It was Friday, June 19th, and we’d breakfasted, we’d gelato’d, we’d walked a lot at the Little Island and the High Line, and I was in need of refreshment after all that walking. We’d managed to walk a few blocks to a drugstore on our first night to get bottled water and distilled water, and I have to say it was super fun to carry the two heavy gallon jugs all the way back to the hotel. But on Friday night I wanted something with a little fizz. I decided to see what they had in the vending machines.
There was only one, on the first floor, and when I opened the door I was flabbergasted. It wasn’t some nondescript little room with a line of vending machines, but rather a lovely sitting room complete with couch and TV!
You’re not in Kansas anymore, Mrs. H. TV, chairs and a sofa in the vending room! I bet other fancy hotels also have that, but I haven’t been in many fancy hotels.
The vending machines were filled with a wide variety of products, from drinks and snacks to all kinds of travel essentials you might need. I selected a bubbly flavored water – I’ve certainly never seen a vending machine with any flavored water at all – and could have lounged around the swanky vending machine room, but instead headed back to our lovely suite.
After getting all dolled up in one of my many freshly-ironed outfits we headed out, but first I made Mom take my picture with this old phone. I realized when I picked it up that it actually works, so when I picked it up it started ringing and I slammed it down real fast.
Both of us in our lipsticks, ready to hit the town!
We were headed for the theater where “Rocky Horror” was playing. I had no desire to see the show because ‘ve seen it many times, plus I’ve seen the movie many times, and just not interested at all. But Mom saw a number from it on the Tonys and she really wanted to go.
I’d planned to stand in the half-price ticket line for shows, but a couple nights before our trip I looked at the Broadwaytix website and there were only two seats left for “Rocky Horror.” I’m pretty sure I was already in my nightgown, but I hurried over to Mom’s and we bought those two tickets, which were really good seats, pretty close to the stage.
We ended up buying all the tickets that night, a crazy night of spending money on Broadway musicals. We weren’t going to be in New York that long and I realized I had no desire to stand in any half-price lines. I remember that the last time Mom and I were there, I decided we should try the half-price place in Lincoln Center instead of the crazy crowded one in Times Square.
I remember walking and walking and walking…and when we finally got there, it was closed because the whole building was closed for a private party. I mean, c’mon! This time it was satisfying knowing what we were going to see and when we were going to see them. Except I will say that last time we were in New York we ended up going to “The Show That Goes Wrong,” a long-running Off-Broadway play, it was so surprisingly hysterical, and we only went because they had available tickets in the half-price line.
And now, boy am I digressing…Friday night, going to the show. We walked along 54th street and found a bar/restaurant that looked fine. It was called Bentley’s, an Irish pub. It was loud, but many New York restaurants seem to be loud. Here’s Mom with her delicious cocktail.
And I got a good cocktail, too, I believe it was called a “Nojito,” a mojito with no alcohol.
The dinner was good, but boy was it loud in there. Our waiter said it was because of the World Cup. I’m pretty sure I hadn’t had any idea of the World Cup going on, but then I noticed that the many TVs lining the walls were all tuned to the World Cup channel. I took a video to show you what I mean about the loudness.
We saw and heard lots about the World Cup as the days passed.
We got into the giant line for the show, and these two people in front of us were dressed for it.
Even the lobby had a green hue just for the show, and it was a beautiful theater. It had been Studio 54, the actual site where the Studio 54 nightclub had been. I’ve just been reading on Wikipedia about the very interesting history of the place and there was so many details that you’ll have to look at it yourself. It started out as an Opera House in 1927, it was also a CBS broadcast studio, and after the nightclub ended, it was turned into a Broadway theater.
While it was Studio 54, there were so many celebrities, so much booze, sex, and drugs and many many celebrities, including Bianca Jagger riding a white horse, Andy Warhol, Drew Barrymore when she was only nine years old, and Margaret Trudeau without her underwear. If you have an extra few minutes to read about it, there’s even a huge list of the celebrities.
Here’s a quick scan of the auditorium when we first got there and not too many people had showed up yet.
And even though I didn’t care about going to see it, “Rocky Horror” was fabulous. The incredible performers, the lavish sets and costumes, I’d certainly see it again if I happen to get back to New York in the near future.
One funny thing is that when I used to watch the movie here in Springfield, the audience would dress up and throw toilet paper rolls at the screen and shout out the lines and all the other stuff they did. And when I saw the theatrical production in Springfield, not only was there all that, but a very high percentage of the audience was dressed for it. But at the Broadway show, not so much. Maybe many of the people were just there to see a Broadway performance. Some people were dressed up, and the ones who were really killed it, and occasionally people would shout out the lines.
What made the Broadway show really fun was that the actors would almost always react to the audience participation – Rachel Dratch, a Saturday Night Live alum, played the Narrator and she was especially good at reacting – maybe that’s why she was nominated for a Tony? Luke Evans was Frank-n-furter, also nominated for a Tony, was so over the top and fabulous, and he’s from Wales. He played Bard the Bowman in “The Hobbit” and has been in countless other movies and TV shows. Rocky Horror was his Broadway debut! Such a talented fellow.
I stopped to take this picture at the exit before I left. I bought Randy a t-shirt, but now I kind of wish I’d bought one with this logo, although the last thing I ever, ever need is another t-shirt.
A wonderful day was had by all. We walked back to the Warwick, had drinks at the bar and then relaxed in our lovely suite.
Ok then,
Mrs. No More T-shirts For Me Hughes.