I try not to discuss politics and religion on this blog, but dagnabit, I just have to shout it this to the cyber-heavens!

Stephen Harper, President of Canada, sent the Canucks who created THE DROWSY CHAPERONE a letter on opening night! I'm assuming it was a congratulatory letter, and not a reminder to pay the taxes on all the moulah they're making!

Well done Stephen!

From this recent The Leading Men column in Playbill:

Bob Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone: Congrats on being the longest-running Canadian musical on Broadway!

"It's true. We beat Billy Bishop Goes to War, which ran for 12 performances in 1982. We had champagne on the day we passed that mark. We also got a letter from the prime minister of Canada on our opening night, and it was a real thrill."

Are you anything like your character, Man in Chair?

"We're all a little like him. I'm a chronically, marginally depressed person, though I'm very happy today. I also have a disdain for ringing phones and a desire to be transported by theatre and a disappointment with a lot of the theatre I see."

Your Man in Chair yearns for the days of the Gershwins and makes a wisecrack about Elton John ("Must we continue this charade?"). What do you think of Elton's musicals?

"I love his music. You know what? That line was written six years ago. It's not about Lestat. It was written in response to the more pop-oriented musicals. I still haven't seen The Lion King. But I'd love to see Billy Elliott."

What musicals do you obsess over?

"I'm more into jazz and Steely Dan, but I love The Music Man, Guys and Dolls and Gypsy."

Soon, your show will be the one that young fans obsess over.

"More than anything else, I dream this show will be done in high schools. Some kid will get to say, 'I want to play Man in Chair!'"

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