Sonia's Favorite Michael Moments

I first saw Michael back around 1986 when he wasn't the major international star, but he was a very big name in Britain (mainly on account of the phenomenally successful Some Mother's Do Have 'Em series). I was feeling blue one day and decide to hell with the world, I would take myself to the theatre. I chose Barnum and a couple of hours later, I positively danced out! That show remains one of the highlights of my life and what a performance from Michael! At that time I was going to the theatre in London at least once a week and having seen all the big shows, I thought I was a hardened critic. Not so! I was so bowled over I wrote to the theatre congratulating them on a magnificent show. A couple of weeks later I was amazed to receive a letter from Michael, thanking me for the compliments and suggesting that if I ever came to the show again, I should let him know and he might be able to arrange to meet me in person! Wow! Well, of course I picked up the phone, called my brother for moral support and we arranged to go a couple of weeks later. I wrote back with the date and eagerly waited for a reply - where to go, what to do etc but nothing arrived. So... I figured that it was probably a standard 'Thanks and if you're ever around...' type reply (remember folks, I didn't know Michael then!) - and anyway I did have a letter signed personally from the guy!! So the day came, we went to the show, it was just as good second time around and I didn't really mind about what might have been! The following night, I was in my apartment and the phone rang:

"Can I speak to Sonia please?"

"Speaking..."

"Hello, this is Michael Crawford (!!!!!!), I was wondering what happened to you last night...."

" ....er... er....gulp.... "

It turned out that he had left instructions for us at the stage door (I hadn't thought of asking there) and since he'd taken the trouble to find out where we had been sitting in the audience he knew we were there! He suggested that I should drop by one evening to say hello and that was the first of many backstage visits ... but that's another story or two!!

One time, I dropped in backstage without warning, and asked his assistant if he was dashing off or if he would have time for a chat. "Hang on, I'll find out". She returned a bit later, "You may have a bit of a wait - he spotted a couple of kids in wheelchairs during the performance and invited them back for a visit". This I discovered was regular practice for him and the look on those kids faces as they left the theatre was incredible! He loved doing those visits and I always thought that he retained the sense of being a star-struck kid despite his own success.

About 4 years ago Michael was doing a concert tour in UK and playing Brighton on my birthday. Natually, we got tickets and since it had been several years (and *huge* international success) since we had last spoken, I decided against trying to contact him. As the day drew nearer, I began to regret not making the effort and my husband persuaded me to leave a message for him at the theatre. When we arrived at the hall, we checked backstage but there was no message for me. We enjoyed the first half of the concert and at the interval I went to the bathroom where there was a loooong line. Just as I got into the loo, I heard my husband's voice saying "Excuse me, excuse me! I have to find my wife!!!" As soon as I opened the cubicle door, I saw him standing there, surrounded by indignant ladies and he grabbed me and said "Michael's leaving right after the show - but he can see you NOW". The ladies cheered and we ran off - backstage, past several security checks and finally we were ushered into a large room containing perhaps 15 people. We stood for a moment then Michael walked over, kissed me and said "It's nice to see you again, I'm sorry it's so busy". Once again, he had invited several worthy causes to meet him so I told him we wouldn't hang around but that he'd really made my birthday! He kissed me again and I just floated away....

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