Friday was about visiting my mother in Jersey, then shopping at Bergdorf’s. My wife and I had a couple of hot dogs from a vendor, then split up and met for dinner at Bobby Van’s (which is fabulous, on 45th), then on to Hugh Jackman’s new show, which was extraordinary.
This guy is so talented you might want to hurt him, except he’s also so charming. Great voice, fine dancer, raconteur—AND he’s The Wolverine! He’s exhausting. We were in the front row of the Mezzanine, which was perfect, and he opens the second act by popping up in the boxes up there reverting to Peter Allen (“The Boy from Oz”). At the conclusion, he raffled off some things for a Broadway charity, got three different people to commit at $10,000, then offering photo sessions for $2,000. I calculated that with 8 shows a week over a 10-week run he’ll raise $5 million.
Joan Rivers and David Copperfield were in the audience and willing to be recognized, and the place was packed. The orchestra was super, as were all the backup singer/dancers, as were a group of Aboriginal people he includes in the show.
If you get a chance, and you want to see someone who makes Sammy Davis, Jr. seem like a slacker, get a ticket any way you can. This guy is one of the top performers of our time. I have to go now and find the lovely Maria, who is still wandering back stage.
© Alan Weiss 2011. All rights reserved.
Wolverine! He’s Wolverine, not The Wolverine!
L
Apologies.
The Alan
Well, seeing as the first ever comic book picture of him introduced him as ‘the Wolverine’, Alan could be forgiven. (No, I’m not that much of a geek – I looked it up.)
Hugh Jackman’s a good example of not limiting yourself to just one thing, but actually doing many well – seems similar to a certain consultant’s philosophy.
Of course, the real secret to Hugh Jackman’s great talent and charm is that he’s Australian
Agree completely, Peter. But as I told the Canadians recently, “Go south!” He’s a global talent.