Derek Jacobi Star of stage and screen, the brilliant Sir Derek Jacobi (so cool he was knighted) was my favorite Hamlet—ever. He was also jittery and stuttering Claudius in the amazing historical 70s British soap opera I Claudius.
So… I was walking on 57th Street, crossing the Avenue of the Americas, when I see Derek Jacobi approaching. I short circuit—completely. I had to say something! Right?! I mean, when would I get this chance again, but what to say? At the time he was performing on Broadway in Uncle Vanya, so I blurted out, “Mr. Jacobi, sir—how are the shows going?” Yup. How are the shows going?
I watched him go through a few recognizable stages of confusion: “Who is this? He sounds like he knows me. Where have I met him? I don’t remember him? What the hell? I don’t think I know him.” He stuttered out a very gracious, “Very well, thank you” and smiled uncomfortably.
So… now I had his attention: “You were my favorite Hamlet ever!” He swallows and tries to figure out if I’m done. I blunder forward: “I wish I could have been there to see it live.” Yup. That’s what I said.
Sweetly he said, “Thank you.”
“Have a good day.”
“And you.”
So… I’m working as a host at Sony Imax Theatre and we are screening a movie called The Living Sea on the 80-foot tall screen. It is beautiful and made more so by the soundtrack—the chilliest Sting songs you can find. Amazing.
At the end of the show people were supposed to exit at the top of the theatre, but I see someone going down the stairs toward the screen. I move to intercept… STING!
“This screen is amazing,” he said. It was a not only an observation, but a conversation prompt; guess whose mind drew a blank. I nodded. “The movie was really beautiful…” and then he continued to say something about… well, something about his involvement with the soundtrack, but thrill had swelled the listening center of my brain… couldn’t hear a thing. When he stopped talking I blurted out the only thing in my head:
“You’re a poet.” Beat. “Can I have your autograph?” He looked at me with the Really?-I-Was-Trying-To-Have-A-Conversation-But-You-Had-To-Go-And-Ask-For-An-Autograph look.
“Sure.”
I had nothing for him to sign… not a movie schedule, not a paystub… nothing. I yanked out my wallet as he gave up on me and looked back to the screen. The best I could find? A business card from an anime shop in the Village. I forked it over with a pen, he signed it. Guess what I did then. Just guess.
Beat. “So, you exit at the top of the theatre.” Yup. I kicked him out.
This is my favorite. I was sweeping up some popcorn at the Sony Imax Theatre top lobby when Kevin Kline walks out and makes a b-line for me.
“Popcorn?”
“Down the escalator, take a right.”
“Down and to the right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Cool and calm, right? Then I got brave. “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure,” he said, flinching a bit. Fierce Creatures had just been released and I’m pretty he expected me to go on about it or about A Fish Called Wanda—“Assssssshooooooooole!”
“You were my favorite Hamlet,” I said. Yes, I have told two different people they were my favorite Hamlet—deal.
He smiled and cocked his head. “Thank you.”
“May I tell you why?” I said.
He puffed out his chest and said, “Please do.”
What followed was a 10 minute conversation about Hamlet—Kevin Kline stopped to chat with a glorified movie theatre usher about Hamlet. Super gracious, really smart, very funny. One of my most treasured memories.
I could go on—I watched a homeless man follow David Lee Roth for three blocks saying, “Hey, it’s David Lee Roth, everybody!” as Mr. Roth tried to crawl out of his skin; while performing on the street in front of the Jekyll and Hyde Club, Billy Joel walked past and sang with me for six words; David Patrick Kelly was looking at a poster at the movie theatre when a fellow usher said to me, “Watch this… Wah-ree-ahhs! Wah-ree-ahhs!”… for those of you have seen The Warriors, you’ll understand… the dude was mortified—but I think you guys get the idea.
Got any open mouth and insert foot…and calf… and knee… and thigh celeb encounters?
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