THE FINAL DAY

Here we are. I can’t believe this day has arrived. I am not as sad as I expected because a) I sense we’ll do it again somewhere; b) I couldn’t keep going despite my desire because of the pain of my knee and c) I am so tired. Pain and limping are exhausting. This is good because it gives me empathy for those who do it all the time.

Bridget (Fonda) is in town. Troy told me she has taken her little boy to the Natural History Museum. I am excited that she and Danny have come in for this.

Today was the big luncheon for all the Tony nominees and some past winners. It was fun to see everyone gathered together. I couldn’t help but notice and appreciate that the actors (men and women) look like real people-ie. They aren’t all pulled and injected beyond recognition. It was challenging to take as many photos as I’d have liked because I had the cane and, besides, I was afraid of looking too much like a groupie. (I don’t think any of the other actors have a blog and they don’t go around asking everyone to have their picture taken.) But I got Leslie Uggams, Marian Seldes (who read something Ruth Gordon wrote in her 80’s about being a stage actor that knocked all our socks off), Martha Plimpton (nominated for her role in the musical “Pal Joey”) and who played my daughter in “Stanley and Iris.” I was able to talk a bit with Harriet Walter who co-stars with Janet McTeer in “Mary Stuart.” They are both nominated for a Tony for Best Actress. Moises and Zach and Derek (Nominated for Best Set Design for “33 Variations”) were all there. Spoke briefly with all four of the actors from “God of Carnage”-Jeff Daniels, James Gondolfini, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Hardin. Like Marcia, Hope has young children and had to rush off to pick one of them up from school. She commented on how tired she is. I can’t imagine. At least I am able to sleep when I choose.

Leslie Uggams, Me, Marian Seldes and Martha Plimpton (photo: Michael Rudd)

Martha Plimpton (photo: Michael Rudd)

Harriet Walter (photo: Michael Rudd)

It was really nice. One of the purposes of the luncheon is to give us some pointers on how to win, how to lose, how to make an effective acceptance speech (don’t pull out a list of names to thank).

Speaking of which, I am going to do that right now. I am in the dressing room where I will stay (with Tulea) until the show ends tonight and I need a major nap. It will be an emotional cauldron here after the show. Our producer, David Binder, is throwing us a closing party in a German restaurant downtown where we will have pig’s knuckles!!! This is because we talk about pig’s knuckles several times in the show-it is a famous delicacy in Bonn, Germany, where the second act takes place and where the Beethoven archives are housed. I intend to visit the archives this coming November.

See you next time.