Guess Who's Autograph I Got!

Well. I don't even know where to begin. I guess it started a couple of years ago when I and my friend Amie were visiting teaching a woman in our ward by the name of Michelle Van De Graaff. We were sitting and chatting with their family, who were all excited because Rick, Michelle's husband, has a sister who's husband wrote a play and it was going to Broadway. It's called The Drowsy Chaperone - heard of it? It was new in 2006 and won 5 Tonys. Rick's brother-in-law played the narrator and everything. (Bob Martin - he's the frumpy looking guy two people to the right of the stripy gal in the center of the picture. Keep your ear out for him - he's working on about three more shows right now!) I remember all three of the Van De Graaff kids trying to act out pretty much the whole show for us on their front porch, and Amie and I, though charmed, didn't really get it. Well, this week The Drowsy Chaperone is here in Salt Lake, so Troy and I bought tickets and planned to go see the show with our friends the Grundvigs. Unfortunately, Troy found out just a couple of weeks ago that he had to go on a business trip to Portland, of course over the 25th. We were both really disappointed that he couldn't join us, but luckily TL got her sister, here from Seattle, to attend instead.

Adam, TL, Julie and I met up at Macaroni Grill, where we enjoyed some pretty awesome Italian food - the winner for me was Adam's dish; a sweet and tender tarragon pasta with lobster and shrimp. (Sorry for the unnecessary information - but I will always remember that pasta.) We then strolled over to the Capitol Theater just in time to get to our seats in the mezzanine and glance at our programs. It was at this point that I just about started jumping up and down and screaming. I looked at the program and saw that playing The Man in the Chair (basically the narrator) was Jonathan Crombie. I'll know if you are a true fan if I have to tell you no more. However, if that name doesn't ring a bell I'll just say two more words. Gilbert Blythe. THE Gilbert Blythe. Now, if you were 10 - 15 years old about 25 years ago (I was) you probably did what I did and watched Anne of Green Gables on PBS. I, cuddled under a blanket on the couch, which had been scooted up close to the t.v., watched it with my mom, as it was on over three evenings. And you may have, like myself, fallen irrevocably in love with Gil. And there he was, on stage! I, having instantly reverted to a 10 year old, almost jumped off the balcony. Of course I'm kidding. What I almost did, during the applause, was scream out something like "YAY GILBERT!!!!" I only wish I had.



The show itself was one of the most hilarious, clever, and entertaining shows I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend seeing it.

Well, after the show, I felt just elated. Something about seeing a really wonderful production just fills me with joy and sort of sad longing that we only get to live one life. I'd never trade my life that I have, but a life on stage would have been grand. Too bad I can't sing. Maybe in some alternate universe I can. We chatted with our friends, the Van De Graaffs, in the lobby for quite a while, and I'm telling you, I was dragging my feet as we left I was hoping so much to see the cast make their exits. Alas, they didn't. We strolled back to the car and pulled out of the lot, chatting about where to get a little tasty treat. We drove by the theater, and saw the Van De Graaffs out front...talking...to...Gilbert. PULL OVER!! TL did a screaming U-turn across 2nd South and I leaped out of the car. Michelle had already very graciously told Mr. Crombie that he had a rather middle aged fan who tried to climb out of the balcony to get to him, and she had gotten an autograph for me. I hope she didn't mind too much that I also got my own autograph.

Gee. I have to admit that as fun as it was to meet him, there's something I hate about being a fan. How do I describe it? It just makes you so un-unique and like you're one unrecogniseable spec among a thousand. Of course, I probably wouldn't have felt so foolish if I didn't get so star struck. Heart pounding, hands shaking, sweating a little. Yeah, nothing very graceful about that. Especially when you try to think of something intelligent to say, so you ask, "Are you enjoying traveling around the country?" (Dumb question anyway,) and he kindly says, "Yes, especially because I get to travel with all these wonderful people." I look around me and realize that I'm standing smack in the middle of a group of like five of the actors from the show and I didn't even notice it. Nor did I have the grace to ask them for their autographs as well. I was too busy being a 10 year old. Blithering? Is that the word? I think that's it. That and IDIOT. Oh well. I'm kicking myself for not bringing my camera. At least I got his autograph, not to mention the fact that I got to see a really wonderful show. I hope I can be a season ticket holder some day.


(How much do I love that he signed the cosmetic surgery add on the back? Nice.)

I jumped back in the car, and was slightly mocked, deservedly so, for being sweaty and pathetic, and then we went out for THE best frozen yogurt I have ever had. Luna Berry, on 4th South and 7th East. Go there. Get some yogurt.