I had a really nice birthday. I came to the theatre and the cast and crew had all signed a card for me. My brother and his girlfriend Melody were in the audience yesterday – I haven’t seen my brother in months, so I was SO excited. We had a “talk back” after the show, where the cast, the director, and the writer, sit on the stage and take questions from anyone in the audience who wishes to stay. It was a great conversation. These people … they’re the off-Broadway theatre crowd … These are not people I know, not people any of us knew … It’s just amazing. Nothing like live theatre, and it’s people like THAT who help keep it alive. It was great fun. Great fun, too, to see Brendan and Melody out there in the audience, listening, participating. My character is kind of a polarizing character. People either love it, or don’t get it. We heard both sides during the talk-back. Interesting. An audience member said, “So … you are a psychic who works with the police?” I said, “Well, I prefer clairvoyant … but yes …” hahahaha It was a very good discussion.
Afterwards, Ted (my director), Brendan, Melody and I went out to a local pub and drank beer and ate hot chicken wings and jalapeno poppers and talked about the play. Brendan gave me his birthday present: a 2-disc collector’s edition of Casablanca. WHOO-HOO!!! Can’t WAIT to see it! We also had an awesome conversation about Bob Dylan. It was great. We’re all Dylan fans – so it was really interesting, really fun. Brendan told a great story about the meeting between John Lennon and Bob Dylan. They were fans of each other – this is the early 60s – when the Beatles had just come to America. Dylan goes to see a Beatles show. And afterwards, he gets into a huge limo with John Lennon. They’re kind of awkward with each other, since they admire each other so much, etc. And finally Dylan says to Lennon: “You know, you don’t have to write songs just about girls.” hahahaha I love that story.
Afterwards, Brendan, Melody and I took a long walk through the city streets. Talking, laughing … Had a nice phone conversation with my parents. They’re proud of me. Of what I’m up to right now in my life. It brings a lump to my throat to know they’re proud of me. I also had a brief phone conversation with Cashel, who was on the cusp of falling asleep – therefore, he was kind of weepy and irritable. hahaha “Do you need to go to sleep now, honey?” Weepy small Cashel voice coming at me over the phone line: “Yes.” “Okay. You go sleep now.”
We sat in Starbucks. We talked. We laughed. It’s been months since we all were together. Brendan had on his Red Sox jacket. Melody is beautiful. A member of our family.
Came home and talked with my sister Jean for a while, just a short birthday call. A couple of other friends left messages on my cell phone with birthday wishes.
It was a good birthday.
A belated “Happy Birthday” to you, Sheila!
Glad it was a good one, Sheila.
Happy Birthday, Red…
Happy Birthday, Sheeeeila! :D
Happiest of times to you!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Sheila!
Happy Birthday, Sheila!
Happiest of birthdays, Sheila! And did I read your post right? Do you now have a DVD player to watch the Casablanca 2-disc set? If so, this is another reason to celebrate. Not only a birthday, but a year in which you have entered modern times, what with cable TV and a DVD player and all that.
Jay – well, sadly, no – still no machine. I just watch them on my laptop.
Many happy returns of the day!
Very, very late, but heartfelt: Happy Birthday, Sheila! :-)
Glad to read it was so much fun!
happy belated birthday!
your bad friend, mere
Very Happy Birthday, Sheila!
Isn’t it funny how the birthdays one has with the extended family of a show are always the best, and most memorable?
Glad you had a good one. :)
Happy birthday, and best wishes for the coming year!
Adding another voice to the chorus.. Glad to hear your birthday was a good one, Sheila.
To many more.
Cheers!
Happy B-day Red, and Belated Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy, Happy.
I am the worse friend, Mere. Cause I was due with Ceileidh on Sheila’s birthday, and I still managed to forget it. (Just call me E.B. and I will call you S.B.) Sheila- I will explain the above cimment saturday. I can’t wait!!!!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Belated Birthday, Sheila! Glad to hear you had a great day.
I’ve been away for awhile and feel like I’ve missed so much stuff, not being able to read your blog and Alex’s blog. A birthday? A tribute to William Blake? The top 100 characters on TV? Ugh, I feel like I’m digging through a huge pile of old newspapers – catching up, yet still way behind.
Anyway, Hap-hap-happy BBBBBBBBirthday, Sheila!! A hundred more great ones to come!!
xo
Happy belated Birthday!
For Thanksgiving, my family sat around the DVD player and watched George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh (speaking of Bob Dylan). I recommend it. Can’t get much better than George, Bob, Eric Clapton, and many, many more.