New York., In theaters since 1987, the dean of New York plays, A perfect crime has returned to the stage, although Broadway only has plans to reopen in September. All thanks to the energy of Catherine Russell, who played the same role more than 13,500 times and carries the theater on her shoulders.
“I’m very persistent, and when people say ‘you can’t do it,’ I say, ‘look at how I do it,’ ” Russell said.
She is the main actress of the staging, but also the manager of the Theater Center where the play is presented. Slender, with long blond hair and 65 years old, Russell is “a dynamo”, as described by Charles Geyer, who shares the stage with her. “I can do 180 push-ups in a row,” she boasted.
When the play had to be suspended due to the pandemic, in March 2020, the actress did what she could to stay positive. He painted the theater, repaired seats and bought a new “Covid-compatible” ventilation system.
But “when I saw that the bowling alleys were reopening (at the end of August) I said to myself ‘how crazy’,” he said. And he sued New York City to get the theaters reopened. The governor authorized in early March a reopening to 25 percent capacity, and then to 33, but Russell continues his legal action to obtain at least 50 percent.
On April 9, the Theater Center reopened with the first performances of the musical comedy inspired by the series The Office and then the resumption of A perfect crime, where Russell performed his role 13,524 on April 17, a world record.
“A lot of people didn’t feel ready” to go back, both on Broadway and off-Broadway, the smaller theater circuit, Russell noted. “But I thought we were ready (…) I don’t think I’m a visionary. Maybe I am just less afraid than the others, but also less to lose ”.
“We lose money”
“We lose money,” he admitted, and even a capacity of 50 percent would not be enough to balance the accounts. This was what deterred Broadway from a partial reopening. “However, we are persevering, and I want to do it as a matter of principle,” he said.
The Theater Center got the green light for the reopening of the main show syndicate, Actors’ Equity, on the condition that they vaccinate the entire team, which must also be tested for Covid each night before the show.
Spectators come to the event and the capacity of 33 percent is reached with 66 people, against 200 in normal times, said producer Armand Hyatt.
Actor Charles Geyer recalled a first post-pandemic performance “fantastic, because we knew the people in the room were a bit of a trailblazer.”
The impression is the same. “We have the feeling of forming a group” between the actors and the spectators. “It goes beyond a simple play,” he said.
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