She was wearing a cute blue hat.

It's amazing how, in a city of 8.1 million (or 18.7 if you include the surrounding areas), it's still easy to see someone you know or recognize almost daily. Today, after quite a bout with the drink last night and having succumbed to its day-after queasiness, I made my way in to rehearsal on the Q train. Why the Q? Because this weekend begins a lot of crazy maintenance work on the tracks, and the Q was going in and out of Queens all weekend.

Anyway, at 5th Avenue, Michele Ragusa quickly stepped on, and made her way to the very front of the car. Now, this woman, you will remember, is the one I raved about in last season's Philly production of ADRIFT IN MACAO. She spent a couple months in the Queen City last season doing BAD DATES and now is in the big city to do the off-Broadway mouting of MACAO. And not a soul on the train clammored after her for a photo or autograph.

Now here is a woman who is making a very decent living as an actress, and yet, is still anonymous enough to be able to ride the train and not be worried about anything. Of course, maybe that has to do with New Yorkers not caring about anyone or anything. Or, the fact that no one on the train goes to theatre. Or, maybe they just thought she was terrible and didn't want to say anything. But most likely, it's just that they didn't know she was anyone special, and let her be.

That's what's nice. I like that feeling where a person can be onstage and so special under the lights and in front of the applause, and then walk out the stage door, scurry into the front car of the Q train and blend into the city and no one is the wiser.

Also, if anyone can find me the photo of Ms Ragusa from the Feb 12 issue of THE NEW YORKER (p6), I'd be grateful. I can't seem to find it online.