NYC Day 3 – Oct 25, 2009 (evening)

After returning to the hotel for a nap, we discovered our tickets were for 7:30 rather than 8, so we had a bit less time than we thought. No big deal. We slept for a bit, then headed to the Booth! The front row mezz seats we bought in advance were awesome. It’s hard to say if it was “worth it”. Broadway is insanely overpriced these days even with discounts – but that’s another rant for another day – I was thrilled with our seats, overpriced or not.

Although I could tell the two-show day was wearing a tiny bit on Alice’s voice, she was still mind-blowingly awesome. As was the rest of the cast. I can’t say anything bad about this show. I’d bought the cast recording quite awhile before the trip and was very, very familiar with the show, but despite knowing everything I did, it couldn’t have prepared me for what I saw. One spoken line in particular still haunts me to this day – “Four months for the life of my child.” Shivers up my spine. Amazing performances by all.

Speaking of performances, I’d overheard that it was the drummer’s last night. As such, he had a rockin’ solo after the curtain call, which was met with cheers from much of the audience.

We hit the stage door afterward, but sadly, Alice Ripley, Jennifer Damiano, and Aaron Tveit were no-shows. Ah well. (I’m an idiot when it comes to chatting at the stage door anyway. (I could know you for years and still sound like a fool after seeing your jaw-dropping performance; it’s not so much being star-struck as finding the right words so soon after an impressive display).

We were starving by then, so we headed west to Five Napkin Burger for dinner. I indulged in some beef despite the fact that my stomach despises it and loudly complains about it after eating. But sometimes you have to ignore the stomach’s ridiculousness to appease the tongue. And I was very glad I did. I got the “Original”. It’s not likely that I would agree one should ever pay $15 for a burger, but… this was… really good. And the wait staff was great, which always helps sooth price tag angst.

After that, it was back to the hotel to collapse into bed. Although I’d normally find it difficult to sleep after the euphoria of two shows in one day and seeing the magnificent Alice Ripley perform at all… exhaustion had me beat and I was out the second my head hit the pillow.

Posted: January 17th, 2010 under Fall 2009 NYC Trip, NYC, Theatre.