Christmas Morn

Before the Christmas Day performance I was invited to drop in to the "open house" at the glorious Greenwich Village apartment of the brilliant Charles Busch.

He actually made a very "Mame"-like entrance down these very steps.

The apartment became the subject of a New York Times article when Charles renovated about five years ago.

 So Charles planted me on the sofa above right and introduced me to one of my favourite performers, Sondra Lee, the original Tiger Lily in PETER PAN and Minnie Fay in HELLO, DOLLY!

I only read her autobiography last year and she'd seen PRISCILLA so I was in heaven. Seated between us was Peter Harvey who designed the scenery for the original productions of DAMES AT SEA and THE BOYS IN THE BAND.

Peter(above left with Willa Kim at another event) has lived in the Village for more than 50 years.

I also met the delicious David Staller who is artistic director of PROJECT SHAW which aims tp produce readings and/or productions of everything George Bernard Shaw ever wrote. I bemoaned the fact that his performances always take place on Mondays when I have to work so I can never take part, but David replied "One day your show will close and then you'll be mine, all mine!"

Jim Broschu and his partner Steve Schachlin were a total delight. Jim has spent the past few years starring in a one-man show about Zero Mostel and last week completed a sold out season as "The Man Who Came To Dinner".

As I was leaving I met Robert Osborne who introduces the classic movies on the TCM channel. I congratulated him on his recent interview with Jane Fonda which was terrific...

and I had a brief chat with Jim Dale who is in previews with Athol Fugard's THE ROAD TO MECCA.
It was torture to leave knowing that so many more legends would soon pour through the door but I floated out into the street feeling like a very lucky lad indeed.