Sandy Duncan & "MAME"

To the Editor of THE EAGLE:

I was born and raised in Berkshire County, and like many of the people who live here, I took a lot of the things we have in this area for granted.

There are many popular theaters to the North and South of us and we all hoped something could be done to boost the business and entertainment factor in Pittsfield. The opening of the Colonial Theatre might just be what we were waiting for, but I wonder if all the anticipation of it has overshadowed the smaller theaters with just as much to offer.

On Oct. 7, my Mom accompanied me to a brilliant show at The Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield. Television and Broadway star, Sandy Duncan and the cast of "Mame" made me smile and laugh till my sides hurt.

Mom was more than happy to get up out of her wheelchair, stand on unsteady feet and give the entire cast and crew a standing ovation with everyone else in the audience. The actors, the musicians, everyone behind the scenes and the theater in itself made our night out an unbelievable experience.

Barrington Stage is a cozy intimate theater where no seat has a bad seat. I fell in love with it the moment I set foot inside. Mom and I were treated extremely well and I'd like to thank them for that. It's wonderful to see big performers like Sandy Duncan in the smaller theaters. I believe it gives the audience more of a one on one experience with the characters and somehow makes us feel like we're part of the show.

It brought me back to my childhood when I used to watch Sandy Duncan every week on "The Hogan Family." She is an incredible performer, who I never in my life imagined I would see live.

It's a memorable show in a beautiful theater that I highly recommend you see before it's too late. My sincere kudos to the extreme talents of everyone involved with the production of this show. I already have our tickets to go see "Mame" one more time on its final performance Sunday. Maybe we'll see you there.

Mom and I arrived at BSC a little before 7 for the final performance at 7:30. Not long after we got there a man walked up to us to say hi. "Charlie said you'd be here. Do you need anything?" I have no idea who he was, but apparently he was well informed, lol. Next, Charlie arrived and brought me inside the theater to show me where our seats were. SECOND ROW!!!! OMG!! Yes, these seats will do! Doors open, in comes the crowd, get outta my way Sandy is calling, lol. After we were settled in, Charlie snuck up beside me to let me know what was happening. "I just spoke with Sandy and she says she will meet you in the lobby after the show. Btw, I posted your letter to the Editor in the green room."

Mom and I went out in the lobby and waited. A lot of the cast was filing out from the dressing room, all back in their street clothes. Charlie came over to chat, "I'm gonna bring a couple of Sandy's bags out for her and she'll be out soon." OMG!! Out come more cast members. At this point I decided that I couldn't watch the door any longer. Everytime it opened I felt like I was going to puke, lol. As I'm standing there talking to Mom, I suddenly feel a hand on my back and hear a voice I definitely recognize in my left ear. My stomach suddenly dropped. I couldn't breathe, move or do anything. I slowly turned to look at this face that is smiling ear to ear at me, and what do you think the first words out of my mouth are?? "Oh Dear God!" What a line to come out with huh? LOL. Not, "Hi" or "Pleasure to meet you." Nope, "Oh dear God." At this time I realize that I have my hands up in front of me froze in mid air. She reached over put her hands over mine and put them together so it looked like I was praying. Now I'm screaming in my head, "OMG, that is NOT helping me any! Please remove your hands before I collapse!" We chatted for a few minutes, but what was said is beyond me. I can't freaking remember, LOL. I was completely out of it. Mom asked if she was ok after her fall. "Oh yes, my shoe got tangled up in my damn pants." LOL

   At some point Sandy bumped into Mom, which triggered Mom's sarcasm to come out. "Who do you think you are, bumping into me?" I could have died. My thoughts are going crazy, "Oh God, she's not gonna know you're kidding. Please shut up, LOL." Next thing I know, Charlie is laughing at me and someone mentioned a camera. As I'm reaching for it, Mom offers some info to Sandy, "She's been shaking all night."
   "Shut up! I'm sure she could tell that when she had my hands. You didn't have to mention it." LOL, I'm now the joke of everyone. Sandy looked at Mom and said, "Yeah Mom" then looked at me with a huge grin and said, "Oh yes, I'm just so intimidating." She's all of 5'4" tall.
   "Charlie, you better not come in tomorrow and rag on me about this. Brian is gonna lock me in the back room."
   "Why?"
   "Because I'll still be bouncing off the walls after this."
   "Would I do that?"
   "Yes!"

   She started laughing. As Charlie is about to take our picture he mentions that Mom get in on it. Sandy tells him Mom didn't want to, but then SANDY changed her mind and made her, lol. "One with all 3 of us and then one of us two." Remember how Mom was giving her crap?? Charlie took the pic and Sandy just reached out, pushed Mom away and said, "Now us, you can't be in this one." I thought I'd die. In my head I was screaming, "YES!!!!" She was giving it right back. If you notice in the pic that I have NO control over my right hand. Sandy has a tight hold of it, lol. In her mind, apparently I was going nowhere.
   Next I hear her say to me, "I read your letter to the Editor."
   "Oh God, you didn't."
   "Yes, I did. Thank you, that was very nice. It's always nice to hear that."
   "Oh that's just so embarrassing."
   "Why?"
   "Oh it just is, lol"
   She stayed for a few more minutes, then gave me a huge hug, said goodbye and left. It was bad. I couldn't hardly look at her, I was shaking like you wouldn't believe. I've never had my stomach that upset to meet anyone before. I'm still on cloud 9. I just can't believe it. Before we left, I saw Johnny (the kid in the show) come out of the dressing room with his Mom. I walked over, tugged on his jacket and told him, "Great job, Kiddo. You were great!" He got a huge smile on his face, "Thank you, Thank you very much!" I wish the show was longer than it was. I would have gone a few more times. A dream come true that I will never forget. I sit here with this silly smile on my face everytime I think about it. Sigh...