WINDING UP BROADWAY VISIT

Thirteenth and last of a series

NEW YORK – Before we bid aloha to Broadway 2024, thought we’d share some recaps of our visit.

Sometimes plans don’t work out. I had ordered a rental power wheelchair, to tool around Times Square and the immediate vicinity. The chair arrived, but had a left-handed toggle switch,  and I’m right-handed, so requested a change. Alas, there were no right-hand models, so the rental company provided a power scooter. Had to return it, too, since I’ve never tried a scooter and was not comfortable using one

So: Mr. Walker became my buddy, subbing for Mr. Wheelchair. The walker put a stress on my legs and arms, but I was acclimated to it and it got me to all my Broadway shows, to a dinner or two, and – two big tests – a 10-block street fair on Eighth Avenue on Saturday, and a journey from Seventh Ave. and W. 47^th St. to W.53^rd  and Fifth Ave. on Sunday. Quite a distance to cover, and the legs withstood the distance test.

It was the first time I used a walker in New York, and I’m thrilled it worked out and saw me through the trip. Mr. Walker even earned a pink Hawaiian Airlines tag, an unofficial certification of its boarding in the first class overhead bin. (Yes, it fit).

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Hotel Edison, smack dab in the middle of the Theatre District, has become a preferred place to stay. Last summer, we  booked a cramped room based on its under $300 rate. With a wheelchair in the room, it was darn cramped.

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The Edison also had daily grab-and-go quickie breakfasts for guests that include a bacon-egg sandwich, croissant, fruit and coffee.

Prior to arrival, Vi had made multiple reservations at two of Edison’s restaurants, Friedman’s and Bond 45, so we had multiple res for breakfasts and dinners. The convenience was the defining factor; these eateries are a long ride down in the elevator, with quick service and ample menu choices.  We managed to dine at Victor’s on W. 54^th, the night buddy Kevin Iwamoto joined us for Cuban fare, and theater that night was “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” at the August Wilson, just across the street.

Kevin had a breakfast with us one morn, and a dinner, too, at Friedman’s, before a quick walk on 47^th to the renovated Palace Theatre, where Ben Platt was in residency for three weeks.

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I don’t get much fan mail – very seldom, anyway– so imagine the thrill and unexpected joy when, in the midst of our New York visit, I got an email from a Broadway star, whose works I respect.

The note carried her married name, so I didn’t immediately recognize the sender.

Then my eyes widened and my heart melted, when I read the sincere message:

Wayne: THANK YOU for this thoughtful and sweet write up! I feel so seen and you were so kind with your words ~ thank you very much. I’ll send it to my biggest fan (my mom, Esther.) 

 I’m happy to hear from you. Thank you for thinking to send this to me. 

I hope you are healthy and well. 

Ruthie 

Ruthie Ann Miles was responding to a column, where commended her for earnest delivery of “Aloha Oe,” one of the enduring island anthems that she performed in a recent PBS Memorial Day program. It was the best-ever rendering I’ve heard, with genuine from-the-heart manao, and I wanted to let her know its impact on me and her ongoing great work.

That she would respond so generously was a sweet surprise…

Over the past few years, I’ve been blessed to see Ruthie – a Kaimuki High grad – in three of her many roles – as Imelda Marcos in “Here Lives Love,” at the Public Theatre; “The King and I,” at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where she portrayed Lady Thiang the wife of The King, and picked up a Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and as the Beggar Woman (Tony nominee) in last year’s “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” …

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This year, more than last year, I reached out to each of the theaters where I would be seeing shows,  to seek out how they assist the handicapped.

All of them responded…with common, encouraging advice, that if you have a wheelchair, a walker, a scooter or use a cane, on-site staff will help you find seats and bring your chair or walker to your seat at intermission, if needed, and also at the termination of the performance.

About ticketing: most theaters have a limited number of handicapped seats; the variations could mean you could sit in your wheelchair in allotted space for you and your accompanist, or sit in a conventional seat reserved for the handicapped. You could wheel to your seat, and your chair or walker will be removed and properly stored.

Most older theaters don’t have elevators, so you’d be wise to seek orchestra-level seating.

Do not try to buy seats reserved for the handicapped; you will need to verify, on scene, if indeed there is handicapped person in your party.

“Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” with its unique in-the-round performing stage, as well as orchestra-level seating with a ledge to hold drinks, is most tasked in accommodating patrons. I had orchestra seats, a few rows away from the stage, and I was able to use a walker up angled walkways until I had to carefully reach my seats with a device of support. It’s commendable that an aide came to ask, at intermission, if I needed to make a bathroom run (no, I didn’t),  and the aide returned at the end of the show to bring my walker and wait till the last of the crowds exited, then guided me down the walkers. OK, my friend Kevin also was a dandy helper in the movement up to the seats and descent later.

Moral: if you have a sturdy helper, ask for kokua from him. Or her…

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You never know what you’ll see at Times Square.

Yes, the Naked Cowboy still makes his rounds, strumming his guitar.

The surprise this year was a gigantic wiener attracting stares, which has been a weekend attraction this summer.

The weather had been perfect when we were there, making people watching fun.

I always go to the M&M store, where you can purchase anything from keychains to T-shirts, from blankets to candy (natch). Buying assorted M&Ms, in all shades and shapes (the almond variety is football-shaped), and you simply move – with plastic ziplock bags in hard== and go from faucet to faucet to faucet to faucet, then head to the cashier and discover you have 3 lbs!  But upon return home, we’ve mixed and separated the various M&Ms to share as gifts. Yummeee.

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Lastly, a few theaters still enable you to download and print tickets with barcodes that you can bring to the theaters.

Most, however,  require e-ticketing, with the tickets either stored in an e-wallet or at the sellers websites, like Ticketmaster, Telecharge or Broadway.com. My “Cabaret” seats went directed to Seat Geek. If all this is foreign language (think seniors), ask for help at home before you leave for New York. For safety, save/bring online orders, as back up.

Then enjoy the show, and Broadway…

And that’s Show Biz…