It was the spring of 1959 and leaving St. Paul Union Deport
the senior class of Harding High school was heading east to Washington D.C. and
New York City by train. I was on board playing poker in the Dome throughout the
night. Perhaps I was a youthful version of Sgt. Bilko as the cards kept falling
my way. My only other memory was seeing the forges light up the hillsides as we
passed thru Pittsburg. In Washington, we saw all the famous sights.
Unfortunately, we missed seeing “Ike” in
the White House as he was busy warning the nation against endless wars and the
military industrial complex taking over. That hasn’t gone so well….:(
Song.”. That morning before our tour bus left, I asked the man behind the counter if two tickets were available. “Not a chance,” he replied. “It’s booked up months ahead, of course, there might be a cancelation. Check back about 5 o’clock.” I did but no luck. Then Plan B appeared. “If you want to see a Broadway play, one recently opened right across the street from your first choice and within walking distance. It’s called The World of Suzy Wong." To this day I can still claim I’ve been to a play on Broadway…..
Actor William Shatner has a unique place in the history of
the romantic novel The World of Suzie Wong. Shatner, known for starring as
Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek T.V. series, was the first man in the
world to “woo” Suzie Wong in the original stage version. Shatner, 27 won the
heart of a decent Hong Kong prostitute played by Vietnamese-French actress
France Nuyen on Broadway between Oct. 14 1958 and January 2 1960.
I have no real memories of the play itself except between
the acts I bought a couple of very small glasses of orange juice for the
outrageous price of two dollars a glass. Apparently, the play was roundly panned
by the big city critics so it didn’t last very long. Later, yet a movie version was produced
starring handsome William Holden. I
advised my mom against seeing that movie having giving her a somewhat sanitized
version of the plays plot along the lines of “love conquers all”
4 comments:
Remembering back is so much fun. A little sanitized, too?
I remember that movie well. It might have been one that I did not tell my mother about. She always checked The Legion of Decency before I went to the movies. I think that was a bit racy to make the “A” list - but I did see it. I remember, also, that Suzie Wong dresses were all the rage. I had one of those.
Your mom was right; seeing a play on Broadway is so much better than going to Coney Island.
You had the right idea even if it was the wong play.
What a great memory! Who knew the Shad had a life before James T.
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