Well, let’s see what happens on this computer. Unfortunately, if everything goes well, that means I need to get a new laptop at home. (sigh)
I stopped just as I was mentioning the Morgan Library & Museum with its current Holbein exhibit.
The weather on Tuesday morning was still cool enough to need our big coats, but by that evening, we had shed them and moved on to sweaters for the rest of our trip.
As much as I loved the Holbein exhibit, here’s what you really want to see at the Morgan Library – the library.
And, for those of you who read The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, and Victoria Christopher Murray, the photo below is J.P. Morgan’s librarian, Belle da Costa Greene.
After we left the library, Linda noticed the Ukranian flag flying from this building. We crossed the street, and discovered the building is the Polish Consulate.
There’s actually a statue and several plaques in front of the building. If you’re ever at the Morgan Library, stop across the street, and read the stories. One is about the building itself, one about “A Just Man”.
Before taking a break for dinner, we located our theater for that evening, The Winter Garden. As I said, I’ve been waiting over two years to see Hugh Jackman in this show.
We did go to Hurley’s, an Irish pub for dinner. I go there almost every trip for fish and chips. They use sole in their chips. Plus, it was St. Patrick’s week, so a visit to an Irish pub was in order.
Jeff asked about my review of “The Music Man”. Now, remember, I wanted to see Hugh Jackman in a musical on Broadway. He’s loving every minute of it, and his joy showed throughout the show. While the audience is wearing masks until at least April 30, you could tell we all responded and gave that same love back to him. No, he doesn’t have the best voice in the world. But, he enjoys every minute of the dancing. Sutton Foster is the one with the gorgeous voice, but “The Music Man” is really a vehicle for the person in the title role. The library scene in which they sing “Marian the Librarian” was my favorite – the flying books, the dancing, the rhythm even to the stamping of books. There’s a solid supporting cast, and the children were all marvelous. But, Hugh Jackman was born to play this role, just as much as he was born to play “The Greatest Showman” in those circus scenes. One friend referred to him as the consummate entertainer. Yes. One called him “Mr. Still Foxy Jackman”. That, too. As a show, it’s just fun. If you’re going to see Hugh Jackman, you won’t be disappointed.
Now, let me tell you about the matinee we saw on Wednesday. If you love history, dance, and a new show, you might want to try “Paradise Square”. Linda and I loved it. We had no idea we bought tickets for the second day of previews. We had great seats, right behind the producer. The show was delayed for a half an hour because the line to get in went around the block. But, it was worth the wait.
“Paradise Square” is set in 1863 in Five Points, a rough area of Manhattan. But, it was a neighborhood where the Irish and Blacks worked together, danced together, intermarried. That’s all true. Now, I’m sure Nellie’s bar, and the specific people in this musical are fictional, but the background is fact. It was a neighborhood that brought together Irish dance and Black dance, and gave birth to tap. It was also a neighborhood that went up in flames when Lincoln instituted the draft, and the Irish realized they were going to have to fight and die so the Blacks could be free, but the Blacks were not allowed to enlist.
Here’s a young Irish immigrant singing “Why Should I Die in Springtime?” from the show.
If you get the chance to hear Joaquina Kalukango, the actor who plays Nellie, owner of the bar, sing, especially the song, “Burn it Down”, make sure you listen to her. She was so magnificent that the audience gave her a standing ovation, and the show wasn’t over yet.
There were several Irish dancers in the show, and when we watched a PBS special on St. Patrick’s Day, a show about Irish dance, we recognized one of the male dancers as one we had seen in “Paradise Square”.
We loved this show, but Linda and I both love history. I hope the show succeeds on Broadway. The dance and music, and Joaquina Kalukango, are magnificent. And, it’s a story you might not have heard.
Because this show started late, we just had time to run to the Cosmic Diner for a quick dinner. That was our second meal there, though, because we enjoyed the diner. Breakfast all day, and, the best strawberry shake I’ve had in quite a while.
We went to see “The Lion King” that night. Linda took me for my birthday. Great seats on the aisle, so we could see all the animals come down. Yes, I enjoyed all their costumes. But, I really appreciated the three actors that played Simba, the lion, at the three stages of his life. The young man who played young adult Simba had all the shoulder rolls and head movements for the big cats. It was fun to watch him.
Those were our three Broadway shows on this trip. Favorite actor? Hugh Jackman. Favorite show? “Paradise Square”. Favorite singer? Joaquina Kalukango. Worth waiting two years to see Hugh Jackman in “The Music Man”? Definitely.
Linda and I already have tickets to a Broadway show in May. We haven’t decided on anything else, but we’re going back so I can see Ramin Karimloo as Nicky Arnstein in “Funny Girl”. It stars Beany Feldman and Jane Lynch as well. Beany Feldman is Fanny Brice. So, here’s a peak at our next show.
