Lee's Experience of CATS in Berlin

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Hi~ every felines~ Now, here's a English page, because this friend: Lee Dempsey, is an Irish girl. She wrote to Smart in English, so according to Smart's manner, this page will be a English page.

Well, back to the business. Lee is a big fan of Mr. John Partridge, the actor of Rum Tum Tugger in the video and Berlin's CATS casts. She went to Berlin during Christmas in 2003 and met Mr. Partridge's after the show. She was so friendly to share her experience of CATS with fans (I know a couple of you are Mr. Partridge's fans too~~~) . So here you go:

After much excitement I got ready to go to the Marlene-Dietrich theatre at Potsdamer Platz. I went early so I could go to the stage door in the hope of talking to John before the show…no such luck! The woman working there phoned him and she said he was too busy to see me, I was crushed! Although I tried not to take it personally. I went to the theatre; my seat was row 6, seat 5! central and about 5 meters from the front of the stage! What an AMAZING seat! I should think so, after spending 56,00 euros!! (I splashed out! And it was totally worth it) I was so close I could see every bead of sweat, every hair and heard the actors panting after a long dance routine! - FAB! John was so so SO funny, I couldn't take my eyes off him - when I told myself to look at everyone else, I said to myself tuff it, I've come all this way to see John and there he is! I can't taking my eyes of him! During Skimbleshanks he sat on the cooker, he had his tail between his legs and with his left hand, held his tail straight up tight in the air. With his right hand he plucked it like he was playing the cello. Oh, I laughed so much! He also picked a bald guy in the front row; he polished his head with his tail then kissed him! (Apparently he always finds a bald guy to kiss!) At the very end of the show he when back to the bald guy, shook his hand and thanked him.

I wanted to take photos during the performance SO much, but was too afraid that I might get thrown out if I was caught! Oh, he looked so good - I hope those images stay with me for a long time! So, at the end I went straight round to the stage door. I waited about 15/20 minutes; I was standing in an alcove of the building to keep out of the icy cold wind when a guy walked past me. I didn't think that was him, then I had another look, it didn't look like him, but I thought if it was, I should say something right now or regret it forever! I shouted "John" to him and he turned! My heart stopped, and then started just in time for me to explain myself. You know, I was so excited I can remember much of what we said to each other! The following is the conversation between Mr. Partridge and I :0) I haven't remembered everything was just so excited!

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Signed picture of Mr. John Partridge as Rum Tum Tugger; provided by Lee

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Me - ‘HHi there, (he looked a bit startled) don¡¦t worry, you don¡¦t know me, I was just waiting to ask you for your autograph

JP - ‘ooooh ok, no problem

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Me - ‘I didn¡¦t think that was you, you were so quick, I expected you to be longer

JP - ‘I’m very quick (cheeky smile)

--Can¡¦t remember what was said, I was getting my program for him to sign --

JP - ‘so, what¡¦s an Irish girl doing in Berlin at Christmas?

Me -   Came to see you perform Cats before your contract finishes, I came down from Scotland.

JP - ‘YO, you came down you mean over?

Me - ‘YYeah I came over. So, I really enjoyed the show, did you??

JP - ‘yYes as always

Me - ‘yO, you looked like you were enjoying it!

JP - ‘I did, its good fun?

(He had signed the program, and I asked if I could get a photo)

JP - ‘yYeah sure

Me - ‘tThe problem is just finding someone to take it?/P>

(he asked a guy at the stage door to take a photograph I was telling the guy how to work the camera)

JP - ‘jJust point (smiles) and click (laughs)

Me - ‘tThanks very much, I hope you have a really good Christmas?

JP - ‘yO, you too Lee, get inside and keep out of this cold.

Me - ‘yYeah, you too. Take care, bye.

At some point I mentioned that I had come before the show and he said he didn¡¦t want to talk, he said sorry and that he was busy - so I felt much better :0)

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Actually Lee was also send Smart about her trip in Berlin (as Smart always dreamed to visit Europe). Though we don't have room here to include them, but those are really great to read. Thank you so much to you, Lee! I am REALLY enjoy them!!  Also thank you for your time to write all these, so detail and funny and exciting. And now we all know Mr. Partridge is a friendly and bright gentleman. And if some of fans meet him one of the day, I'm sure he would love to share some time with you. So don't be shy~~

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