My Way of Life
Last night was magical. Not in a fake, Disney way, but-for me, it was one of those moments that make you stop and remember why you’re doing what you’re doing. We had our ROAR benefit performance of The Birds with Tippi Hedren and Veronica Cartwright and I think I can safely say a good time was had by all. An extraordinarily good time. The event was packed and all of the people in attendance were big fans of either Handbag or The Birds, so it was the perfect audience. They ‘got’ all the in jokes, the Hitchcock references,appreciated every single detail, and it was just such a pleasure and priviledge to perform for them, and the stars of the film themselves. That doesn’t mean to say I wasn’t a little overwhelmed. The park department had not turned on the heat yet, so it was chilly in the coach house and I forgot my bloody eyes, pantyhouse, and my padded butt! The caterers were wonderful, the park staff was more then accommodating and my fabulous cast put on a hell of a show, adjusting to the fact that we had to fill every available corner in the coach house with chairs for the audience. Richard Knight, Jr. and David Kodeski, aka The Movie Queens were fabulous moderators for our post show Q & A and the Tippi and Veronica’ cameo appearances went off without a hitch. Did I mention my friends John and Joel brought their friend, Nora Dunn? I had my embarrassing fan moment with her gushing about her and Jan Hooks and the injustice of there being no Best of SNL DVD devoted to them. They are part of my favorite SNL period and she looks fabulous.
Speaking of FABULOSITY, Tippi Hedren looks amazing. She is a star. She was gracious and took the time to talk to and hug everyone, and sign anything anybody gave to her. She is also a friend, as is Veronica Cartwright, one of the smartest and funniest actresses I know. The one and only Karen Cadle helped arrange all of this and I am thrilled to be her friend as well. Karen has worked with and is friends with almost every classic star in Hollywood today and I was delighted to introduce her Edward Thomas Herrera, the ultimate Lana Turner fan. Karen managed and was very good friends with Lana and her stories are candid and remarkable.
When I got home I found The Chicago Tribune review waiting for me. You know how you watch a film and say ‘that can’t be real- it’s too perfect’. Sometimes it is real.
Filed under: My Way Of Life
I went bankrupt bribing all those folks…we’ll have to sell lots of Joans T-shirts!
Congratulations!!! You deserve all of the success and praise you aren receiving - - and then some!!!!
It was ok.
Hooray for everyone! And Karen Cadle was a riot!
I can’t tell you enough how completely blown away I was by everything. And I mean everything. It was amazing for me too because i was sitting right behind Tippi and Veronica and I could glance over and see their reactions to seeing themselves or their characters being played out before them… I would catch Veronica mouthing her lines.
and of course, you a a star and brillant… I didn’t want the evening to end… (sigh)…
It was an amazing evening and I was more than thrilled to be asked to moderate that Q&A - I was pinching myself every single second. Tippi and Veronica were fun and gracious and really delightful ladies.
Great script, great cast and a wonderful production. I’m proud to know you all.
Also, kudos to Cheryl who played Mrs. Bundy - it looks like maybe she had the cold I had had last week - extra big Ethel Merman Show-Must-Go-On Kudos!
don’t you hate it when you know you forgot to record something, and it isn’t going to be on in the foreseen future, and you’re pissed, so decide to google alert it, but then you get these bullshit emails from google containing information about the subject but it has nothing to do with the next airing date, and the on demand guide doesn’t list it, and i refuse to get a tivo, and tv guides aren’t available for the future (yet). anyway i feel like i missed a truly wonderful night. ho hum.