welcome to manhattan

​I made my first trip into Manhattan since COVID. My daughter wanted to see Sean Hayes in “Good Night Oscar” and her husband wasn’t interested.  Initially she was talking about an evening performance, but sensing my hesitation, we went the Sunday following her return from vacation on Long Beach Island. My daughter selected the restaurant, Ci Siamo, which is behind the Daniel P. Moynihan Train Station, convenient to Penn Station where we arrived. Although it was a hot and sticky day, the walk was quick and there was a slight breeze.
 
Upon our arrival we were seated in an open dining room with a view of The Manhattan West Plaza. Spacing between the tables was ample, the chairs comfortable and the table had a nice proportion for two people. We began with a cool non-alcoholic drink for each of us. I selected the Phony Negroni made with juniper, bitters and bubbles ($14) and my daughter had Tonio made with Italian bitter, grapefruit, elderflower and tonic ($14). Both were delicious and refreshing

​Instead of selecting an appetizer and entree each, we opted to select several dishes to share. Insalate Di Mare was a perfect choice for a warm day. It had a mustard dressing, basil and garlic ($17), perfect on a hot day. Ci Siamo is known for their Caramelized Onion Torta with a balsamic drizzle and Pecorino Toscana topping ($25), it was scrumptious. Our last entree was Cavatelli allo Scoglio with crab, chili and vermouth ($34). The cavatelli were very petite and delicate. The sauce was creamy and very flavorful.
 
For dessert my daughter had an espresso and I ordered a coffee. This time I wasn’t going to share my dessert with anyone as I ordered hazelnut gelato and my daughter had goat milk lemon ($10). The portion size was adequate, very creamy and had lots of hazelnut flavor. The goat milk lemon was slightly tart and tasty. Overall, a wonderful dining experience.
 
For our walk to the Belasco Theatre, where the show is playing, we walked up Ninth Avenue, which wasn’t too crowded before crossing over to W44th. Unfortunately, there was one small disturbance on the street, which we walked around to avoid. The air was redolent of marijuana, making the already heavy air unpleasant for me.
 
The play was wonderful and Sean Hayes was outstanding. The show is about the late Oscar Levant who was an actor, pianist and interpreter of George Gershwin’s music. Mr. Levant suffered both from mental health issues and prescription medicine addiction. The play looks back on the first night of the “Tonight Show with Steve Allen,” which began broadcasting from Los Angeles after moving from New York. The play delves into his health issues and how it affects his appearance on the show and home life. Sean Hayes interpretation of Mr. Levant’s mannerism and speaking voice was magnificent. The supporting cast includes his wife, June (Emily Bergl), Steve Allen (Ben Rappaport), NBC head Bob Sarnoff (Peter Grosz), his nurse from the hospital (Marchant Davis), NBC page (Alex Wyse) and George Gershwin (George Zdrojeski).
 
I never realized what a great pianist Oscar Levant was nor his association with George Gershwin. As a classically trained pianist, Sean Hayes rendition of Rhapsody in Blue suite was mesmerizing! This was a wonderful play that I hope you get a chance to see before it closes next month.