I’ve heard the 3rd time is the charm…for me…it was the 7th.
I was off today and spent most of the day cleaning around my apartment, running errands, etc. I decided, kinda at the last minute, to venture down to Times Square and try…yet again for the Young Frankenstein lottery.
The new musical by Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein, based on his film from 1976, has created a stir on Broadway for several reasons. The score, the direction, the powerhouse cast…but mostly because of the insanely priced tickets (topping off at an unheard of $450).
I love theater…but I wouldn’t (and can’t) pay that much for a show...any show.
Like many shows on Broadway, Young Frankenstein does offer lottery tickets for the front row – for $26. You arrive 2 ½ hours before the show, drop your name in, and then 2 hours before the show names are drawn.
I went to the beautiful Hilton theater and put my name for the 7th time. The young ushers who run the lottery recognized me. They said they loved that I keep trying. I explained that it is a perk of living in Manhattan. If I don’t win…I can go home.
Tonight…I won.
Not only did I win…I was the first name drawn. I couldn’t believe it when my name was called.
The girl drawing names said she thought she was more excited than I was…I explained that I was in shock. I had tried so hard not to get my hopes up that I was trying to take it all in.
The closer I got to show time, the more excited I got. By the time the show’s Overture started I was on the edge of my seat.
Most theaters, because of their age, the front row is so close, physically, to the stage that you end up with a crick in your neck looking up at the stage. The Hilton is newer and the orchestra separates the audience from the stage – providing enough space to see everything (with no strain on one’s neck).
The show was great. It was a great thrill to see Sutton Foster (I’ve written about seeing her in The Drowsy Chaperone last year and Little Women when I first moved to NYC) and an exciting experience finally seeing Andrea Martin and Megan Mullally (of TV's Will & Grace fame) on stage – both were show stoppers.
The show was a lot of fun…it had me laughing out loud. The show had the most special effects of any Broadway show I’ve seen – they could almost knock you out of your seat. Everyone in the cast gave 100% and were at the top of their game.
Anyone who’s seen the movie will love the musical…the show is almost lifted word for word from the film. I just recently saw the movie for the first time (I know, I know…where have I been) – and I can report that it stays exceptionally true to the original story.
Before the show started…I did a little Christmas shopping and needed to use the restroom. Well…wouldn’t you know it…for the first time there’s a public restroom in Times Square.
(click the link in the sentence before this one and read an article in the New York Times)
It’s sponsored by Charmin.
It is clean and…I don’t know how else to describe it…it’s a party. There are Charmin cheerleaders (click on the link above and the song you'll hear in the background is what plays 24/7)…a gift shop…a voting booth where you can vote for your favorite softness…it’s not to be missed. It’s number one in my book…whether natures calling you for Number 1 or Number 2.
I decided to blend in with the tourists and I snapped photos like I’d just stepped off the plane. The whole Charmin happy place was just too funny. I couldn’t believe the way it was done up and the extreme to which everyone went.
I can say this…I’ve never relieved myself …and had such a good time.
Is that a weird sentence?
Don’t know how else to describe it all…but there it is.
