Judit, Helen & Richard: “My hands were shaking . . . Helen *did* go a bit gooey”

 

Our long-time reader and devoted Armitage admirer Judit has now seen “The Crucible” three times–and says she is still wrapping her head around it all now that she’s back home in Hungary.  Here are a few things she has shared with me, along with photos from her visit to the Old Vic and meeting with the lovely Richard Armitage at the stage door. The photos were taken by another long-time reader and fan, Helen, who shared her thoughts about RA and the performance in a previous post.  Fedoralady just had to do some playing . . . 😉 Oh, and Helen’s back, too. 😀

Judit in front of one of the posters at the Old Vic holding a program for The Crucible.

 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT . . .

“The weather in London was BEAUTIFUL!! With the exception of Saturday. But even then, the rain stopped by the time we got to the stage door, so we were VERY, VERY lucky. (Even though I read that RA  did stage door on a day when it was raining – bless this man!)”  

ON MEETING RICHARD:

“We may not have been in the presence of true greatness but we certainly were in the presence of genuine, unaffected kindness and sweetness. And he certainly makes me go gooey all over! My hands were shaking for minutes after we left the stage door!  And yes, the poor fellow almost had to double up to fit into the frame with me. And I was wearing heels!!! LOL (which I NEVER do!! Can’t walk in them).  I hope Helen will not mind me saying that she *did* go a bit gooey (maybe not all over! ;)) when he said “bless you” to her in that honey voice of his.”

To which Helen replied:

“Ha ha, Judit, you’ve caught me in my lie! And there I was thinking that I came across as a cool, calm and collected ice maiden!

As already said, in my heart I was convinced that one day I would meet Rich, and it wasn’t just wishful thinking but based on a logic of sorts: he’s always said he wanted to return to the theatre; if he did it was likely that he’d be in a London-based play; if he was in a London-based play there would be a stage door opportunity. And so it happened.

Thus, Monday night was the culmination of six-odd years of anticipation and hope and envy of all those that had already met him. And the “bless you” in honey, with shoulders touching, was electrifying, especially when I fully expected a hoarse raspy voice so soon after the bellowing.

So… six years… so I had a sort-of out-of-body, wtf?, what just happened?? reaction. Poor old Judit had to take me by the elbow and gently guide me to wherever we were supposed to be going – couldn’t tell you, but I think it involved getting some water from somewhere and getting the train from somewhere else.

But by the time we were on the train and body and mind had reunited, I saw the episode for what it was: a charming encounter with a warm-hearted, but very normal gentleman.

And Judit’s hands WERE shaking like you wouldn’t believe!!”

We can believe it, Helen, we can believe it. Thank you for sharing, ladies!