Just a quick note. This is sort of a journal of what happened, as written on July 19, 1997...enjoy!
I am so excited! I haven't been able to calm down since I saw the production! On Thursday, July 17, 1997, my family went to see "The King & I" at Fair Park Music Hall in Dallas, Texas. It had taken some persuasive talking, but my dad finally bought the tickets. Anyway, the production itself was wonderful!! The costumes were magnificent, and so was the background and everything like that. But Hayley, she was absolutely stunning and sensational! When she first came out onto the stage, everyone started clapping. I just couldn't believe that I was sitting there, watching my favorite person! The thrill of being about 100 feet away from her was overwhelming. She sang very well, seeing as how she doesn't have an operatic voice. I found it more realistic anyway, without the operatic voice. I was smiling the whole time! She sang "Getting To Know You" beautifully! No one else could have done it better. It was so sad that it had to end...but I clapped until my hand felt like it was going to fall off! Afterwards, I bought a t-shirt to remember it by. I was going to get the CD, but it didn't have Hayley singing, and I could get it cheaper somewhere else.
I met Hayley Mills!!!!!!!! I actually met her! My sister had asked an usher where we could possibly meet a cast member, and he said the stage door. Well, after we bought that shirt, we went right out front to the stage door entrance. There was a crowd formed (mainly of women and young girls) and I kind of worked my way to the front. After a lot of the cast had come out already, a woman came out and told everyone to kind of form a line, so Hayley can do everything faster. She said that Hayley would "sign everyone." I didn’t know I could be that nervous--my legs were shaking and my knees were weak. After about ten minutes from the time that we got to the door, Ms. Hayley Mills stepped outside! Her blond hair blew in the breeze, that was created by the open door. There she was in all her glory! She looked kind of surprised to see so many people. Anyway, she immediately set to work, signing things for people. I was about the 4th or 5th one in line, with my twin sister beside me on my left, and my mom a bit behind me. Anyway, she was signing for the little girl in front of me, and Hayley said that it was strange that the breeze was coming from the door, you’d think it would be the other way around! Of course, I started giggling. The little girl didn't say a thing, so Hayley looked up at me!! I just couldn't believe that those infamous blue eyes were looking at me! She smiled and seemed very sweet. She started to sign my playbill, and I said that she was absolutely wonderful. She said "Oh aren't you sweet!" and looked up again. She asked if I enjoyed it, and I said it was lovely. She said she was glad. Erin, my twin sister, said that she was sensational. Now Hayley was about to sign my sister's playbill, but when she looked at Erin, she got this strange look on her face. She said, "but you were, you..uh.." while pointing back and forth between Erin and me. Then she said, "Oh, you're the twins!" I was so shocked! She pointed at Erin and said Robin, and then at me and said Erin. Then she did the opposite. Erin said the she was Erin, and when Hayley looked at me, I said I was Robin (I slipped into a British accent in this one...couldn't help it). She smiled even wider now, like she was actually happy, and then she said that she got our letter! Imagine that! We had sent a letter to her about five days before we attended, asking if we could meet her, et cetera et cetera et cetera. :) Then she looked at me and said "I was impressed by your thing on the computer." I was so happy!! I said "You saw it??" and she said, "No, but you mentioned it in your letter." I said "oh...well thank you." :) Now she went back and personalized our autographs. When she was doing this to my playbill, she asked, "Robin with an 'i' or a 'y'?" I simply responded "Robin, with an 'i'." I slipped into a British accent on this one, too! While she was doing this to mine, I asked if I could please shake her hand. She finished writing, and extended her hand and looked at me, smiling, with her big blue eyes. I shook her hand and said it was nice to meet you, and she smiled and said "you too." Next, she shook my sister's hand. Erin was just as wide-eyed as I was! Then she looked at my mom and said "And you must be Mum." My mom was delighted, and said yes she was. While she signed my mom's playbill, Hayley told her "Well Mum, you have two intelligent and beautiful daughters." I thought I was going to pass out or something! Imagine hearing that from you favorite person! I said "Thank you" immediately. She gave us one more smile and then moved on to another fan. She talked to us for longer than anyone else! YEA!!!! I didn't touch anything with my hand for hours! She touched my hand! Wow!!! I am SO HAPPY!!! I can't sit still! She was the sweetest person that I have ever met! She was so unpretentious! On the way back to the car, my sister and I had to use each other for support. We could barely walk our knees were so weak! It was hands down the most exciting thing that ever happened to me. I was fifteen years old at the time, so not much had happened yet.
I didn't have a camera with me at the time. I wish more than ever that I did! Anyway, here is a picture of Hayley with Jay Searle when the show was in Seattle. Thank you, Jay, for this lovely picture!
The next day, my sister and I wrote a thank-you letter to Ms. Mills. We basically just said thank you for letting us meet you and things like that. I mentioned my page briefly. I said that the production was magnificent and basically just stated my opinions on it. I wasn't too confident that I would get a response. But, sure enough, the next Tuesday (the 22nd), out in the mail box was a card. It had come!! It was a thank you card from Hayley Mills’ personal secretary, Jennifer White. It said that Hayley wanted to thank us for our two nice letters, and for the work that I do on my web page. It also said that Hayley thought that we might like a schedule of the tour, so one was enclosed. It was just so rewarding for me to get this! It was written on the 20th. They must have gotten my letter Saturday, replied on Sunday, put it in the mail, and it was sent on Monday. She is just the sweetest person, and the one thing that I want in the world right now is to be able to meet her again, and perhaps this time bring a camera! I think that she will have a wonderful time in everything that she does.
Once again, thank you Jay for letting me use your picture on this page. I really appreciate it!
Get your own Free Home Page