we gotta lot of living to do !

It seemed like everyone on the Blog-sphere is out doing something really cool and writing about it and I had absolutely zip, zilch, nada, nothing !. I was just about to give up, and write about my somewhat eventful winter break, when something so much better came along. Winter break, of nearly a month saw me having my first Christmas day brunch at Erna's, driving my first car in the US (thank u subaru-man), a solitary but fun new yrs eve at mark's (again thanks to Erna), getting my first semester grades, Pirates of the carribean with MC, cake chicken and gossip with VVK, my first trip to chicago (i looked down from the Sears tower and hoped to see the city lights, but i ended up seeing so much more), my first trip to my sister s house, a dinner at a mongolian restaurant, buffalo wild wings and a football game, my first amerian flu (as uncool as the indian flu) . I had a pretty good time.


Towards the end SM and I saw AA thro her qualifiers and I'm pretty sure she s going to make us proud when the results come out. To celebrate her effort, we decided to go to NYC and see a broadway show, a life long dream ! After a lot of hesitation and cancellation and re-adjustment, we took the mega-bus to NYC, early Saturday morning.


Arriving at the city, hungry and cold was not ideal, but heading to the nearest Starbucks, fixed all the problems ! Having a couple of hours before the show, we walked over to the Empire State building , and went all the way to the 102 nd floor. We clowned around, took a million pictures, checked the view from every angle and felt the heat of the Sun after a few long winter months. Soon it was time for lunch and we had Indian food no less. I wont go into the details of the cauliflower manchurian and the like, to spare your mouth the water ;)...


Finally it was time for the 2.30 show. It was at the "majestic theater", just off Broadway. As we arrived at the theater, A line began to form but quickly dissolved and we were inside. I could'nt believe my eyes. It was just like the sets of a 1950's movie - The heavy paneling, the plush carpet, the winding staircases, the dim lights, the fabulously classy audience, the chandeliers, the buzz of the crowd, the subtle smell of liquor and tobacco. It was just perfect. Our tickets in the Front Mezzanine, took us two flights up, to a location that was to one side, overlooking the stage. I have to say we were slightly disappointed we didnt spend 20$ more and get tickets in the Orchestra section where we could have been more on par with the stage level. We joked around a bit, about how the actors' wouldnt be able to hide their bald spots from us thanks to our convenient angle. We soon got pretty fascinated with the rather ornate carving on the ceiling and the walls and got comfortable in the snug leg-room less chairs and started feeling pretty lucky ! I've attached a picture of the ceiling. Pictures werent allowed during the actual show so, I dont have any of that. Its just as well cause u pretty much had to be there to understand what it was like. The seats filled up and the show started on time. I was blown away. The story line was amazing. It was about a young girl - "Christine" , who becomes the lead at an opera house which was "haunted" by a phantom. The phantom was actually a disfigured musical genius who was in love with the heroine, and her voice. Having trained Christine in his secret hideaway by night, he revels in her success and the pleasure it gives him to listen to her. Innocent Christine, believing that the phantom was actually "the angel of music" sent by her dead father, continues to protect him. He soon starts to write exclusive masterpieces for the team to perform and he dictates that Christine is to always be cast as the lead. The phantom (who actually cut a rather dashing figure in his tuxedo and mask) lived in the sewers under the opera house and keeps the management in check with letters of promised violence if his wishes are not carried out. When the management and teh actors, try to revolt, disaster in the form of a violent murder in the middle of the show and a crashing chandelier mark the seriousness of the Phantom's intentions. Christine loses her admiration for the musical genius, and her respect and awe are replaced by fear. Christine and her young lover, the incredibely chivalrous rich handsome gentleman, Raoul, want to leave the terrifying situation behind. Raoul plans to set up a trap and to capture the phantom. Christine paralysed half by fear of the phantom, and the will to not wrong him cooperates with the plan only for the love of Roul and for her freedom and his safety.


The horror interlaced with love and tragedy had me in tears pretty soon. I was trully blown away in the very end, when the plan to capture the phantom is foiled and results instead in the Phantom capturing Christine and disappearing to his hideout. He tries to coerce Christine to marry him and live with him forever, after revealing his terrifying marred face. Raoul eventually arrives to rescue his lady love, but he is duly captured. The phantom plays on Christine's love for Raoul, and agrees to free Raoul, and spare his life if and only if Christine agrees to marry him. Torn, Christine for the love of her dashing hero Raoul, agrees with the phantom and begs him to let Raoul go. She even goes as far to tell the Phantom that he is indeed the one that she loves and seals their deal with a kiss. And then in that final kiss, the man within the Phantom awakens, and because he trully loves Christine, releases her and Raoul, and lets them go free.

The entire play was set in music, with each dialogue a lyric in a song. The eerie, haunting quality of the music was something I have never heard before. The cast did an excellent job, with not a line, tune or costume out of place. The trio, Christine, Raoul and the Phantom, were world class and I cannot even begin to describe how amazingly they played their parts. There is a reason that this play is the longest running in Broadway history, and I will be shocked if I see anything better in my entire lifetime.

When we got out, all three of us were a bit dazed ! I totally understood what JayZ and Alicia Keys were talking about in the their song about NY city- "Empire state of mind" which goes "These streets will make you feel brand new, the lights will inspire you". What a surreal, out of body experience.

Having about an hour n a half to kill, before our bus left, we turned down the idea of shopping in Macy's and getting our palms read at the local psychic, in favor for eating street food, listening to street music, and getting our portraits drawn by street artists. Just as we were feeing content, inspired and all set for a another new semester, two women leaving an adjoining Broadway house, sped past us singing "We gotta a lot of living to do... ", and it struck home, cause thats exactly what each of us were thinking at that time :) ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXDonUxBxig -this is a clip from the Phantom of the opera "movie". Its not the same but I hope you enjoy it.