My journey to see “The Other Place” at The Shed was completely unplanned. Somehow my fangirl radar was lying dormant during October (or more likely missed it due to Twitter’s cesspool-algorithm since its evil coup by Musk) and I didn’t see the announcement.
By sheer coincidence or auspicious timing blessed by the fangirl gods (yes they exist), I was going to be in New York during the first preview. And I only realized it when my plane landed a week before. Huzzah! Guess which fangirl now has Saturday night plans?
As I recount my story please know that essentially I have not emotionally evolved since the events of 2019.
INT. NIGHT – THEATER
I arrive to the third floor. Everyone is in line marching into the theater and to their seats. It’s the first night of previews and it is a full house! I get to my seat, stage left, and I see others around me with programs but I have none. Someone has taken the one from my seat and this fangirl needs it in order to get a signature after the show. An usher says I can take one off another seat just as someone barks at me as they arrive that I’m taking their program. Jesus! I grab another and finally sit down.
The show starts a little late but by some subliminal cue the audience gets real quiet and after a few moments the lights go down and the play begins.
I was nervous throughout. I think it was the anticipation of the plot twist, the anxiety of getting to the show on time, the overpriced mac and cheese I ate for dinner which I quickly washed down with an overpriced beer, and the exhilaration of seeing the show live (at the last minute) to wrap up my first trip back to New York in 2 years. Oh and Tobias is now in front of my face and not on a TV screen or my phone…or in my dreams.
And then I become that person when I am struck with a coughing fit in the middle of the show. I’m horribly embarrassed but perhaps if I cough enough Tobias will give me mouth to mouth? I’m confident that’s the only cure.
Moving on. I had already seen the play twice thanks to National at Home. Please subscribe if you want to watch quality theater whilst sitting on your couch. They have a lot of great shows to see though I’m still waiting for them to release “Cyrano de Bergerac” with James McAvoy. I watched it as a National Theater Live screening in 2020 (literally a week before the pandemic) and when it came to BAM in 2021, I had to see it in person!
But this blog isn’t about how hot James McAvoy was in that show (I mean that’s when I finally understood all the hype).
“The Other Place” is an intense family drama and right as the play begins there is a simmering tension that doesn’t let up. Emma D’Arcy and Tobias are really good playing family members whose conflict with one other is mysterious but crackling. As an audience we don’t know a lot of details about everyone’s dynamic and I think it’s for the best. For the New York show there are two cast changes that give a different vibe to the ensemble than what I saw on National at Home. What’s fun about live theater is that actors will make different choices each time and on this night it altered some moments that I remembered. Everyone gives really strong performances and by the end you’re left bearing witness to a family dissolution that can feel intensely impactful. I wish I could see the show later in its run. Nobody “phones it in” here. Overall, it’s a powerful night of theater!
If you haven’t seen the show yet don’t look up too much about it as there are spoilers lurking online and I think it’s worth experiencing the story unravel before you as only theater can.
The reaction of the audience: Laughs. Gasps. Discomfort. Disgust. But when the lights come up and the cast take their collective bow, it’s a standing ovation!
As people begin filtering out, the low buzz of anxiety bubbles to the surface as reality steps in – I have to figure out how to find Tobias. I step outside and wait by one of the exits. A girl is taking back headphones from some of the audience members. Do I wait here? Best to ask, right?
“Is there a way to meet the cast after the show?” I inquire as cooly as I can. Can’t look too crazy.
She smiles at me pleasantly saying “unfortunately there is no stage door” and now I kinda wanna rip her face off. The voice in my head wants to follow up with but which exit does Tobias use? Perhaps that sounds a tad crazy.
Instead, I retreat down to the main floor as people mill around and some go to the lounge bar. Others are leaving the theater and as far as I can tell, I am the only person waiting for an opportunity to see the cast…well one of them.
The theater has two exits. I bet on the main exit because…well I don’t have much of a strategy other than throwing dice seeing that the odds are 50/50.
By a lounge sofa, I nervously stand, sit, stand, sit some more. I take my winter jacket and other layers off because my body heat is high from all the anxiety coursing through my veins. Looking like a bundled up sweating over-heated human burrito is not an option for my photo with him.
Fifteen minutes pass. Hark! Two of the actors exit from a side door and walk toward the lounge and greet…two young dudes? I don’t know who these guys are but more importantly, my bet paid off. A few minutes later Emma D’Arcy exits. In hindsight, I should have commented on their great performance but I could not be distracted from my mission. They lingered in the lobby and then left. I hear that they drew a crowd in London after the show. Who wants to meet Tobias when you could meet Emma? someone thinks who is not reading this blog. Sorry Emma. Just next time don’t star in a play with my boyfriend and I’ll be happy to tell you how much I loved your performance!
One of the ushers who is very nice tries talking to me about the cold weather and the large crowd that came out but I cannot engage too much in conversation. I need to focus! The Winter Olympics are coming up and I am getting gold in fangirling.
Meanwhile, my only strategy was to intercept him if he left through the main doors. To pass the time, I continue to nervously adjust my winter layers that I leave on the sofa, debating whether or not to bring everything with me when I see him, or just leave it when he arrives but what if someone steals my stuff this is NY but there’s really not much to steal…
I look up and he appears. Gasp! He already moves towards the lounge and begins talking to these 2 young dudes – who are these dudes?! Are they fangirls too? – and I stand frozen thinking about how I am going to do this.
