Our hotel was ideally situated not far from Central Park where Rose and I spent a few happy hours writing postcards, eating and strolling amongst 'Strawberry Fields' and 800 acres of a manmade sanctuary away from the city mayhem. Here, we saw the filming and set of 'The Devil You Know' and also a photo -shoot which was all very interesting. How can I NOT mention the shops, Madison Avenue and designer shops galore - viewed only from the windows of our tour bus!  Having said that, we did manage a shopping spree at Macy's (well you have to, haven't you?)

 

Our first visit to see The New York City Opera was on Friday 30th September. This is a beautiful building surrounding a huge fountain. Michael appeared about 6-45pm around the comer by the stage door relaxed and his face beaming. He greeted fans from all over the world with the utmost 'patience' and seemed only too happy to do signings, accept gifts and have photos taken. At the following Sunday matinee, October 2nd and Wednesday 5th October's evening performance, Michael was just the same both before and after each show.

 

On Friday he arrived wearing the most gorgeous white jacket with silver thread on the sleeves and all over the back, together with pale blue shirt and jeans. On Sunday he wore a maroon and blue shirt with jeans and on Wednesday - the same gorgeous jacket, 'wise guy' T shirt with his designer jeans! Needless to say looking fab!

On Friday night Michael's mum was in the audience and left with him looking so happy and proud. Before the last performance Rose and I managed to have a photo taken together with Michael, (thank you John for taking the photo) when he was interested to know what we thought of New York and had we enjoyed ourselves and the show?  Well- The Show! 'Patience', the music and lyrics were really great and even if you are not particularly fond of opera (as I'm not) you would have loved this! It was totally hilarious, so very, very funny and clever and Michael was just fabulous as Reginald Bunthorne. Complete with flamboyant clothes, full make up, purple nail vanish and flowers in the hair - he strutted his stuff as a very camp poet. Oscar Wilde certainly springs to mind!
Near the beginning of the first act he recites a poem he has written called 'Oh Hollow, Hollow, Hollow and he's an absolute scream! Soon after this he frolics across the roof of the house declaring that he is an aesthetic sham and is so funny! We always knew he would be brilliant at comedy and his timing was perfect especially when he fell off the wall, as symbols struck up behind him resounding in his ears. This is not to mention him being - quote' thwarted and crushed again and again' when he finds he is no longer loved by anyone. Also - quote 'damn, damn, damn' when Michael takes off his cloak and swishes it backwards and forwards on the ground whilst ranting and raving - what a hoot! !

I should explain that twenty lovesick maidens are pining for Reginald's affection and he professes this can be cured medically. Reginald, in turn, is in love with Patience, a dairymaid (played excellently by Tonna Miller) who has never loved anyone except her aunt. When Archibald Grosvenor appears,(portrayed brilliantly by Kevin Burdette) she realises she'd known him as a child and they fall in love. Patience is loathe to marry 'such perfection' thinking that true love is 'utterly unselfish' so she agrees to marry Bunthorne who she doesn't like at all. In the meantime Bunthorne has decided to raffle himself off to one of the twenty maidens but when they think he is marrying Patience after-all, they transfer their affections back to the dragoon guards to whom they had been engaged the previous year.

At the sight of the handsome Archibald Grosvenor the fickle maidens decide to pursue him instead and desert the guards, although Lady Jane (hilarious Myrna Paris) still declares her love for Reginald and offers to help him win back the maidens attention and that of Patience. The dragoons win back the maidens and Reginald persuades Archibald to cut his hair, so that he becomes less attractive, resulting in Patience agreeing to marry him, because he is now more ordinary and Reginald is left with the 'not so beautiful' Lady Jane. In the end the Duke marries Lady Jane and Reginald is thwarted yet again! At one point Michael recites 'Midnight, all alone in the moonlight' and 'I dreamed a dream' which has everyone in stitches!

 

I haven't even spoken about 'The Dance' which apparently Michael and Kevin devised between them. This was just hysterical and brought the house down. It seemed to vary with each performance - the second time we had a bit of a jive and on the last night Michael gave a pelvic twirl when the fans screamed and other people looked puzzled. If I had to choose - this would probably be my favourite bit! 'Patience' was a complete joy from beginning to end and Michael seemed to be enjoying himself as much as the audience. Twice I heard the Conductor say laughingly, as he left the theatre 'I used to be the star here!'

Ah well, all good things must come to an end but where Michael is concerned there's usually something not far round the comer. Whilst in this great city we did get to see 'The Producers' and 'Hairspray' - both very entertaining and lots of fun. 'Hairspray' has a real feel good factor about it. Across the road was the first preview of a new musical called 'Jersey Boys' and we saw the cast and a couple of stars leaving. Thank you Arena Travel for such a memorable trip and of course to Michael for helping to make a dream come true. We found everyone, fans and taxi drivers alike very friendly and the weather was hot and sunny every day!