3/13/10 — I met Chris Walken and his wife Georgianne several years ago while directing cars onto the ferry Carol Jean. I rode my bike up to his car to collect his tickets and explain the drill for loading. I also told him I taught theater arts and literature at Narragansett High School; so we shot the breeze about comedic acting until First Mate Donny Rooney called for his car to back onto the ferry.

So that’s how it’s always been since I first met Chris at the ferry dock. I say, “Hey, how’re ya doing? Any new gigs?” We talk about this and that, and he drives onto the ferry. One day I remember telling him I was retiring from teaching school, and he cautioned me about that. “Retirement’s not such a good thing, Joe,” he said.

“But I’m still going to be working at the ferry,” I replied. “Remember, I have two jobs.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right, you’ll stay busy,” he said.

Once, after he’d finished the movie “Catch Me If You Can,” Chris was heading out to the island for some slack time.

“Any new gigs?” I asked. He told me about a film he was going to be working on out in New Mexico, titled “Around the Bend.”

“It looks like a good script,” he said. I ended up using the film in my Acting and Literature classes for three years. It was a great story of a conflicted father trying to reconnect with his very conflicted son. My students loved this wrenching, yet comedic and heartfelt story. It was also a great film to teach my students about character development and story arcs (structure).

I told Chris that I was using it at school, and he said, “That’s good Joe, I’m glad you liked it.”

Chris is a man of few words sometimes. I of course understood that he perhaps didn’t want to talk shop at the docks, but I always enjoyed our little theater/film talks before he drove onto the ferry. Because, quite frankly, working the docks in the winter can be as exciting as watching grass grow.

This December, Chris pulled into the parking lot, and I said, “Hey Chris, how’re ya doing, any new gigs?”

“Yeah, I’m doing a play on Broadway.”

“What’s it about,” I asked.

“It’s about a guy who’s looking for his lost hand,” he said raising his eyes along with a slight grin.

“Oh really,” I answered.

Chris explained the play was written by the playwright Martin McDonagh, who wrote the Tony nominated “The Pillow Man,” and “The Lieutenant of Inishmore.” It would be directed by fellow Irishman Paul Crowley.

“It’s called, ‘A Behanding in Spokane,’ Chris said. I said, “Break a Leg,” and he drove onto the ferry.

After the ferry left, I recalled a former acting student had insisted I see a film titled, “In Bruges,” which coincidentally was written and directed by Martin McDonagh. I loved the movie because of the writing. I was now intrigued.

Also coincidentally, an actor I knew from my college days, Peter Gerety, had recently acted in McDonagh’s “The Lieutenant of Inishmore.”

“That was a classical gas Joe,” Peter told me. “We used 12 gallons of blood for each performance.” I was now really intrigued. (I saw Gerety in “Billy Budd” at Trinity Square when I was a kid, and it led me to study theater in college.)

I need to interject a note of irony here. Although I have a degree in theater and taught the subject for 30 years, I’ve never been to a Broadway play. I’ve seen local college and repertory theatre productions, and of course my student’s productions and scene work at school, but never a Broadway play.

I went home from work and told my wife Cindy ─ who has been to more than 200 plays in various parts of the world ─ about this wacky sounding black comedy about a guy looking for his hand. Cindy said, “Let’s go, Joey, book it now!” I didn’t need to twist her arm.

I saw Chris at the docks after Christmas and told him we were going to the show. “I’m turning 60 on March 25,” I told him, “so I’m treating myself to a Broadway play, and this one sounds like fun.” (He was actually making notes on the script while waiting to board the ferry.)

“That’s good Joe,” he said. “Break a leg!” I said as he backed onto the ferry. I finally figured out a way to get tickets for March 2.

Never having been to Broadway play, I asked my wife if I should wear jeans and my leather jacket. Cindy said that I needed to clean up a bit for a play. So we got all rigged up like proper theater goers and headed for the “Big Apple.”

The play was at a great place on West 45th called the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. We had great seats about 20 rows from the stage in the center of the theater. The house was packed, the lights dimmed and silence ensued.

The lights came up, and there was Chris sitting center stage, owning every molecule of the space. The audience went wild, and like a consummate professional, he allowed the audience to release its anticipatory energy before he moved through the expository information of the play. Now I can’t give away too much here, so I won’t ruin the show for those of you who want to go. I’ll provide a few subjective impressions. First of all, actors Sam Rockwell, Anthony Mackie and Zoe Kazan, worked like pack mules during this 90-minute, fast moving, dialogue-driven performance. The pacing of the script alone was exhausting for the audience! The cast was completely in the moment and committed to their roles. It was a remarkable performance for such a zany script, and a complex central character, yet they sold it. Halfway through the play I said to my wife, “My god honey, this is crazy!” She smiled and kissed my cheek. The play ended, the cast took their initial bows, left the stage, and returned. Chris came out first, and received an immediate standing ovation. A much deserved one I’d say.

After the play, we ended up backstage with Chris and Sam Rockwell. Phillip Seymour Hoffman popped in also. I introduced Cindy to Chris, and he had her take a seat at his dressing table. I gave Chris an “attaboy,” and told him and Sam this was my first Broadway show, which Chris was surprised to hear. Cindy and Chris chatted, and I told Sam how great his one monologue was. We took some pictures, and then Chris said, “Well Joe and Cindy, I’m glad it worked out for you to come, will you now go get something to eat?” I said we probably would. After handshakes and hugs we headed out for dinner on 9th Avenue.

So there it is folks. I finally got to a Broadway play, and I can thank Chris Walken for it. And as usual, the next time I see him at the ferry dock I’ll say, “Hi Chris, how’re ya, any new gigs?”