Wow! Except for the intentional rudeness of a total bitch, it's been a wonderful day. I got to the Raines' event around noon and visited with my conductor friend Evans Haile and Mr & Mrs Jeffrey Wells. Jeff is a baritone doing three roles at the Met this year, and Evans is a conductor who's been managing the summer theatre on the Cape, the Cape Playhouse. Shortly thereafter, John and Judy Margolis showed up and I love them. Judy is on the staff of the Metropolitan Opera, and John's a stage director. This led to a long discussion of SWEENEY TODD, and Simon and Nancy Jones and their son Tim arrived. Tim is Charlotte's age, and Simon was the lead in the original BBC production of HITCHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY as well as the film of PRIVATES ON PARADE. His wife Nancy used to manage Monty Python. We all raved some more about SWEENEY, and I believe Simon, possibly Nancy, John, and I will see ENCHANTED this week, possibly Friday afternoon. Simon just got back from doing a role in a new Brian Friel play at the Guthrie.
Then the producers - a husband and wife team -showed up. While I was talking to Evans, the producer wife came up to us, said hello to Evans, talked to him for 5 minutes or so, pointedly ignoring me, and left. I debated throwing her to the floor and jabbing a plastic fork into her neck but I figured it wouldn't do more than provoke her. After that, she seated herself on the sofa and held court. I figured it was time to leave and head over to Skip and Fred's where I knew the festivities would be fantastic!
And so they were: lots of wonderful food and dear friends, including a new friend Brian (I forget the last name!) who's able to hold his own in th noisy banter between Milla, the lovely DR Julie, Fred, and me. Later Bill Parry and Maureen Silliman arrived. I love Maureen and it was great to see Bill, whom I hadn't seen in close to twenty years. Skip prepared a wonderful dinner and it was a great group of people. Gossip, grudges, and wishes were freely passed about and Skip and Fred are truly the social leaders of the most wonderful salon in Manhattan. Another epic event to remember and cherish. Thank you, gentlemen.
