Hi everyone, I'm back!! I had a fabulous weekend in NYC. So fabulous that I almost stayed an extra day! I was on the phone talking to the airline company and the hotel desk.... I just wasn't ready to leave NY yet when there were still so many places and so many shows to see... Anyway, I finally let go of the idea after realizing that there's no way I would ever see NY in 3 days, and 1 more day wasn't going to help. So I packed up and got in the cab for JFK, while plotting in my head already how I'll return again soon!

My sister and I arrived on Thursday night and managed to find each other at the airport. We took a cab into Time Square ($45 set price to any single TS destination, $49 including toll). The traffic was so terrible, we spent over an hour just sitting in TS. Finally we decided to jump off at 50th St. and started our hike (with all our suitcases in tow) to our hotel on 43rd St. This was quite an initiation to NYC. 6:30pm, brighter than you can imagine lights, the noise, the honking, the sea of yellow cabs, and people walking so fast you wonder what important places they must be heading..... Anyway, we made it to our hotel in one piece with only about an hour left before we see Grease. Thank God! BTW, for anyone still looking for a place to stay in TS. We stayed at Casablanca Hotel right off Broadway and 43rd. It was on TripAdvisor as either #1 or #2 hotel in NY, and it was absolutely wonderful. The staff was nicer than any hotel staff I've come across.

Anyway, before I turn this post into a novel, I'd control myself and go right into what I thought of Grease. Keep in mind, this is just one person's opinion, though I've studied musical theatre for a few years in my 20's, this was indeed my first Broadway show. I had expectations because of how much I invested emotionally (I know, it sounds a little crazed!) into witnessing Max and Laura's journey to Broadway. I also had reservations because of every review I'd read these last few months about the show. Right away I noticed the upbeat energy in the theater. Everyone was happy, chatting, flashes going off everywhere (pre-show). We sat at row D, orchestra left aisle seats. We were so close we could see spit flying off the actors' mouths and sweat dripping down their foreheads. I had a smile so wide from the minute I stepped into the theatre 'til the last note of the show died off. It was hard for me to concentrate because how surreal it was to finally see the show in person after waiting since March. Also, watching it from the side I darted my eyes back and forth quite a bit. There were so much going on on stage, you look right you'd miss the left, you look at Max, you'd miss Laura...... Anyway, there were things I'd agree with the critics, I thought the set looked a bit simple. Though after seeing Jersey Boys and Xanadu the following nights, I thought the set was fine. You simply can't compare it to sets from Les Mis or Wicked. The set served its purpose and it worked with how small the stage was and how many actors they had on all the time. The storyline was not the strongest, but I expected that already. My sister, who knew nothing about the play, was quite confused about how it didn't match the movie. I, since I've done my research, was pleasantly surprised by how the storyline differed and unfolded.

Ok, now we must talk about Max for a minute. Going in as a fan, I expected him to do well, but boy, that kid was busy!!!!! I think he was in almost every scene, acting, singing, dancing, sliding, flipping girls, forward roll, backward roll, push-ups, jumping, lending in splits, fixing his hair, doing that goofy walk he always does....... His "Sandy" was simply heartfelt! I had seen Max sing Sandy a few times before in different shows. And with just a mic in front of him, I never quite understood completely his acting choices in the song. Well, on stage, with the car and the direction of where Sandy ran off to, Max pulled it off with such sweetness and a certain awkwardness you only get as a teen...... I have to say I was very impressed. At one point, I even felt a sense of pride. Afterall, I did play a part (though very tiny) in getting him there! :) And Laura, what can we say??!!! Sandy thru and thru. Loved the bedroom scene of her with the Pink Ladies, the scene where she practiced cheering. And I even liked her wig at the end, the wig designer must have fixed it, because it looked so much better than some of her earlier production shots. My only question..... why didn't they just change the script, make up something, write some new songs and get her more stage time??!!! :) Oh, and thanks to Jeb Brown and Stephen Bruntrock, they turned 2 of my least favorite songs (Born to hand jive and Beauty school drop out) into my favorite moments of the show. I think quality DOES come with age!

One more thing, if I had started the show as a fan of Max and Laura, I left a fan of all the other cast members - Robyn Hurder, Lindsay Mendez, Kirsten Wyatt, Daniel (OMG, what a voice!), Jose, Ryan.... I'll be following all their careers on Broadway. And everytime they get into another new show, it'll be another excuse for me to return to NYC!! Oh, I must mention the highlight of my trip. I hate to admit this, but because of my desire to follow the show, I actually created a Myspace account back in May, just so I could be added to some of the cast memebers' pages. Well... while I was at the stagedoor Thurs. night, Robyn Hurder actually recognized me and called out my name, and believe me I almost fell over!!. Then on Sat. night, I had a chance to go back stage after the show to take a picture with Teen Angle and Frenchy (for a donation to Broadway Fights Aids), and once I mentioned to Frenchy that I had flown in from CA to see the show, she looked at me and said, "Are you my Myspace friend??" I nodded, we both screamed and laughed, and she gave me the warmest hug..... As someone who had given up her own Broadway dream 15 years ago, those ladies sure made up for whatever sense of loss I had during my visit!

Knowing this post is probably becoming the longest post ever on this board, I'd have to continue and say that my seeing the show on Sat. night again was just pure joy. We had dead center seats in mezzanine row B. I had finally calmed the butterflies in my stomach of walking into that theater and seeing the show for the very first time... I had the best view of the stage, so I simply sat back and enjoyed every single minute of it. And this time, my smile was even bigger, if that was even possible. And I must add, both times, the show ended with the entire audience giving a standing ovation!

On Sat. night, as I stood at the stagedoor waiting, I caught a few actors sneaking by the crowd to leave the theatre. They were in t-shirts, jeans, some with hats, some with scarves and backpacks hanging..... As I watched them disappeared into the dim street, weaving thru again those lovely yellow cabs, I couldn't believe the quickness and ease in their steps. Did they not realize they had just walked out the stagedoor of a Broadway theater, that they just entertained 1000 people that evening, that they entertain 8000 theatre goers a week??? And yet they just bounced away into the chaos of the NY streets. Is this the story of NYC, that you never know what kind of greatness you brush against as you walk down an avenue?? Wow. You come to NY with stories, and you leave with even more.

So, I hope I haven't bored any of you to tears yet. Again, this is simply a housewife's view, not a great understanding of the theatre world, just a sense of what might touch an ordinary person's heart. For all the critics out there, I, for one, am grateful that GYTOTIW was on TV, and I, for one, will return to NYC for many more years to come.

Go see the show, folks, forget the reviews. Smile, laugh, clap, tap your feet a little. It is just pure fun!!


P.S. I followed much of the advice given on this board. I did the Hop-on-hop-off tour (great, even enjoyed the few hours in the rain with ponchos on), went to Angus McIndoe per MrE1111's suggestion, sat between John Lloyd Young and Jeremy Irons. Had lunch at Trescolori, the Italian restaurant next to the Grease theatre. Even got on the Subway twice. If I can do it, so can you!