Broadway Birthday

By Betty R. Goodstein

This was going to be something really special. I just knew it. Mom and I were going to New York. OK, we've done that before — and stayed with Aunt Lillian, which is always great. But, this would be our joint birthday celebration. Our birthdays were a few weeks apart.

We were going to stay at a hotel, and best of all we were going to a Broadway show, Othello. Paul Robeson — that marvelous voice. I still think of it to this day. It was overwhelming — my first glimpse of "Broadway."

Aunt Lillian met us for lunch (Toffanetti's — how about that!) She didn't come to the play with us. She said that was our shared treat. Paul Robeson was superb, of course. Desdemona — just unbelievable.

This was a gift that I have treasured always. I've seen many plays (some on Broadway) but this was something special. I know that she felt the same way.