Starstruck?

Growing up in Sydney, Australia I (genuinely) NEVER thought I'd ever be in the same country, let alone the same city, or even (God forbid!) the same room as Stephen Sondheim.

Since being here over the years I have attended four discussions, two within weeks of each other and twice he was mere meters away.

Mr. Sondheim, we're not worthy.

You guys just don't get how lucky you are.

Caryl Curchill in the Royal Court bar before I See You earlier this year. People where egging me on O tell her how much I loved her but I was too starstruck. Instead I whispered it as I squeezed past and had a sniff of her hair

I usually do the British thing of ignoring (whilst quietly staring) at any celebs I see around town.

I would make an exception for Stephen Sondheim though. Indeed, we are not worthy Anthony.

It reminds me of Jenna Russell. In an interview (when she did that Singular Sensations gig at Charing Cross maybe?) she said that she went to an event, where she was seated a few seats away from Stephen Sondheim. As she arrived he called over and said 'Hello Jenna'. She said that it always gives her a warm glow to think that, somewhere in the world, Stephen Sondheim knows who she is.

When I went to the NT Sondheim talk he admonished someone for taking photos. I was sitting near the front and it then actually crossed my mind to try taking a photo, so that he and I could have a conversation as he told me off...Sad but true. Didn't do it, you will be pleased to hear. Pull yourself together woman!

If that was the most recent NT Sondheim talk, I was there.

Me too, after Pigs and Dogs. Except I did introduce myself and she went, "yes I know you, you're a [my job]!" I thought, wow, it actually shows? Or she's such an amazing judge of character she can tell I work in theatre!?

Turns out she thought I was someone else, but still cool.

I must admit I did get star struck when I met Sheridan Smith for the first time and didn't say anything to be honest so hopefully I'll be able to meet her again and tell her what an amazing actress she is!

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George try and get up the courage to speak to her. You won't be disappointed. She is one of the most down to earth people I have ever met and immediately makes people feel very comfortable.

Back in the early 70s I was lucky enough to see Julia McKenzie take over the role of April in Company, a thing she did quite a time before the rest of the British takeover cast. To say I was impressed would be an understatement as from then on I tried to see her in most of her London appearances namely Cole at the Mermaid and Side by Side by Sondheim at the Mermaid and then at Wyndham's. She really gave a wonderful performance in the latter especially her "Broadway Baby" which for me was one of my theatrical highlights. During the run of SBSBS I heard through a friend that she was going to be in Joe Allen´s so off I stalked with a couple of other Julia fans and we actually sat at a table quite near her so we were able to mumble a few startruck phrases and get my programme signed.
Just after that I moved to Madrid so didn't see her appearances so much but I did catch Guys and Dolls and Into the Woods, both marvellous performances. Unfortunately I missed her in Follies but I did get to see Jill Martin as Sally which was a joy.
She then did Sweeney Todd at The National which I missed as well, living in Spain does have its disadvantages at times. It was then announced that Sweeney was going to do a European tour for the British Council and that Madrid was to be one of the stopping off points! Bliss! To cut a long story short I decided to arrive at the theatre early along with a Sondheim convertee friend to see if we could catch her before she went into the theatre. Not only did we catch her but we were invited into the theatre with her to spend a few minutes with her in her dressing room BEFORE the performance! I must admit my opening line to her was that I was a friend of a TV director which was true and sometimes a little name dropping does help. We were in her dressing room chatting for about 20 minutes and she signed a couple of things for us. All the while I was thinking "What a Gracious Lady" and "What a Consummate Star" to give up some of her warm up time to see us. I floated through the performance which is not an easy thing to do with Sweeney all the while thinking of my visit with her. Over the years there are a lot of things that I have forgotten but my time with this amazing actress is still fresh in my memory.

Not sure my story is as great as biddyvic's but I'll give it a go.

So, I'm 17 sitting in a darkened cinema in Sydney, Australia catching a screening of A Room With A View, all those years ago and onto the screen comes in virginal white the young, nubile and beautiful Helena Bonham-Carter and it was love at first sight- well from my end anyway and have seen all her films, following her career progress to (arguably) National Treasure status and still in awe of her beauty.

So, as an Australian, because we are a Commonwealth country we are entitled to a once in a lifetime two year work visa; twelve months working and twelve months travelling.

So, I'm in London and at the time the London Film Festival was on and she was then promoting her latest film, Margaret's Museum and I read in the paper that she was doing a screen talk at the BFI. So on a whim I go down to the BFI with a friend and buy a ticket and there she is.

