|
MEETING STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
NICK HUTSON recalls the day he met with the composer of Wicked, Godspell and Pippin.
|
For any writer, the thrill of meeting another writer is indescribable (and, probably, ironic - considering I am now going to try my best to write about it). When the writer is one you have looked up to for many years - the magnitude of the experience is multiplied by a huge figure.
For me - today - came such a marvellous experience. I was lucky enough to have spent my morning with Mr Stephen Schwartz. How did I arrange this you may ask? Well...a lot of people have asked me this! The back story is, I have been e-mailing Steve for about two years now. I was meant to have met him in New York City last year, but he couldn't make it due to last minute arrangements. However, he told me to keep in touch and if we were ever in the same vicinity - to be sure to let him know. So, true to our agreement, we decided (through his wonderful PA) to meet up.
Schwartz is the composer/lyricist of Wicked, Godspell and Pippin (among others), and lyricist (with the great Alan Menken) on Pocahontas and The Hunchback of NotreDame. Wicked started previews here a week ago (in which is has now been seen by 18,000 people) so, Stephen is here for them. Naturally, we had a lot to talk about - and a lot of talking he did.
I met him at his hotel in the heart of Westminster at 9.45am, where he came up to me out of nowhere (like some mysterious God like figure appearing from the mist) and he called my name, and I turned around - and there he was. We shook hands, and headed outside to wait for our car. Being in England, the car was not there (or it was late, or in a parallel universe - or something...) but it eventually arrived. We hopped into the car, and I was about to commence my interview that I was looking forward to giving him, but then I realised I had to give him the little gift I got for him. Steve's a huge fan of Earl Grey Tea, so I gave him some boxes of that, that I had got him, and I also asked him to sign my copy of the Wicked Grimmerie - which, he did - with great gusto (with a green pen, as well!)
Steve's first port-of-call was at another hotel, to give an interview for The Biography Channel. They are making a TV show about a British Singer called David Essex. Essex was originally raised to fame by Schwartz's Godspell, so - Stephen was asked to reminisce about his memories of David's auditions. Both Steve and I learnt a lot of interesting facts about Essex - it was good fun.
After that appointment, we had some spare time - so we continued with my interview, and just talked some more. I was even lucky enough to be told the secret behind one of Wicked's best illusions - but, I am not allowed to say anymore! So - we just continued to talk as muses tend to do when drawn together to discuss their wonderful art form. I felt truly and utterly blessed. The next car came to pick us up - so on this car journey, Steve interviewed me. He asked me about my own musical works - and what I told him, I think, impressed him very much. I told him about my murder mystery musical (The House on Penbrook Way) and he said it sounds marvellous, as Broadway and The West End needs more mysteries. We discussed the greatness of (Agatha) Christie - and he said you can surely see her influence within "Wicked". He also smiled greatly at my idea for my other musical - "Far Away Academy".
Time began to catch up with us, so we headed to a restaurant to have a quick drink (up until the time Steve had to head to BBC Broadcasting House for his final interview of the day). I had a Coke - and Steve had a water (we're bad boys!) and it was a very warm and happy finale to my morning. I shared a recording I have of a friend and I doing "Colours of the Wind" (featuring Stephen's lyrics). I handed him my headphones, and he sat back and listened to the entire recording (...first surprise!), closed his eyes (...was he asleep?) and smiling (...obviously not!) I was so thrilled that he took time to listen to the whole song - and, of course, even more thrilled that he was so kind in his comments about the song. Stephen invited me to come and see Wicked tonight, but - due to the fact I have no money (because I saw Wicked last weekend) I was unable to make a commitment.
So - 12 O'clock hit - and like Cinderella, he had to run to make it to his lunch appointment on time, so I made my own way home as if I'd trod air.
Nearly 12 hours later, I am sitting here writing this - and I still can't conjure up enough thoughts to satisfy my need to say how happy I am that the events panned out today as amazingly well as they did. It's certainly refreshing to find that there are still warm and considerate people in the "celebrity" world. It's also refreshing that there is still extremely talented people in this world, who wish to share their words of wisdom to those who wish to gain talent.
I have certainly learnt today that happiness is what happens, when one's dreams come true. I know one of my dreams came true today, and I am certainly happy about it.
|
|
|
