Okay, so I've been waiting a few days to see if the whole meeting Kate experience would "unblur".......haha. It really DID feel like one big blur (sad really; I would give anything to have had my friend video the whole thing w/ my little digital camera that I couldn't find the friggin' charger for! GRRRRR~!!!
) Anyway, here's my Kate report:
The play was A-MA-ZING!!! OMG, it was so good, the emotions, the humor, the dancing, the singing, the hot guys in boxers, Kate in her stunning dress, and the wonderful ensemble. Everyone in that play did an incredible job! I was drawn in from the beginning, but when I glanced to my left and saw Kate only a few feet away from me, decked out in a large sunhat and some cool shades........well it took my breath away! You could just feel the energy radiating from her; she was so confident! I grinned from ear to ear. Ah, but then came THE VOICE! Her voice in that small space seemed amplified.......it was awesome! Her character was so exuberant and full of life; that role is totally Kate!! Here's a picture of the stage:
My favorite parts? Favorite intense moment: When Clytemnestra (Kate) found out why Agamemnon
really sent for Iphigenia. He is to kill her so that the soldiers, who refuse to go to war unless he makes a sacrifice of what he loves most, will fight and "save countless lives in the process". Clytemnestra and Iphigenia were told that she was to marry Achilles. There is nothing that matches the force of a protective mother! Now imagine this............
Kate has her hair down in lovely loose waves that frame her face. She is dressed in a flowy-tan satin robe. She is beautiful- but her eyes are darkened pools of fury, as she stares down Agamemnon from the upper level that leads to the exit. He has told her that he made a mistake, but couldn't undo what would eventually have to be done........killing his daughter for the sake of the war. Her voice is low, constrained, and full of intense rage, as her glare burns through the man that stands down below her:
AGAMEMNONThere is a group
determined to continue.
What's been set in motion
can't be stopped.CLYTEMNESTRAIf that's the case
then you should know:
if you kill your daughter,
I will murder you.
I will tear your hands from your arms
and your arms from your shoulders.
I will burn the flesh from your body
I will beat your bones to dust.
What you have begun will not be finished
until you are pounded back into the dirt.I still shudder when I read that; the burning stare.......wow. If I was Agamemnon, I think I would have smoldered into a pile of ash.
This stare made the death glare look like a come-on.My next favorite part was when she was talking to the awkward and shy Achilles, trying to convince him to marry Iphigenia and fight for her, rather than let her die. She let it slip that she liked "young men"....and quickly corrected "young people", with the funniest face I'd ever seen (the audience was rolling). Kate did an amazing dance of seduction, which was very good and HILARIOUS!!! (The guy playing Achilles was so hot and yet did a wonderful job playing the innocent, clueless guy. He reminded me of Ethan Hawke in
Dead Poet's Society). In the end the bridesmaids walked in and Achilles had to run to the side of the stage and "cool off" in a kiddie pool, haha (yep, there is a kiddie pool stage right- very interesting set).
THE BEST PART EVER!!!!:
Was when Clytemnestra coached the girls on how to be good bridesmaids to her daughter.........OMG the audience was ROLLING!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Especially when she kept saying "your imaginary wedding" and the way Kate said it. Imagine this.......Kate has on a long, elegant gown (the infamous gray halter); hair neatly in place, long dangling earrings, and she is continuosly pacing between the two girls, arms animated and full of energy:
CLYTEMNESTRA
OK, girls.
Your friend is getting married.
She's thrilled.
You're thrilled for her.
And she's asked you to be a bridesmaid.
It's a happy occasion.
Keep reminding yourself of that.
When she's freaking out about the cake, say it:
It's a happy occasion.
So, don't let her down.
There are a few things you can do.
Don't say, "when I get married, I'm going to..."
No bride cares about your imaginary wedding.
This is her real wedding.
Get with the program.
You can tell your other friends what you're going to do.
Or, better yet, keep a journal
(since no one really cares about your imaginary wedding).
Plus, you might not ever get married.
Especially if you keep talking about boring subjects
such as your imaginary wedding. 
I won't talk about the ending b/c some people have yet to see the play (you know who you are and I am sooooo jealous!!) Just know that it was one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I have ever seen. How Kate (and the others) can summon THAT kind of emotion 8 times a week for 2 months is BEYOND ME! All I can say is that I rarely cry in public.......in fact I
never do.......but I did here, at the end of the play. The girl that played Iphigenia just reminded me soooo much of my niece, and oooh, Kate's performance was emaculate! I actually felt agony for her. After the show, I had to sit by myself in the theatre for a few minutes to get myself together. (I didn't want to miss Kate, but I couldn't see her like this...........
)
I went upstairs to the lobby and talked to the house manager (who was sooooo nice!!! ) She told me that Kate would be exiting out of the lobby, but that I had to catch her quick because she usually flies out. Soon after that, out came Kate with several actors from the play (I was taken aback by seeing the others......I was'nt expecting to see those amazing people that had just wowed me with their spectacular performance!!) I jumped in front of her and introduced myself, "hello Ms. Mulgrew...." and I told her that I had some gifts for her and that she did a wonderful performance. She then introduced me to Rocco, the guy that played the general (I think I stared at him for a split second; he was so mean in the play.......God I hope it was only a split second; I felt so stupid) I woke up out of my "daze" and complimented him on his stellar performance. Here's a picture from the play; Rocco is on the left and Agamemnon is on the right:
I started to explain to Kate about the book, and then noticed Ashley "struggling" with the camera. I then asked Kate if we could go ahead and take a picture since she was having "camera issues", and she of course oblidged. I finished explaining to Kate about the scrapbook and then handed it to her. It was so heavy that her arms lowered as she grabbed it and with a grin said, "WOW!" I told her that we wanted to thank her for the years of inspiration that she has given us. She smiled the entire time, and I swear she must have said thankyou like ten times as I spoke. She seemed quite happy and very greatful. Rocco watched in amusement with a quiet smile. Kate then summoned someone to help her take the bag of gifts, the roses, and the scrapbook back to her dressing room (her, Rocco, and the little old guy from the play were going out to lunch).
HERE ARE THE GIFTS:
Bless Ashley, she didn't take but one picture because she was afraid that she'd miss Kate looking up. She was afraid that my ghetto camera, which has been dropped so many times that it's being held together by a rubber band, would stop working. So sadly I only have one of Kate and the book, but it's a good one!
AFTERWARDS Ashley and I stood outside and watched Kate from afar (okay we stalked her and her posse for about a block and a half, but in our defense, it was on our way home, lol) :
I was in seventh heaven, and was STARVING b/c I couldn't eat that morning (umm, had a scrapbook to finish, hee hee). So I grubbed at a kicka$$ bakery down the road. I treated myself for a job well done........:
And then went out for a night on the town (from L to R....me, Ashley's friend Liz, and the Kate-conspirator herself, Ashley. She's a great friend!):
THE END!!! 
