Saving Dreams at Christmas

Burn This

New York, Hudson Theatre

June

To say I'm bricking it would be a massive understatement. I'm in New York City, alone queuing up to get into the Hudson Theatre to see Burn This, Adam Driver's new Broadway play. I saved every single penny I had just to be here tonight and for the flights, which cost me over £1,000 and nearly put me in debt on my credit card. However, in my head this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the thought of being in the same room watching Adam Driver perform from my seat in the front row is a dream come true. It's a lovely summer's afternoon here in New York, the sun is blazing with a hint of a breeze sweeping through the crowd and the smell of freshly cooked bread is coming from the bakery across the road, making my stomach rumble. I take off my blue denim jacket and drape it over my bag. The security guard takes a look at my ticket and gives me a wink as he gestures for me to go straight through the entrance. Definitely not my type, I cringe to myself. Too old, although Adam Driver is ten years older than me, but I'd still jump on him if he wasn't married. That man is in a whole league of his own, all of my friends apart from my the girls on my Facebook group that is dedicated to Adam Driver think that he's ugly and don't see the appeal. I don't care though, he's got an unbelievably sexy voice and his body is out of this world. I look down at my ticket feeling like Charlie Bucket from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and smile, it's not just a front row tickets it's a VIP ticket for a meet and greet afterwards with Adam himself. I place it back into my purse, I must look like the cat that got the creamiest of creams and I can't deny it, I am feeling pretty good right now. I dropped the 11 pounds that I wanted to feel comfortable before this trip, due to a very restrictive diet known as the 500 hundred calorie drop a dress size in 5 weeks meal plan. My dress that I'm wearing is a silk peplum number with pink and black flowers sprayed across the front, I pass a nearby mirror and can't help but take a quick look, smiling to myself with satisfaction. I go over to the kiosk to buy a programme, when I meet Adam later on I'm going to have to ask him to sign it. I can't wait to share this whole experience with my friends on the group, they've all been so supportive and excited for me, I just wish that I could have had at least one of them here to share this incredible evening with.

"A double Gin and Tonic, please," I hand the guy behind the kiosk a twenty-dollar bill. "The playbill and your drink is on us," he guy responds with a cheeky smile. He's pretty fit, I think to myself with his sandy blonde floppy hair and blue eyes. Adam who, I laugh to myself? I look at his name tag and respond as confidently as I can, "Oh, is it because of this VIP ticket?" I flutter my new eyelash extensions at him. No harm in a little flirting. It's not as if I'll ever seen this guy again. "Exactly, exactly!" He exclaims, in true Matt Radar Technician style. It makes me laugh, "I haven't had my muffin yet Matt." He giggles too, I can hear a huff from behind me and I realise I'm holding up a long line of people. "Let me tell you, Adam Driver isn't going to know what's hit him when you walk into his dressing room later on," he winks at me and hands me my glass and playbill. "You're too kind, this is a very good brand of makeup," I snigger as I step aside to make way for the older guy behind me. He frowns at me and turns his attention to my new friend, "Listen buddy, instead of flirting and trying to pick up women at your place of work you have got to remember that you've got other people to serve here." I feel so bad for getting him into trouble that I quickly scarper, "Thanks Tom!" I beam as I glance behind me. He waves and goes back to serving mister abrupt.

I finally settle down in my seat, which is bang in the middle of the front row, I stare up at the ceiling at its beautiful Crystal chandeliers and feel so incredibly blessed to be here. Going to theatre shows and musicals are my favourite thing to do when I'm not at work, Wicked holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first shows that I saw, my grandfather took me one Saturday for afternoon tea and a matinee. The lights suddenly go dim and my heart is racing so fiercely, if I'm like this now, what the hell am I going to be like when I'm escorted to meet Adam later on? Keri Russell, the leading lady, is the first on stage and I have to say she looks stunning. She's even more beautiful in real life and so far a terrific actress, playing the part of Anna mourning the death of her gay best friend. The theme of the play is very emotional, two people that are grieving over the same person who come together, find themselves consoling each other and over time ultimately fall in love.