Following that job was South Pacific-a national tour starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell. This time, I was understudying a great part, and I went on many times as Ado Annie. In both New York and Los Angeles, I met and talked to lots of famous folks from the golden days of movies and theatre. Of course, living in New York is fast-paced. I always found it pretty nerve-wracking.
Cabbies drive like maniacs.
Cyclists are wild, too. And even pedestrians are focused and in a hurry. In general, you just watch your back. Although, one time, when I lived in Greenwich Village, a street person whacked me hard on my upper back with a push-broom, yelling insults all the while. But there were also beautiful days in Central Park, nights at the Metropolitan Ballet, dinners at Sardi's, excursions to the U.S. Open Tennis tournaments, fun at Yankee Stadium.