So, after being interviewed, they open the floor to a Q&A session. People are saying things like "Ms Bonham-Carter I interviewed you on this date and we discussed so and so...." left right and centre. Again on a whim I put my hand up and (Oh My God!) I get picked so I asked "In your personal opinion what do you consider to be you best film role?" and after rambling something, explaining that she was tired, she answers her last film.

Time moves on. My visa runs out and I have to return to Australia (sob). And although I've physically left the UK, my undying unrequited love of her doesn't.

Because of my European heritage I am entitled to an EU passports and I'm back. Yay!

At the risk of sounding unstable and stalkerish (I assure you that I'm not) I end up in North West London and by sheer coincidence (genuinely a coincidence, nothing planned) I find myself, now not only in the same country and same city, but a neighbouring suburb. In fact, just a stones throw away.

Whilst I appreciate that she's no longer with him, when she was, I've seen Tim Burton so many times I feel like shaking his hand and introducing myself.

Anyway, I digress slightly. So, in another post I mentioned being in awe of the fact of being in the same room as Steven Sondheim. Well this was around the time of the release of the Sweeney Todd film. So, this talk was at The Donmar warehouse at the time that Passion was playing and the talk was before the show.

Of course, these sell out in minutes. Grrr! So, on the day I figure, I've got nothing to loose and I've got to give this a go. So I rock up to the box office and (I swear the Gods were with me this day) unbelievably they have one spare ticket! O.M.G!!!!

So this talk takes place and he's there, mere metres from he. I am in awe.

It's over. The lights come up and I turn to get my coat and there she is, sitting in the row behind me. Ahhhhh!!!!

Hair hanging everywhere and slightly disheveled, but angelically beautiful nonetheless.

I was so transfixed, focusing on him that I was unawares that she was behind me. This my fellow theatre boarders is serendipity!

Whilst not so much a blubbering mess, I manage to talk clearly whilst my legs go to jelly. She goes into a private room and I leave.

Now, for anyone who's familiar with The Donmar warehouse, these only one way in and one way out. So, I wait outside in the hope of seeing Mr Sondheim, naive to the fact that he might actually want to see the show he wrote. Lol!

Then she comes out with a friend. Could this night get any better?

Some guy asks can she sign something, which she agrees to. Another asks for photo, which she also agrees to. However he starts phaffing about, adjusting his camera lenses, etc. and she is just standing there waiting. This is the moment.

So I ever so politely and coherently also ask for a photo, which she agrees to, depending on her friend. I completely ignore her, thrust the camera into the friends hands, arm around her waist, the flash goes off and this moment in time is forever captured.

One of the top highlight of my time here to date.

I've always said that one day she'll come to her senses and drop the weirdo and fall for the Aussie.

Current status. The weirdo's gone, an Aussie is (literally) waiting round the corner.

What great stories! Makes me think of two instances that come to mind..

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus at the Mamma Mia 10th Anniversary night. As a lifelong Abba fan (and yes I am old enough to remember them the first time around!)I must admit to having booked solely because they might turn up, got seats close to the front and hoped for the best. I have never had an experience like it - I felt completely overcome when they came on stage and I just stood there transfixed, although my wife said I had the biggest smile! I think what made it so special for me that it was not just a chance sighting, they were there on official Abba business. It felt like a chance to show my gratitude for all the pleasure their music has given me over the years. I don't think any other stars have had such an effect on me.

The other is non theatrical but if you will forgive me... One of my other musical obsessions has been Madonna, right from the start. To cut a long story short, thanks to a phenomenally lucky piece of late booking for last Decembers concert in Birmingham, I found myself at the tip of her catwalk, front row, dead centre. This was exciting enough, but at one point in the show she threw her maracas out into the crowd. Of course they headed in my direction, and in the scrum we all managed to drop them. Next thing I knew, Madonna was stood over me, demanded to know my name, told me off for dropping the maracas, and then announced to the arena that I was to have a spanking later! I would love to say that I acquitted myself in an articulate manner but apart from shouting my name (which took a few times before she got it) I was so dumbstruck I think all I could manage was some sort of gurgling sound, followed by a moment of blind panic that she might actually get me up on stage as I knew that later in the show an audience member was brought up. Thankfully I was spared that, star struck as I was, I wasn't ready for that!!

I got a bit starstruck meeting Tim Rice. He did a show a few years ago at our local very small theatre, and we got to chat to him in the bar afterwards. My first theatre show (after pantos) was Joseph, which I've since seen many many times, and I grew up watching Tim Rice shows, along with many others. So it was nice to be able to tell him of our love for his shows and thank him for writing them.