This completes my first leg truly of the tour that is my life of Cinderella: a month sit down at the Hong Kong Cultural center. How truly amazing this theatre is. It sits on the Kowloon side of Hong kong (HK proper being an island, much like Manhattan) right on the water (a wopping 30ft from the water's edge) and was a architecturally cool building with a state of the art kind of feel to it. It was what I was used to performing in from the US tour, so it was a welcome change from the old, small, smelly and battery-operated Chineses theatres. Just saying.
So Hong Kong. I had a bit of a Love/Hate thing going on with the city and it's people. I felt that the way the city was run was much more effecient than the way NYC trucks along. The subways are suuuuper clean, the streets and neat and tidy, and there are not many, if any, slums in the city and most people were very very pleasant. (HK island i mean) All that being said, i think Hong Kong lacks a personality of it's own. It lacks character and individuality. It was a British territory for so long that it maintains some European influences and exclusively Bristish cultural stereotypes ie. double decker buses, british english and driving on the oppostie side of road. Is there a point to that? or are they just being....british? difficult for the sake of being so. it's lucky they have it written on the streets which way to look for traffic before you cross. It tries to maintain it's Asian identity with chinese markets, traditional foods and building a Buddha statue atop one of the highest peaks on the island. Even with those very Asian things....i just felt like the city was trying too hard to be something that it isn't. is it odd that i speak of a city like it's a living, breathing thing...? i truly feel though, it's a cold place. the bar scene is full of people who make ridiculous sums of money but complain of their jobs and drink themselves silly. the shopping is all very posh designers only and lacks that thrift store or private designer we all seek out. everyone is beautiful, but in that, "i should be on a billboard, so don't look at me in person" kind of way.
I know it sounds as if i didn't like my stay in Hong Kong, but truly i did, but i'm a spoiled guy living in Manhattan. I did meet some wonderful people and have made friends there that if i went back, i would seek them out on the double.
The audiences were a welcomed group because they widely spoke English and understood theatre and especially musical theatre. they were receptive, active and acutely aware of the plot and subtle humor. It was a welcomed change from the very polite and reserved audiences that were in China.
This past week was Thanksgiving and the company graciously hosted a dinner in the swanky downtown area called Lan Quai Fong complete with turkey, cranberry sauce (my favorite, out of the can:-) and of course, some good company. It was nice, but nothing like the home cooking i love on my favorite holiday of the year.
I miss my family very very much, especially in these times of the holidays. Life on the road is quite wonderful, but there's nothing like decorating a tree in NH or Washington Heights, strolling in freezing Central Park or College Woods, Egg Nog Lattes and good convo in any starbucks in the world, the singing snowflakes at Columbus Circle above Whole Foods, Ice skating with the one you love's hand in yours, Boston commons and gardens and that freezing night of tossing each other in the snow, and of course being around everyone you love. This Thanksgiving, i'm thankful for all mentioned above, all things on the road to come and for you, for seeing me through this journey that has shown me what life can be.
Happy Turkey,
your skinny man in the orient.
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