A broadway play

Standing on a random street in New York City, it's easy to get lost in the bustling and prosperous cityscape, with its constant flow of cars and people. This city is like an ever-changing kaleidoscope, showcasing a myriad of dazzling facets. The affluence and elegance of the Upper East Side, the lush greenery of Central Park, the luxury and fashion of Fifth Avenue, the bohemian and rebellious atmosphere of Greenwich Village, the casual and chaotic vibe of Brooklyn, the dignity and dirtiness of Wall Street...

It is a city full of countless charms, resembling a miniature world that allows people to experience diverse aspects of life. Whether it's enjoying life or striving for success, New York is filled with endless opportunities.

Although Hugo is interested in the numerous tourist attractions in New York, he is particularly fascinated by Broadway.

Broadway, spanning the entire north-south axis of New York, is the city's most important road. Not only is it one of the core transportation arteries of Manhattan Island, but it also represents the sweat and talent of the world's top theater professionals. If the West Coast has Hollywood, then the East Coast boasts a world-renowned cultural heritage thanks to Broadway's existence. This has also created distinct cultural circles on both coasts of the United States, resulting in comprehensive competition ranging from movies to music, which has contributed to the prosperity of the entire American entertainment culture.

Broadway is the heart of modern American musical theater. Every year, millions of visitors from around the world sit in the seats of Broadway theaters, enjoying the brilliant theatrical culture that has accumulated over centuries. The most distinctive feature of Broadway musicals is the absence of artistic restrictions, combining dance, music, and drama. Some productions even integrate art and popular taste, offering high entertainment value. From "Cats" to "The Phantom of the Opera", from "Les Misérables" to "Miss Saigon", a multitude of spectacular performances entice visitors from all corners of the world to this theatrical haven, showcasing the richness and diversity of the art form.

Hugo has always had a strong interest in Broadway theater because it represents an incredibly rich form of artistic expression. Just imagine standing on a spacious stage and using your own singing and acting as a channel to present an extraordinary theatrical performance. Performing live on stage leaves no room for retreat, as a single mistake can lead to a chain reaction. Therefore, actors must possess exceptional improvisational skills.

While Broadway's singing style may not be suitable for popular music, and its exaggerated performance style may not translate well to television or film, Hugo still believes that art is universal, and he is confident that he can learn something different from Broadway performances.

"Why did you choose this particular play?" Joseph looked at the ticket in his hand, which bore the name of a production he had never heard of before, "A Matter of Gravity". Since there were no actor photos or descriptions in the program, Joseph had no idea what to expect from this play. "I just saw that "Cats" is currently showing. Why don't we go see that classic? I heard it's fantastic."

Hugo adjusted his round top hat and glanced at the bustling crowd around him. "Do you think we can get tickets for "Cats"? Although the theater they chose is a bit far from Times Square, the number of audience members is still considerable. Buying tickets for a popular show like "Cats" is not easy. You usually have to reserve them at least a week in advance to secure a spot. For someone like us who came spontaneously, we'll have to settle for something else."

Joseph also understood Hugo's meaning and looked at the lively crowd around him, shrugging helplessly. If it were a month ago, Joseph might have started to grumble. With Hugo's current popularity and status, obtaining a VIP box ticket shouldn't have been too difficult. But now, Joseph didn't say much, indicating that his mindset had already become much calmer.

Hugo picked up the ticket in his hand and pointed to a row of words below. "Also, didn't you see this name on the cast list?"

"They didn't give me a program with actor pictures, so how would I know..." Joseph muttered and complained. This was truly a play without any recognizable name, not even a program with pictures. It made it difficult for Joseph to generate any interest. However, when Joseph's gaze fell on the row of names at the bottom of the ticket, he suddenly froze. "This is...," Joseph thought he might be seeing things, so he looked up at the surrounding lights and then lowered his head to take another look in a better-lit area. "This is Katharine Hepburn?"

Joseph looked up at Hugo, his eyes filled with confirmation. "Is this the Katharine Hepburn we know?" Clearly, Joseph was not mentally prepared for the appearance of such a name at this time and place. He was filled with surprise and astonishment.

Hugo couldn't help but show a satisfied smile. "I was equally surprised when I saw it. So when I found out there were tickets available for this play, I didn't hesitate to prepare for it. Missing such an opportunity would be a lifelong regret."

