FAN ENCOUNTERS - #1
This report is by Suzanne Snead and is used here with her permission.
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I went to New York in December to see Ivanov. I got tickets for two shows, one on a Friday night and then again for a Saturday Matinee. While waiting in front of the Beaumont Theatre at about 7pm, one hour before showtime Friday night, I noticed a man spring up from a nearby bench to approach another man entering the front doors of the theatre. When I looked at who the man was hurrying towards, I realized it was Kevin Kline! It was such an unexpected sight, that I just remained seated and watched Kevin enter the building and walk through the lobby and into the arena, not believing that I was watching him walk by. I didn't have a pen with me, so I couldn't have asked for an autograph even if I did chase after him. But running after people is not my style. I prefer to be more restrained and polite than that. :-)So day two, I'm ready. I wait in front of the theatre again, this time with a pen and a program, hoping Kevin will keep the same routine and route for going to work, but no sign of him this time. After the show, I located the stage door downstairs in the parking garage and waited there. Some of the actors from Ivanov began to trickle out, and I was confident I would see Kevin again. But alas, it was not to be. I was not aware that a second production was to take place that night at 8pm, and the majority of the cast apparently was just going to stay inside the theatre until that time. I reluctantly left to attend another play I had tickets for that night (I love to go all out in New York!! See everything!!). On a whim, I whipped out a little note to Kevin that read, "I don't know if I missed you or if you are detained in rehearsals, but I waited for over two hours hoping to meet you. I came to New York just to see you in this play. I loved it! I hope you will find it in your heart to sign my program and mail it to me so all my waiting was not in vain." I signed it, put my address on the note, paperclipped the note to the program and slipped it under the stage door. My hope was that the next person through would find it and give it to Kevin. If he got the note, I felt for sure he would be amused enough by it to honor my request.
I figured I would give it until mid-January for the program to return to me. I did not allow myself to expect it though. I had given up a few days ago, figuring Kevin never saw the thing BUT I WAS WRONG! Monday afternoon, I was treated to a manila envelope in my mailbox with the Lincoln Center return address!!! I about flipped. Inside was the exact same program I had slid under the door, as I could see where the paperclip had been, and across the front was the inscription, "To Suzanne, All the best, Kevin Kline". What a happy ending!!! I cannot believe my crazy plan worked. Thank you, Kevin!!! You have made me very happy!!! :-)
-- by Suzanne Snead
The above report is © (copyright) Suzanne Snead.
Used here with full permission of the author.
If you have a cool Kevin Kline fan encounter story that you'd like to share with other Kline fans, drop the webmaster a line at dramafan@lycos.com. Just be sure it's got some substance to it. I'm not interested in "I wrote for Kevin Kline's autograph and got a response in 12 weeks!" I'm happy for anyone who's done that, but it's kinda boring, sorry. Besides, autograph hounds don't always even care about the actor, they just want an autograph from someone famous. I want to hear from *genuine* Kevin Kline fans. Like Suzanne. (You go, girl!) Thanks for sharing your story with us!
