The lobby of the Public Theatre is bright and clean. I’d been there to see ‘Here Lies Love’ a few years ago, and we had had dinner at the Library. Tonight that place is closed for a private event, but it’s not food I’m after. In the electric anticipation of seeing one of my lifelong idols take the stage just a few feet from my seat, I mill excitedly about. I feel the same eager joy I experienced right before seeing ‘Sunset Boulevard’ during Betty Buckley’s triumphant run. Twenty-plus years and eighteen albums later the elation hasn’t diminished. If anything, it’s more stirring, because in all that time Ms. Buckley’s work has informed key portions of my life. One entire fall of my college life was framed by her haunting rendition of ‘When October Goes’, followed by ‘My Love and I’ in a forlorn winter. As she’s evolved, many of us have faithfully followed, from ‘Sunset’ to ‘Triumph of Love’ to ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Grey Gardens’. Her next venture is the national tour of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ but before she starts spreading that happiness, the final night of her series of performances at Joe’s Pub to celebrate the release of the ‘Hope’ album was at hand.
We decided to buy the new CD in the moments leading up to the show, and by the time we take our seats near the stage we have each shared our stories of seeing Ms. Buckley over the years and everyone feels a little closer and, yes, a little more hopeful. I won’t get into the wonder of the performance (you can read all about it here). It will have to do with being nothing less than a dream come true.
After the show, she was gracious enough to sign some CDs, and Andy finally convinced me to tell her that I had a written a couple of blog posts about her.
“Oh, you’re that Alan!†she exclaimed, and opened her arms to hug me.
It was one of the nicest things an idol could have done. I didn’t want to hold the line up, so I thanked her quickly for all the music she’s made over the years, and she was even more gracious in posing for a picture. It was the perfect ending to a perfect night of music, and as we rode home in the New Yok night, Andy and I were both elated.
It would be difficult to leave the next morning, as it always is after an exceptionally good time…