It was a wonderful Broadway trip. Of course, we couldn’t get out of NY on Thursday. We spent twelve hours at LaGuardia, socked in by fog. We ended up staying in Flushing that night, and the next day, instead of flying all over the country to get back to Columbus, Linda’s wonderful husband picked us up in Pittsburgh, driving three hours each way to get us home. That’s okay. I spent one more day with them.
Live theater is back. It’s what I missed the most in the last two years. I know it’s minor compared to people who missed family and grandchildren and major life events. But, I love live theater. I told Linda I hadn’t had a “Big Joy” in my life in two years. This trip was a “Big Joy”.
(But, darn. One of these weekends, I think I need to look at a new laptop.)
So glad you had a wonderful trip, Lesa. The pictures of the Morgan Library are just beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Jennifer! Isn’t it gorgeous?
Great report! It sounds like a wonderful trip. The last time we were in the city, the Midtown/Times Square/theater district area was pretty crowded no matter how the rest of the city was doing. LION KING opened in November of 1997. Two years later we got tickets (six months in advance!) for Jackie’s birthday and, like you, had aisle seats. IN fact, we were in the first ten rows. The biggest surprise was, the kid who played Young Simba was Reuben, a former student of Jackie’s who she had put in a show in her class!
Glad you liked MUSIC MAN. The movie has always been a favorite, and we are looking forward to seeing it this summer.
To say I love the Morgan Library is an understatement. I want to live in it! Just gorgeous. Whenever we ride past it on the bus I think we should go inside
One last thing. I wonder if the “new” LaGuardia Airport is really better. It certainly looks a lot nicer when you see it on television. Then again, being stuck all day in any airport is no fun. We’ve had long waits in Amsterdam, San Francisco and several others and none of them was a pleasure.
Thank you, Jeff! That’s so funny about Young Simba. The Simbas were all terrific. We sat in front of Young Simba’s mother.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of The Music Man. And, of course, I’m going to see Ramin Karimloo. I will admit, I know he played King Arthur in a concert of “Camelot”. I would love to see him in that. King Arthur has all the good songs.
Linda and I spent time looking at the titles of some of the books in the collection. It is gorgeous, and we could have spent a lot more time there.
I’ve flown in and out of the Southwest wing, and it’s definitely an improvement over the pit that that wing was before. We were in Delta C all day, and flew out of Delta D the next day. Clean restrooms, but, you’re right. Stuck there isn’t fun at all.
As soon as I saw that Ramin Karimloo was in FUNNY GIRL, I told Jackie that I bet you would see it!
I’m glad you enjoyed your trip
Thank you, Sandy!
What a perfect trip you guys had!!! Thanks for sharing it with us. These are such great pictures, and I can hear that “Broadway Joy” of yours while reading. I do hate this about the laptop though.
I’m going to try to clean up my current one, and see what happens first, Kaye. We’ll see. Thank you! I’m so happy you can hear the “Broadway Joy”. It’s so real.
That library is gorgeous.
I agree, Bonnie! It is gorgeous!
You do a grand job of summarizing our trip! Thank you for letting me share your Broadway Big Joy!
Thank you, Linda! It would have been an even better summary if my computer had been accepting the photos on Monday. That’s okay, though. I’m sure others don’t want to know every detail. Thank you for sharing my Broadway Big Joy!
Wow! Sounds like a fabulous trip despite the fog! Loved the clip you included above. That was some powerful singing! I was a singer in my younger days – almost went into music. And, sorry to say, but everything came thru on this post, so new laptop it is. I got one late last year – bought it online from Amazon, believe it or not. Worked out just fine for me. It’s a bit of work to get it set up just the way you want with the programs you want and then to reload your data. Worth it tho. Thanks for sharing your trip!
Thank you, Sandie! Well, darn. I’m thinking that, too, about the laptop.
It was a fabulous trip. You’re right!
Lesa, this sounds like a perfect trip to me! I have got to get to NYC to see some shows. I love both Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, and I love The Music Man, so this one especially appeals to me. I am also a big fan of history, and the Five Squares is full of fascinating history. Of course, The Lion King would be lovely to see, too. I’m glad you and Linda got to enjoy these.
Thank you, Kathy! You’re right. For me, this was the perfect trip, three shows, dinners, a museum, and time spent with my sister. It was wonderful. (You should take your granddaughter.)
I can tell from the photos that you had a great time. The photos of the Morgan Library are just wonderful and I wish I could visit.
Oh, that library is stunning, Tracy. I wish you could visit, too.
I just got tickets to Music Man and Funny Girl for my “last hoorah” in NY before I move to MI. I’m looking forward to it!
Golda! Are you retiring, and moving home? I have a year and a half, and then I’m retiring, and moving back to Ohio.
You’re going to love Music Man, and I hope we both love Funny Girl!