Such Good Mates

Darling Aussie singer/dancer Amy Edwards is in town because her long-time boyfriend Andile is opening on Broadway next week as Simba in LION KING having already played the role for SIX YEARS in London!!! Not counting the two years he was in the chorus before that. Amy was our magnificent dance captain on PRISCILLA in London and now she's based in L.A. so she and Andile will be sharing the long distance love experience for the next twelve months.

Hopefully I'll see her gorgeous face again before she returns to the West Coast.

Then at 5pm it was cocktails at the home of Jim Broschu and Steve Schachtlin, the  clever imps behind two Off-Broadway hits, THE BIG VOICE: GOD OR MERMAN? and ZERO HOUR, Jim's one man show about the great Mr. Mostel. The occasion was Charles Busch's birthday(above left).   Charles had only just returned from a smash appearance in Provincetown with his new cabaret act. Other guests included Harvey Evans (centre), veteran of 17 Broadway shows since 1957 and one of the most loved figures in New York; a funny and charming performer named Richard whose second name I didn't catch, and Charles' wig assistant Kathy who started out as his stage manager 30 years ago and became indispensable to him.

Because everyone knew EVERYONE we spilled the dirt on every performer who had ever graced the stages of Australia and America and too many stories were told for me to remember. But Jim (above left) did put up a spirited defence of  Joan Crawford (and a scathing dismissal of daughter Christina) because his dad almost married Crawford after Alfred Steele's death! Then Charles, Kathy and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Joe Allen, a joyous end to a lovely day. Oh, and I stood next to Petula Clark in the fruit and veg section of the supermarket!!! I didn't stalk her but I did walk around myself in circles like a dog chasing its tail with a huge smile on my face so I'm sure she feared for her life.