote (wish I knew the exact title, I want to say "Don Quixote" or maybe "Lord of la Mancha"...go figure. LOL), was just wonderful. Imagine my delight in finding it on his second CD, as a bonus track! WOO!
This play would be a lot of fun on a recording, or a video tape...BUT, getting to see it live, in person, up close and personal...there is no better way. I'm sure each time they do it, it ends up being somewhat different. Especially since breaking character and making side comments seemed perfectly normal and comfortable to them I know I didn't mind it, at all. Would I see it again? OF COURSE!!!!!! LOL
Comparing this play to the Spock vs. Q (1 & 2)—which I also saw in person—I would have to say...AAAWK!! It’s hard for me, as a huge Leonard Nimoy fan...seeing my favorite actor playing his most well-known character was simply amazing. Spock came to life right before my eyes, merely a few feet from me. And while those plays (1 & 2) were funny in their own right (hysterical!!), I must say that I might have laughed harder at "Housecall". And when Leonard and John (de Lancie) didn't break character, when Robert and Ethan did, it seemed to fit into the play. Some might say that it could be because Spock and Q were usually serious roles, whereas the Doctor and Neelix were often used as comedy relief.
I say to all of them, keep it up, because it works for all of you, in many ways. And if I have the chance to see either play again, I will.
Once the play was over, things were pretty much over, but Bob said that they had some special pictures for those who had stayed for the play, that you could get out front. The picture cost $20, and they would each sign it. But the awesome thing about the picture was that it was taken in Ethan’s backyard and that it was a personal picture, not a studio pose. So, checking my money, I saw I had enough to get it, and still get dinner for Carmen and myself on the way home. So, I splurged and got it. They both personalized it.
I said to Bob, "Hey, you know, I'm your neighbor!" He looked up from signing and I added, "I'm in room 316!" And I got another hearty laugh!! WOOO!!
I took the opportunity to ask Bob if we could get a picture with him. He said to give him about five minutes and he would come out and do it. True to his word, when they decided that they were done, they packed away the pictures and markers, and he came around the table to us. A lady took the picture for us. Bob is another one of those who grabs you, unafraid. That was the last picture we got before the battery died. WHEW!!
So, Carmen, my sister, has been initiated into the world of Trekkie-dom. She can never escape!!! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!! *ahem* Sorry, lost it a moment there.
Slanted Fedora said that they wanted a minimum of 150 people to show up, or they may not be back. I hope they surpassed that goal—in the morning, Ina said she’d heard they only had 118 so far. But by the end of the day, maybe they hit it. It was great fun, the guests were so fun, and I would love to be able to attend simple one-day conventions in town.
