zahnster

Have you ever been talking about someone and then you turn around and realize the person you were talking about is standing right there?

That happened to me today, but in New York fashion, the person I was talking about was David Hyde Pierce.

So the story goes like this – My company’s clients are largely made up of Broadway musicals, so as I mentioned before, there are certain perks involved. After seeing The Color Purple the other night, it really got me in the mood to see more shows, and in no time I’ve gotten a short list of “Must see’s”.

On the top of my list is a musical called Curtains, which is a comedy / mystery starring David Hyde Pierce. Since I was a kid I’ve been a fan of his – I grew up watching Frasier, and Niles had always been my favorite character. So, walking into the lobby of my office building with some co-workers, I ask one if he had had seen the show, and how I wanted to see it because I (and I quote), “Love David Hyde Pierce”. He tells me that yes, he saw it, and that it was ‘rough’. That took me back a bit – but he went on to say that the only reason he thought that was because he had seen it even before opening night – a ’sneak preview’ night which was actually the first time the play had been performed in full.

Then, a man who all of us had completely not noticed interjected with a “Oh, but it’s gotten better”. That man was David Hyde Pierce.

It was the strangest encounter ever – and I wasn’t 100% sure it was him. He was very incognito, dressed down and wearing a hat, and I wasn’t confident enough that it was him to say anything. It was just too big of a coincidence! So instead I just kind of half stared with what I’m sure was a surprised / confused expression. Because seriously, why would David Hyde Pierce be in some random office building in Midtown? Thankfully, by that time we were walking on the elevator anyway.

My only direct communication with him was a quick ‘bye’ when we exited the elevator (he was going up to a higher floor). As soon as my co-workers and I got into our office suite, the reality of what had just occurred sunk in, and we all got a good laugh knowing that we all made total fools of ourselves.

At least he knows I’m a fan.