When Audreys Collide

I risked my life getting this photo.

Mel and I did a lightning-quick trip last weekend, hopping the Amtrak Cardinal to Baltimore on Friday and then back on Sunday. This was our first trip to Charm City, and we had a single purpose. We couldn’t really visit with any friends or do much in the way of sight-seeing.

We were there for a 40th anniversary screening of the movie musical, Little Shop of Horrors, and that screening included a Q&A session and meet-and-greet with Ellen Greene, who originated the role of Audrey on the stage, and played her on screen, too.

Ellen Greene is one of Mel’s acting heroes, and Mel really made a name for herself, and had one of the most fun times of her career, playing Audrey for Kanawha Players in 1987, which was one of the earliest productions of Little Shop back when the show was first released for community theatre.

So this was a big deal for Mel, and therefore for me, too.

Ms. Greene was pleasant and enthusiastic and very friendly.  Mel was nervous as hell, meeting a hero (which I thought was so damned cute). When Mel mentioned that she also played Audrey, Ms. Greene asked the leading question, “Oh, you’re also an actress,” and Mel froze like a kid on Santa’s lap, instead of mentioning that she’s done dozens of stage roles, professional Opera and both Shakespeare and Albee. I didn’t want to butt in, or even intrude, since this was Mel’s moment.

Then there were hugs, autographs and we were ushered back to our seats where we witnessed a terrific and informative Q&A session, filled with lots of great production details about the movie, and anecdotes about the creation of the musical and her friendship with the show’s late lyricist, Baltimore native, Howard Ashman.

We then watched the movie, which really holds up amazingly well.  We also found out that Michelle Weeks, who played Ronette in the film version of Little Shop, was in the audience with us, and Mel got to meet her, too.

The amazing thing was that my beautiful wife, who normally would rather kill you right on the spot if you come at her with a camera, happily posed for pictures.  Mel is not camera-shy. Mel is camera-hostile.

It was an incredibly fun trip, and I love to see Mel this happy. Now you can, too…

Someday we will return and take our time to enjoy the full range of coolness in Baltimore.

Diamond Mel gets her TV greeting from the folks at Hilton.

You gotta love a Poe quote on the bathroom mirror.

We were, maybe five blocks, from his gravesite.

While we had a great view of Camden Yards, the Orioles were finishing their season in The Bronx. Still looks cool, though.

Two Audreys (not Audrey 2–that’s the plant)

I got roped into the photo op, too. I mean, I was there, and I was a fan of “Pushing Daisies” so why not?

Before the Q&A we were treated to an amazing rendition of “Somewhere That’s Green.”

The Q&A, with Scott Stander, was really good and meaty.

The added bonus was that Mel got to meet Michelle Weeks, too!