My Latest New York Adventure
Since my wife is recovering from knee surgery, we decided to take a limo to New York rather than the high speed train (Acela) which often wobbles severely (reminiscent of the Toonerville Trolley, an historical reference for some of you). On a beautiful Sunday with no traffic, we made it from ouw door to the Pierre Hotel in 2:45, as good as it gets (faster than the high speed train, ironically).
Sunday night we dined at Remi, the favorite restaurant of Maria’s 78-year-old uncle, visiting from Turino. We seem him every year or two in the states or Italy. Basically, Maria speaks English which I translate into Spanish, which is close enough to Piedmontese to reach some level of communication. He’s a very successful designer/builder in wood, and has done several shops on Madison Avenue.
Monday evening, after a visit to the Grand Havana Room, we met friends and attended the New York Corporate Theater Fund gala for Harry Connick, Jr. at the Pierre. It was impressive that celebrities such as Michael Imperiole, Hal Holbrook, Joel Grey, Mariska Hagitay, and others mingled during the packed cocktail party with everyone else. David Alan Grier was the emcee.
After working with Dan Weedin (a member of my Growth Cycle Program) and his wife during Tuesday, we all had dinner in the R Lounge overlooking Times Square, and then say Evita.
Ricky Martin has received a bad rap in this show. His singing and acting are excellent, the audience clearly loved him, and the fact that he’s not Manny Patinkin shouldn’t surprise anyone. The lead, Elena Roger, is the first Argentinian actress to play Evita Peron in such a production, and she, too, has been unfairly treated by critics. She’s a fine singer (again, not Patty Lupone, but so what?) and a terrific dancer.
The entire show is sung, an operetta, and was outstanding, highlighted by wonderful sets and the best house orchestra I’ve heard since the revival of South Pacific. If you get the chance, go see it.
The limo takes us back this morning, and we’ll still have the afternoon to ourselves at home. One of the real benefits of Rhode Island—it’s close to New York! Now if we could just get rid of Connecticut….
© Alan Weiss 2012. All rights reserved.