Side note: It’s a lonely thing for a fangirl to stand by yourself trying to get over the anxiety to approach someone. Being from NYC, celebrities are like whatever <insert major eye roll>. And I don’t suffer from social anxiety but I do suffer from how the fuck do I get a photograph and autograph from someone I admire and who may or may not be the lead star of the rom com fantasy in my head that has been streaming for almost 10 years?
No big deal.
I move closer and suddenly I see that there are other fangirls ahead of me. Like, where did they come from? I thought I was alone in this. It’s like he appears and suddenly we emerge from our dark corners no longer able to hide behind our laptops and phones….
I let the ladies have their moment cause I’m nice. Actually, anything to delay the moment of truth is best so please, after you while I hide behind this steel column.
Ahead of me I overhear a girl’s friend claim that she’s his biggest fan but bitch let’s meet in a dark alleyway after this and we’ll see who his biggest fan is. I don’t care how cold it is outside.
Sorry I swear I’m not crazy. But I am on the Scorpio cusp.
Finally the only fangirl left..is me.
He takes one step towards the bar and I squeak out, “Tobias?” [Like I totally know him and texted him “good luck!” before the show since we’re on a first name basis don’t ask how.]
…And at this point my memory gets a little fuzzy so bear with me.
He looked at me and I said tentatively, “I just wanted to say I loved the show and congratulations on your first preview night…”
He says, “Thank you”.
[And the word vomit officially begins…]
I think I asked, “How did it feel tonight being in front of a NY audience?”
And maybe he responds with “good” but who the fuck knows because now I’ve achieved a sort of disassociative mental blindness.
“Well this isn’t your first time in front of a NY crowd,” I nervously correct myself.
A small light bulb of realization flicks on in his mind, “That’s true.”
“You guys have great timing starting the show in such freezing weather…” Trying to be sarcastic? Fuckin hell.
“Yeah this weather is a bit unusual for here isn’t it?”
I give a breathy, “Yeah” and now this fangirl begins the list of requests….
“Could I ask you to sign this?” I hand over the program.
“Sure.” He signs with the pen I thought I didn’t bring. I watch him scrawl his name by Emma D’Arcy’s head. And now another follow-up request…
“Could I bother you for a picture?”
“Sure.” I think he said sure? He must’ve. He’s a sure kinda guy.
And at this point I don’t know where to put my hands and *flashback* I think the same thing happened in London in the year of our lord 2019. Again, I try to figure out if I can put my arm behind his back but let’s just say that between his winter layers and his hands in his pockets, he makes it clear – that ain’t happening. So I awkwardly don’t put my hands anywhere because I respect his space even though I really want him to respectfully disrespect mine.
I took TWO photos and thank the fangirl gods I do because later I see that the first one is blurry. Kinda like my 2019 photo.
“Thank you so much” I say and I have no idea what he responded – Cheers? Another “sure”? – because I floated ran away as he went to chat with some folks at the corner of the bar. Maybe it was like a meet and greet for some fancy theater patrons? I’m not sure. I just know I was not one of them.
I get back to the sofa – coat is still here! – and my hands are shaking. That’s when I breath a sigh of relief when looking at my phone and see that the second photo is better than the first.
I get my things on, peek over at him one last time, and exit into the unusually frigid nighttime cold and onto the New York City streets. All the anxiety and nerves in my body combust and compel me to run.
Final Thoughts
I think this fangirl landed a 10 and got gold! Sure there are some refinements for next time like work on asking a question that doesn’t require a one word answer from him. Our convo in 2019 was better. I was slightly more prepared then.
And now here’s the rom com version of how my night ended…
EXT. NIGHT – NYC STREET
She walks out into the frigid cold winter air. The wind blows as she hears a voice behind her. She turns and sees…..
TOBIAS
Jordyn!
He jogs up to her. She looks at him bewildered.
JORDYN
Tobias?
TOBIAS
Let me take you out for a drink. Something warm? There’s a bar not far from here. Or if you don’t drink alcohol maybe they have hot chocolate? Sorry you’re not a 5 year old…drinking hot chocolate. Whatever you want…I’m happy to get whatever you want…
She looks at him confused. Suddenly the erudite RADA trained Emmy award winning actor is a bumbling nervous school boy.
JORDYN
How do you know my name?
He looks at her shyly as the wind whips his scarf and he almost hesitates.
TOBIAS
I remember you from last time.
She chuckles in disbelief.
TOBIAS
(grinning)
Who’s the fangirl now?
They laugh. He puts his arm out and she hooks it into hers as they walk.
CUT TO MONTAGE:
A low-lit lounge. He drinks his glass of white wine. She needs something a little stronger. Empty drinking glasses are replaced with new ones. Laughs. Coy looks. Light touches on fingers, leads to hands on arms, leads to knees. He leans into her.
TOBIAS
I just want you to be here when I come back from the show tomorrow night.*
She smiles. He moves in for a deep kiss.
*Alright fine I stole a similar line from Heated Rivalry.
Here are some interviews to learn more about the show:
Vogue