I keep a spreadsheet of all the stage productions I’ve seen over the years. I know that’s geeky, but hey you already know that. It started with a column of Broadway shows, but I expanded it to every theatrical show (play, musical, or opera) I’ve seen or been a part of, which includes Broadway, West End, Touring, Equity, Collegiate, Community theater, Agape Players, and High School. I’m up to 155 shows.  While that may sound impressive, I have some theater friends that leave me in the dust.

This week I added a new column to my spreadsheet, the out of town tryout. Boston is one of those cities that Broadway producers like to mount shows before bringing them to NYC. It’s not a touring show, because it hasn’t yet played on the Great White Way. It’s not just an equity production either, because it is headed for Broadway with basically the same cast. Boston has hosted many of these shows through the years including recent favorites, Waitress and Moulin Rouge. This week we saw Neil Simon’s  Plaza Suite starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

Mark and Maria joined us for dinner at our favorite French restaurant, LaVoille. We haven’t seen them since Halloween so it was good to get caught up. The play was fantastic. Each of the three acts are short vignettes telling the stories of three different middle aged couples. Though a comedy, Simon tugs at some emotional heartstrings as well engaging in hilarious slapstick.  Matthew and Sarah have great chemistry. It’s a shame they don’t perform together more often.

Janet and I stayed overnight in the city at the Park Plaza hotel. In the morning, I volunteered to get the car since it was quite cold. My walk took me through the Boston Public Garden where I was able to glimpse a rare site of an empty park.  The sky was beautiful and the city was quiet. It was a perfect end to a perfect adventure!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller