Play It Again, Sam
By Karen Osher
Imagine my surprise and complete delight when Patti emailed me to let me
know that Bridget was coming to New York to do a play!! I never thought Bridget would come to New York. I know she does theatre in California
and I have always longed to see her on stage. So when I got the wordthat she was coming to New York I was THRILLED!!!!
I immediately called my best friend Anne Ryan who happens to live on
Long Island to tell her the great news. Anne also has been waiting for Bridget to come east. She said she would call for tickets the very next
day. When she did...she asked for the best seats available....we ended up at Table #1!! The seats were perfect!! We would be able to seeBridget clear and up close. My dream come
true!!!
The play centers around a character named Allan Felix who's wife has
left him for a more exciting life. His best friend Dick Christie feels
that he should start dating right away and with the help of his wife Linda, they arrange for him to meet different women. Allan is very
insecure with this whole dating again idea and imagines Bogie talking to him and giving him advice on how to talk to and treat woman. Allan tries
to use Bogie's techniques but does not feel comfortable with any of them. Until he falls for Linda....and she for him because Dick has been
so busy lately that he has been ignoring her. Allan is basking in his "new love" when Dick shares with him his suspicions that there might be
another man in Linda's life and vows to find out who it is and destroy him. In the end...Allan brings Linda and Dick back together and meets
someone on his own....without even trying.
Bridget played the part of Linda Christie. To say that Bridget played
her part extremely well would be just so-so.....Bridget was AWESOME!!!!! From the moment she stepped on stage she had my attention completely. The whole audience responded to Bridget's performance with
such delight!! She portrayed her character's many emotions with true style and had us feeling Linda's many dilemmas that occurred throughout
the play. Many of Bridget's actions and some words and phrases reminded me so much of Candy Pruitt!! Bridget was on stage for much of the play
which was great. And we had something to look forward to after the show.....Bridget had agreed to meet Anne and I!!!!!
In the weeks prior to the play, Patti and I have been emailing. Patti
informed Bridget to the performance that Anne and I were attending. We had to find out from someone working there where was the dressing room
door. We waited there for Bridget...hoping not to be asked to move. But few more people ended up in the same area.... turns out they were
waiting for actress Lee Meriwether. Lee came out first and met with the people waiting for her. She then moved out into the lobby with them.
Anne and I held our spots and waited.. I started thinking that maybe Bridget was in a different area waiting for us!! Oh no now what!!! The
dressing room door opened again....no Bridget but the door was left opened. Anne and I didn't want to just walk in. Then there appeared
Bridget...near the opened door..brushing the sleeve of a jacket. Anne and I looked at each other....held hands and walked right up to the
doorway. I said with a crack in my voice "Bridget". Bridget turned..walked over to us and I said "We are Karen and Anne". Well you
would have thought we told Bridget she just won the NY Lottery for 10 million dollars!!! Her face lit up and she gave Anne and I the biggest
hugs ever!!!!! She was so happy to meet us and we of course were THRILLED!!! I FINALLY MET BRIDGET HANLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anne and I bought her some gifts to help her remember NY. A Yankee
Candle with a NY label. And we found the most perfect candle topper for Bridget.....a log cabin nestled between pine trees!!! We heard that
Bridget loves to wear pins on the lapels of her jackets....so we got her a really beautiful marcasite pin that she just loved and said she was
going to wear in the next day's shows. Next came pictures of us with our favorite actress...Bridget was so gracious and spent time with
us....just talking about stuff!!! She signed a HCTB picture for Anne and a HCTB script for me. Bridget made us feel like old east coast
friends. She made us promise her THREE times that the next time she is in NY we will get together with her. Now...isn't that something to look
forward to!!!!!
Anne and I would like to say thank you Bridget for your kindness, your thoughtfulness, and your talents....from your performance on stage that
we enjoyed very much to your way of making us feel very special. You truly are a wonderful lady.
