FLAWLESS DIVA - LUCY LAWLESS
Lucy Lawless In Concert
THE PLEASUREDOME, Where All Bad Grrrlz Go To Heaven
The Roxy Theatre
9009 West Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, California
30 and 31 January 2009

 

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MY Photo Op with Lucy
                                     
by Pat Romano

 
 
The punctual wake up call rang loudly in my room at the Marriott.  I opened my eyes and smiled while picking up. It was Friday. It was the first day of the 14th Xena Convention.  It was a special day.  By the time this day ended I would have experienced a dream come true. This was the day I had longed, wished and hoped for from the first time I attended a  Xena Con 8 years ago in Pasadena.  A Photo taken with Lucy.   

From the moment I became aware of the ebay auction (thanks to Mary D.'s posting on the Ausxip website) my thoughts have been of nothing else.  Starting at an opening bid of $300.  Then hovering at $450 for several days until in the last few hours someone upped the ante to $700, I was willing to sell all my wordly possessions just to get a pix with the woman who
embodied my hero.  And who as herself is a hero.

I told everyone I knew and met at the Con how excited I was and it seemed everyone shared my enthusiasm.  Each one said, "We want to hear all about it.  Remember every word she said and tell us."  It was funny no one said "Oh-- am I jealous or why wasn't it me?"   Xena fans are incredibly supportive and joyous toward each others' good fortunes. Several friends asked me to ask Lucy questions on their behalf.  I told them I hoped I could remember to keep my knees from buckling let alone prepare an interview.

In addition to  constant countdown checks on my Xena watch , I had to deal with some contingencies that were a bit stressful. Before winning the ebay Meet and Greet Photo Op, I had purchased bus tix to attend the Roxy Concert. Upon winning we were informed by Creation we would have to make our own way to the Roxy by 6 pm . That was one whole hour before the rest of the audience showed up.  I had no idea who the  other winners might be and was a bit concerned about getting there in plenty of time.  As the fates would have it,  Deb Abbott  introduced me to Kitty who was  also seeking to
make contact with other winners.  We decided to cab over. But in so doing we had to leave early--- sadly giving up a good part of Jacqueline Kim's appearance and missing the autograph sessions. 

We arrived at the Roxy in plenty of time luckily missing the rush hour traffic by minutes.  We even managed to have time for a bite to eat and I treated my self to a glass of wine knowing I needed something to ease the anxiety and excitement that had been building all day.  I could have used a whole bottle, but I would not want to appear in a photo Op with Lucy totally zonked.  As it was I did not have time to refresh or apply makeup and here I was about to have my photo taken with one of the most gorgeous women on the planet.

The security guards opened the door at 6 . He asked us where our tickets were suggesting we give up our souvenir plastic cards. We told him all we had been given were  plastic cards.  There was  the usual upset of how they were going to keep track of us.  Finally after counting and recounting and then resorting to a  hand stamp, we were let in.  Believe me the security check was worse than at LAX. We were told to sit in the white chairs that were 3 rows from the left side of the stage.  Lucy was on stage going over some songs with the band. Joe De Luca was behind her center stage with guitar in hand.  She was without make up. Her light brown hair pulled into two unbraided pigtails. At times she appeared to be mumbling quickly over some of the words and was not dressed in the glamorous or provocative costumes she had worn in past concerts.  Her rehearsal attire consisted of a comfortable spaghetti strap spandex white tee shirt and flannel pajama bottoms with the words Disney's Bedtime Stories monogrammed on one side.  On her feet she wore white open toe sandals.  As I watched them warm up, I honestly wondered if they could pull this off in one hour with all the "stop and go" and "go there" and "do this" that was being directed by Lucy.  I thought how unfortunate the photo op will be of her without glamour.  Now maybe I wouldn't look so bad.LOL

During the warm up and sound check Lucy was very focused and intent. She hardly acknowledged our presence and seemed totally oblivious to us being there.  But it was fun to watch her and see how she coped with pressure. She appeared poised and in control at all times.  Taking sips of bottled water, at no time did she appear nervous.    She was always
concerned about the other performers and their comfort level.  At one point she insisted on the dancer sitting down and taking a rest.

