Dear theatre friend,
Good news! More and more plays will be coming online– count on the creativity of theatre folks. There’s a website, BroadwayHD, where you can join to stream the plays and musicals ordinarily seen on the big stage.
For off-Broadway fare, the ever inventive theatre company, Rattlestick Theatre, will have their newest, “The Siblings Play” by Ren Dara Santiago, available from Monday, the 23rd, to watch at home for a mere $15. I hope other small theatre companies will be able to also offer this option.
Since we can’t go to a play, you might want to go through those boxes which have been long ignored– remember what Geoff Sobelle found in“The Object Lesson?” A dear friend wrote about herunexpected find.
Photographer Heather Kolanaty recounts unwrapping a joyous gift:
In 1953, my parents and I came to New York from Germany, sponsored by a Catholic charity. After vague memories of camps in both Munich and Hamburg, I remember getting on a U.S. aircraft carrier and somehow, magically, living at The Madison Avenue Hotel on 29th Street.
After Vatti (father) finally found work, despite his broken English, and getting his first paycheck, it was time to celebrate. We dressed up as if we were going to church– Vatti, Mutti (mother) and I went instead to Macy’s. I kept my eyes closed to cope with its frightening vastness, until we arrived at the toy department. Mutti told me to choose one toy from the overstuffed shelves– if they had enough money, it would be mine. It was difficult because I fell in love with both an elephant and a lamb. Perhaps because it was less expensive, we went home with the lovely, soft, pink and blue lamb.
Yesterday, facing the chore of clearing out boxes since a move three years ago, I found my precious lamb wrapped in a long forgotten blanket.
My first American toy, my treasure, then and again today.
A short theatre anecdote, to close:
I was lucky enough to attend a reading of “Flatlands” by Jonathan Levin at Ensemble Studio Theatre in 2011. I had no idea the cast would include James Earl Jones and Brian Stokes Mitchell– especially since Mr. Jones had just closed in “Driving Miss Daisy” on Broadway the night before!
There was wine and cheese onstage after and I had a chance to express my adoration for the iconic actor. “Mr. Jones, I have you to thank or blame for making me a theatre-maniac.” He laughed with that deep, inimitable rumble while I continued: “I was enthralled when I saw you in ‘The Great White Hope’ as a very young girl.” James Earl (we were friends by now!) took my hand and said “And I was a very young boy!” His very attractive wife came over at this point, hooked his arm and dragged him away!
I’ll think of other tales if I don’t get more from you– please, please write a brief story that will help us keep our connection alive while we’re so isolated.
And, once again, thank you for reading.
Carol Tambor publishes a monthly newsletter, which announces worthy shows coming to New York, along with occasional information about London theatre and, of course, the Edinburgh Fringe.