Katharine Hepburn, one of the greatest actresses in American film history. Perhaps the addition of "one of" is unnecessary, as many people would agree. This actress, born in 1907, was the most legendary film star in America, recognized as an iconic figure in American film and theater. Some even referred to her as "Queen Katharine".

Katharine still holds the record for the highest number of Best Actress wins at the Oscars. Out of twelve nominations for Best Actress, she received four golden statuettes. Although Meryl Streep later surpassed Katharine in terms of nomination count, Katharine still holds the first position as the greatest actress in American film history, as chosen by the American Film Institute.

During Katharine's acting career, she delivered numerous classic masterpieces such as "Alice Adams", "Little Women", "The Philadelphia Story", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", "The Lion in Winter", and "On Golden Pond". Her illustrious acting journey spanned from the 1930s to the 1970s, a solid forty-year period, making her the benchmark for Hollywood actresses.

In addition to her exquisite performances, Katharine stood out as the most independent and unconventional top actress after the 1930s. She refused to dress like a lady and preferred to wear trousers, becoming the first Hollywood actress to wear men's clothing on screen. She was also the first Oscar-winning actress to attend the awards ceremony in pants. It's worth noting that during Katharine's upbringing, concepts such as the women's rights movement and female liberation were completely foreign. Female stars had little independence, and women were not even tolerated wearing trousers in social settings. But none of these restrictions affected her, let alone her difficult relationship with reporters. Reporters were simply helpless against Katharine; they both loved and hated her.

Katharine's rebelliousness had countless significant moments throughout her career. Besides never attending the Oscars ceremony to receive her own Oscar statuette, the most impressive thing for Hugo was Katharine's care for her colleagues. In 1959, Katharine worked together with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in a film called "Suddenly, Last Summer", directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Before the movie started filming, Clift had a car accident, and his condition worsened during the filming period. Hepburn took the initiative to take care of him, helping him to give up sleeping pills and properly deal with his illness. Although Hepburn and Taylor both made great efforts to take care of and support Clift, director Mankiewicz remained indifferent toward Clift.

Whenever Clift showed symptoms such as trembling, forgetting lines, or being absent-minded during the filming process, Mankiewicz would tell the producer to prepare a replacement actor. Hepburn and Taylor joined forces and threatened the director, stating that if Clift was replaced, they would both quit. They believed that the director openly discussing replacing Clift was a form of torture to the actor, too cruel. They both considered Mankiewicz a heartless person.

On the last day of filming, Hepburn walked up to Mankiewicz and asked him, "Are you sure it's finished?" She repeated the question three times, and after confirming with Mankiewicz that there was no need for reshoots, Hepburn paused for a moment, then slapped Mankiewicz hard as a sign of her dissatisfaction with the director. Then she turned around and left.

Since then, Katharine Hepburn never worked with Joseph L. Mankiewicz again.

In fact, when Hugo heard about this incident in the past, he considered it merely as a curious story, as the lives of the entertainment industry seemed too distant from his own. But now that he had entered the entertainment industry himself, Hugo realized how incredible this incident was. Even though the power of directors and producers had significantly diminished in the present, it was still rare for an actor to confront a director so directly, let alone a highly acclaimed director.

You could say that Mankiewicz rose to fame as early as 1933 with "Skippy", and later, he won the Best Director Academy Award for two consecutive years with "A Letter to Three Wives" and "All About Eve".

It's as if someone were to slap Steven Spielberg on set directly. And back in the distant year of 1959, this feat was accomplished by the then-undervalued actress Katharine. It was even more inconceivable.

Especially after experiencing the doubts about being a top star, Hugo understood even more deeply how rare and difficult it was to go against journalists, support colleagues, and maintain one's own integrity in the dazzling entertainment industry. This made Hugo's admiration for Katharine even more profound. From the perspective of an actress and a human being, she truly had a legendary life.

Therefore, being able to purchase tickets for "A Matter of Gravity" with Katharine Hepburn herself was an opportunity Hugo couldn't wait for. As for Joseph, he didn't say a word but quickly strode toward the entrance of the theater. After a few steps, he realized that Hugo hadn't followed, so Joseph turned around, widened his eyes, and complained, "What are you waiting for? The play is about to start! Hurry up!"

There were still fifteen minutes left until "A Matter of Gravity" began.