After about an hour of fine tuning, the band, singers and Lucy left the stage. Sharon came over to our group and in a stage whisper said the photo op could not be done before the show but instead would be done after.  Great! I thought-- there
would be less rushed time with Lucy and she would be in costume and makeup. 
 
Then more confusion ensued as the rest of the regular audience who had been waiting patiently outside swarmed in and  scrambled for a seat or a place to stand. And again our plastic cards were scrutinized and rechecked to see that everyone was sitting in their correct seats.

The concert featured songs that enhanced the arc tale of an innocent Catholic school girl's transformation and seduction into the hedonistic pleasures of the world and her final self-realization and redemption.  Of all the renditions Lucy sang, my personal favorites were the one about forgiveness that at times recalled the feel and melody from "Bitter Suite" and
Leonard Cohen's magnificent "Hallelujah".  I thought David Bowie's "Let's Dance"  and also "Tainted Love" were well done.   All through out the show I couldn't help but think of Billy Joel's line from "Only the Good Die Young"...."Catholic girls start much too late..." .  Being so close to the stage I was quite bemused when right before Lucy's character bent over and planted a kiss  on the object of her affection, Lucy whispered smiling at her, "Are you ready for this??" 

In all honesty I was a bit distracted by the actual concert.  Focusing more on the passing seconds that were now drawing me closer and closer to the moment of my heart's dream. When the concert ended I was cheering,  partly for Lucy and the people on stage and partly for myself about to be blessed with an opportunity of a lifetime.

After the curtain finally fell it seemed forever for the place to empty out.  I sensed some folks were deliberately trying to linger in the vain hope that Lucy might appear.  But the security  guards at the Roxy were diligent. Even my close friend, Sonja, who travelled all the way from Austria and would have given anything to see me have my photo with Lucy finally succumbed to leaving.

And then it began. Check and recheck those plastic cards. Everyone got a number assignment.  I was 10.  We stood in single file line.  I kept taking deep breaths.  Lucy appeared out of nowhere and went toward the front of the stage.  She had put her comfy pj bottoms back on.  The ones with Bedtime Stories on them.  Her hair still in straight pony tails.  Chris
the photographer gently guided people to their place next to Lucy.  Sharon kept the line moving.  I suddenly felt the internal jitters as I did when I was 7 years old getting my class picture taken or awaiting to talk to Santa Claus .    I heard Lucy say to the lady preceding me, "So where are you from?"  She replied, "Australia". 

Suddenly it was my turn.  I thought a lot of things at that moment. She's not as tall as all that.  Her eyes are crystal blue but her smile is even more dazzling. As I approached, Lucy asked me where I was from.  I said not as far or as exotic as the last lady's answer.  She repeated, "So where are you from?"  I said, "New Jersey."  She grinned and repeated,  "New Joisey?  We love New Joisey."  I felt redeemed.  Then she put her long lean arm around me and  gave me a delicious warm hug.  Her body was soft and accepting. I could feel the hug was given from the heart.

What an amazing person I thought.  Even more than what I expected. Like someone I have known for a long time. I began to whell up with tears and hugged her back.  My embrace spoke for me and it said, "Thank you and I love you for how you have made me feel". And she let me.  This human being whom I have known only from snippets of concerts, conventions and hours of electronic connections allowed me the privilege of expressing my feeling of being overwhelmed by her presence.  I told her this was a dream come true. I thanked her and she thanked me back.  Walking away I can't recall my feet feeling the steps as I must have floated down the stairs.

I returned to the stage floor to watch as each person got their time with Lucy.   Some talked for a few minutes.  Some showed her a picture or an article they wanted to share.  A rare few even got her to autograph a photo they had brought with them. Each one of us got what we needed. Amazing to watch. After a gruelling, high intensity show with enormous
energy expenditure, there she was calm as could be looking into everyone's eyes and adjusting to each personality..

I now know what Gabrielle must have felt.
 
Was it worth it?  Every penny.   
I hope one day everyone gets to feel the love.

Pat Romano
New Joisey