The Breakfast Table

Leo’s Halloween Get-Up

Dear Stephen–

Just spoke to Nick Hytner. Told him I am traumatized that none of this mail is reaching you. He tells me screens are meant to make one unhappy. Frankly, I prefer newspapers. I promise I will have this down by tomorrow. Nick was also interested to see that the successful new show of the season for NBC is Will and Grace, about a gay man and a straight woman. I haven’t seen it. But I wondered if it is anything like the Object of My Affection? That makes me think the world has changed in a good way. But more important is that according to Neal Travis in the New York Post , Leo Di Caprio was able to attend Halloween parties in his Kiss mask. According to Neal, “He liked his get-up so much, he kept it on later uptown at Zocalo restaurant, where he happily signed menus in the name of The Boss.” If only we had known.

As far as I can make out the most important news of the day is that Miss Piggy’s perfume “Moi” has just arrived. Also rehearsals for Annie Get Your Gun begin today starring Bernadette Peters. I also found myself listed in the New York Post described in a gossip column as Wendy The Heidi Chronicles Wasserstein. Therefore I have decided there is something profound that Miss Piggy, Annie and I have in common.

Am most interested to see that the cover of the Daily News is that Friday is the worst day to ride in a taxi cab. I have no idea why we need to know that specifically today. Couldn’t it have waited for Friday?

I didn’t know until today about the Rothko estate and shenanigans at the Marlborough Gallery. Was quite interested that his daughter became a doctor and the son a psychologist. If I had children they would probably become root canal men & women. Finally, I was put off by front-page article in the Times about women lawyers who work “part-time” which actually seemed to mean without overtime, and stopped eating lunch or talking to become more efficient. It sounded like Mommy track from hell. I suppose it’s one way to fit everything into the day. But surely the ultimate point is not to be unable to have a usual conversation. Hope this reaches you.

Wendy