I Shook Hands With Ronald Harwood
Photography by Jean-Philippe DeFaut for The New York Times
Last Thursday I went to the screening of “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” This screening was at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. Ronald Harwood adapted the book and since I’m in one of his plays (TAKING SIDES) I had to meet him and invite him to the play.
I almost didn’t see the invitation in my inbox but thanks to James Sharpe, the lead in the play, he sent out an email to ask us cast and crew to go. So I jumped on the opportunity and I rsvp’d and went to the screening.
I thought that there would be a q&a after the screening and I’ll get to see what he looks like and then approach him on stage. But there was no q&a and I had no idea how to find him.
After the screening there was mingling and desert in the lobby and the patio. There were so many people, how could I find him? Well, I walked up to a photographer and hoped that he would know. And indeed he was very helpful and he showed me Ronald Harwood’s photo on his camera screen. Then he introduced me to someone who showed me where Ronald was.
And so I met Mr. Harwood, shook his hand. I told him how great the play was coming along and how honored we would be if he could come out and watch it. Unfortunately he said he was busy but he would have loved to come, would we have invited him earlier. Bummer.
I still handed him the envelop I brought along with the invite in it and with my headshot and contact info. And the next morning he called me. That was a huge surprise! He called me twice. He didn’t want to leave a message, so he called me until he could get a hold of me.
When I picked up the phone, he thanked me for getting him the invitation, for coming out to the screening to meet him. Again, he said he’ll be flying to NY and he wont be able to come but he wishes our cast all the Best and much success for the rest of the run.
What a great man! And what a great experience. I am grateful for the man who writes things that matter and I was honored to have met him.
