Push the Wheelchair. Get a Pickle.

This beautiful and sunny morning I was asked by a man in a wheelchair to please help him across the street. The man’s tone was not pleasant. It was somewhat demanding and aggressive, but underscored with frustration and desperation. The answer was obviously yes, but it took a second to figure out what to do with the bagel, coffee, and bags that were occupying my hands.

As I started pushing, he started telling me exactly how to handle the wheelchair. My first reaction was “Umm…. I know how to push a wheelchair.” Turns out, I don’t. The only times I have pushed a wheelchair were on after school moments in my dad’s office when I would push (actually shove) my brother and let the wheelchair wobble down the hallway until, by law of physics, something would stop it- most likely a wall or him falling to the floor. Other than this tweenage giggle-fest, I have never been in a position to push a wheelchair. So I quickly snapped out of my mental snippiness and carefully pushed him to the corner. I could feel this man’s weight on the chair and I could instantly feel his burden in my heart.

He let out a sigh and said, “Someone was helping me and then left me here in the sun. He said he wasn’t crossing that way and then he did.” His face glistened in sweat and sadness. My heart crumpled. “My name’s Tony. What’s yours?” “Will.” The light changed and he continued giving me instructions (I gratefully obliged) on how to get him up the ramp without tripping over and then to the corner where he wanted me to park him…I mean station him…I mean place him: in front of the deli, next to the Marlboro sign. As I was ready to leave, he asked me a last favor. “Can you go in there and get me a pickle?” “Excuse me?” “A pickle, can you get me a pickle?” The aggressive yet desperate tone was back.

Now, you’ve gottta understand something about me and pickles. I don’t like pickles. I have no sensibility for pickles. I don’t get why there needs to be pickles in my cheeseburger or next to sandwiches at diners. I usually don’t make a fuss about them, but I bring this up because we are generally more compassionate towards needs that we know and can identify with. If this man needed bacon, coffee, or wine, I wouldn’t have had to ask twice and just delivered. But pickles?!! Anyway…I get him his pickle, he gives me a last instruction. “See that bag behind me? Put the pickle in there.” I do. “That’s a turkey and cheese sandwich and now (pause) I have the pickle.” All the sadness, frustration and desperation in his face morphs into an impish Cheshire cat smile and he says. “Now I need to work somebody else for the soda.” (giggle) EXCUSE ME?! Did he just blatantly tell me that he “worked” me for his pickle? I tried to get mad but couldn’t. Although I felt used, the feeling of helping and giving to someone else, regardless of what I thought about his ‘need’ was far greater. Besides, next time I need to help someone in a wheelchair, it won’t be my first time.

This is Tony…And That’s What’s Going On.

Give the Tonys Back to Broadway- My suggestions on how to help

A letter to Hunter Foster based on his request to the group- "Give the Tonys Back to Broadway"

Quick note to non-theater folk: The Broadway community and aficionados were, for the most part, upset with the results of the Tony Awards given on June 13th 2010, where many Hollywood stars who were "guest"-ing on Broadway were bestowed with the awards we felt were deserved by actors who primarily work on the stage.

Thanks for getting this campaign going and for emphasizing the positive side of it. Frustration more than anything brought about a lot of griping after last Sunday night but on the flip side it opened up the dialogue and this is a fantastic step toward improving the cause of said frustrations.
My 5 suggestions:

1. Gypsy of the Year, Easter Bonnet, and all those Broadway community events that take place throughout the year should be featured in the telecast so more people can learn about them.

2. Playbill recently reported that there was talk about an Ensemble award. There are obviously pros and cons to it but something should be figured out in favor of it. It’s financially understandable that producers feel the need to cast stars; this would be a great way to honor those people who work primarily on Broadway.

3. A Special Guest Star Award for Hollywood actors with limited engagements on Broadway could be a way to still honor the work they put in, and let the Best Actor/ Actress award be given to those who are in it for the long run.

4. This next one would require extra work for AEA and some serious logistics to figure out: Somehow including Equity members who are active in the audition circuit (putting in the work before they book a job and sometimes not book any) in the telecast would not only encourage us all, but also show the general public what really goes into making it on the Great White Way.

5. Feature segments during the telecast showing: up and coming composers, how a show is workshopped, the journey that productions go through (regional, out of town try outs) etc… This would help to educate the general public as to how actors develop a role that sometimes ends up being played by somebody else.

Again thanks for offering this platform,
Tony Vargas