Hello again (again)!

Although this time it's a non-illustrated report, LOL!

In case some weren't aware, Randy actually performed this same play while still in College. In that production he played "The Young Thing." This also had a recent Off- Broadway production in 2011, featuring Max von Essen in the role Randy played in this reading. (How did I miss that, LOL!)

The story centers around 10 characters, each having just two scenes, with each one connected to the next. The good thing for us Monday night was that Randy was in the very first scene, so he remained on stage the entire night even after his portion was complete. The play spans several decades, but played out of order. This is also more of what I would describe as a "spoken musical," in that the dialogue is sung rather than spoken, although each character does get one more traditional full song. But there's not what most would think of as a show tune.

The first scene takes place in NY, near the Hudson River, at the turn of the century between "The Whore" and "The Soldier." (Randy) I got the impression that this soldier was young and naive, hesitant to approach when propositioned by The Whore, saying "I've got to get back the barracks." "I ain't got no cash." "Can't pay anyway." She replies that  "Guys I like don't have to pay." They banter back and forth - "I heard about you at the cafe," "You're the one who gives it away"  with The Whore  saying she wishes "... you were my boyfriend." Randy replies, "I'd make you jealous." They then both sing, "Hello," and then move to the shadows.

Onstage the entire time during the scene where two actors dressed in black. These two perform an erotic ballet which IS the sex scene between The Whore & The Soldier. They would also perform later in the musical  in the scene between The Husband & The Young Thing.

After the dance The Whore & The Soldier move back to center stage, obviously waking up the next morning. She asks, "What's your name?" He laughs and replies "Jesus. " Hers is Leocadia. (A Roman Catholic Saint) He replies, "That's a good one," as he gets up to leave. She doesn't want him to leave, wants to look him in the face. At this point The Soldier has lost his naiveté, replying  sarcastically, "What for?" She then asks for a dime, because they may never "...see each other again." The Soldier angrily says - not sings - "Go to hell" and leaves. She follows after him, saying that he stole her broach.

The Whore then exits waiting to return again in the final scene, while Randy remains to play in the next scene with The Nurse. This scene takes place in a NY Night Club in the 1940's. This Soldier is cool and confident, full of bravado. The two dance on stage, with The Nurse saying, "Hey, where are you taking me?" The Soldier sings his reply, "To Heaven."  "I'm shipping out tomorrow. C'mon, give me something to remember you by." She's being shy, saying she's seen him dancing with other girls all night. At that he grabs his crotch and speaks, "Help  Nurse, I'm wounded." Randy manages to say that with such mischief in his eyes. Then he sings, "I've been looking just for you, my whole life."

This is the point where Randy gets to actually sing an entire song, rather than the musical dialogue. He does it wonderfully with a glint in his eyes and a grin on his face. It's meant to seduce  The Nurse into his bed:  "I got a little itch, I got a little time... It might be the last scratch... My boat leaves in the morning... My Daddy won't care... My Momma don't see... In Paris it's morning... In Berlin it's almost noon...The world is turning... We got a little time... Let's hop, shake & burn!"

They then do a wonderful dance. It's always magical to watch Randy dance. He's just so graceful when he moves. Another group comes onstage to sing a 40's swing tune as The Soldier begins to undress the Nurse. But she gets nervous and stops him. He angrily sings out, "Jesus Christ Almighty!" She sings that he could have had "that Redhead in there," then calming down a bit, "Do you think I'm pretty?" At this point  The Soldier is so frustrated in his thwarted attempts, he will say anything. He replies with a non-convincing, "Yeah." She pressures him again, "Do you really, think I'm pretty?" His answer is that he "Doesn't want to think."

The Nurse, who's a virgin,  takes some more convincing... asking if he'll write from Paris. He continually replies, "Yeah. Yeah," not really listening. She needs some reassurance though and hesitantly asks, "Can you at least say you like me." With other things obviously on his mind he replies, "I said I like you. Please stop talking."  She pushes, "Do you love me, Sammy?" "Yeah, I LOVE you. And stop calling me Sammy, that's not my name. " "My name is Leslie." Randy says that last line with a look of amusement on his face, but it's apparently enough to finally convince the nurse. "Don't think. Don't think..."

They fumble about in the back of the stage as the same group as before comes to sing another song about ways of making love. At this point The Soldier is getting ready to leave, as The Nurse ask him to walk her home in the rain. He agrees albeit grudgingly, complaining that he needs a beer. She asks him to stay, but sees that he is eyeing the Redhead again. "Yeah, so what if I do? I'm shipping out tomorrow. I need a beer."  He exits, leaving The Nurse standing in the rain.

Randy is done at this point except for two other scenes much later in the play where the entire cast joins in a few songs. But he does stay on stage for the remainder of the play which then moves on to The Nurse & The College boy, and then The College Boy & The Wife and so on. It's an interesting concept because even though the decades are scrambled, the character that moves between the scenes remains somewhat the same, although changed by the experience in the prior scene.

Randy intently watch the scenes that involved The Young Thing, the role he played at school. One of those scenes takes place on The Titanic! Michael Lorz, the young actor who played the role this time was wonderful! I spoke to him briefly after the show and he said it was the second time he did this role and that it's easy to have fun with it. He said he knew that Randy had also played the role though and that it made him a "little nervous. Because, it's Randy Harrison!" But it was so easy to imagine a 19 year old Randy playing that part. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to see that!

Randy looked particularly lovely on stage in his mint green button down shirt, nicely tailored dark charcoal grey slacks, argyle socks and brown oxfords. His dark blue wool coat and scarf that he wore when I saw him after the show was reminiscent of Justin's navy Pea Coat. He smiled easily and seemed happy and relaxed. I wished him a Happy New Year and he did the same, saying he had a very nice time. He said he was very impressed with Michael's portrayal of his former role. Of course he just grinned and was very tight-lipped when asked about when we might be seeing him again, LOL!

Sorry for the long delay in getting this posted, but it has been a crazy week. I only had the chance to do this today since I was stuck inside all morning because of an ice storm. And I must admit that I did not remember all those details... I got the general idea of what was going on, but sometimes the lyrics themselves where difficult to understand, especially in the way they were presented. And I sometimes got confused about the sequence of what happened when! Hopefully, there will soon be another Randy event for me to report on!