I saw A Steady Rain on Thursday evening.

It stars, as you undoubtedly know, Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. They filled the seats. They are A-list actors.

Last week in previews A Steady Rain became the highest grossing non-musical play in Broadway history based on a comparative week’s receipts because, let’s face it, of Hugh and Dan.

It blew me away. I didn’t get to spend my hour and a half (no intermission) watching Hugh and Dan. I got to spend it with two stressed-out, over-worked Chicago cops named Denny and Joey whose lives and decisions were thrown in my face.

Hugh Who? Dan Who?

It was all Denny and Joey.

I rarely — if ever — get sucked into a play. Movies, yes, I’m fair game for those. Books, absolutely. But plays, while I love them, not so much. Maybe it’s due to my bad eyesight. I can never get close enough to see what’s really going on.

I had a good seat Thursday night — and that helped. But it was, frankly, the actors who drew me in, who made me forget who I thought I’d come to see, and who became those cops.

Pretty amazing.

Well worth the trip, research aside. But in the aftermath, I discovered that subliminally I did some research as well — about intensity and focus and motivation. Things that will help me not just on George, but on all the heroes to come.

There is talk that it may go to London next year — with Dan and Hugh — they hope. I’d be interested to see how Londoners (and those further north, from, say, Lincolnshire, who live with C.A.T.S — like, um, Sid) react.

It’s a very American play, for all that Hugh and Dan are not. The sensibilities are American and the cops are definitely American. It will be interesting to hear what people think. Maybe they will only go for Hugh and Dan and that’s all they’ll see.

I hope not.

I spent the day walking miles around the Metropolitan Museum of Art wondering if George might do that, too. Don’t think so, but who knows? I think he enjoyed the armor exhibit as a boy.

And now I’m back at my friends’ house and counting the minutes until we head out to our Ethiopian dinner, followed by the evening with Hugh and Dan.

Kate Walker just sent me an email telling me to do lots of good intensive research. No fear, I wrote back. Will be paying deep and unrelenting attention, believe me.

Reporting back tomorrow, I hope.

I have begun blogging again once a month at Tote Bags ‘n’ Blogs – and the 22nd of the month is “my” day.

So you can stop over there and visit me if you want. I’m talking about the up side of research. In this case the very very very up side — which entails a trip to New York City tomorrow.

I’m working on George’s book, so I’m going to be prowling around Columbia University and, I hope, meeting with a physicist to ground George a bit (not that George isn’t grounded. Dear heavens, he’s as grounded as they come).

And then I’m going to a play.

Kate Walker wants to go to the play with me. She’s been machinating and muttering because she’s trying to figure out how to get across the pond and do away with Nancy the cat slayer and take her place (Nancy is coming with me).

Thursday I am going to see A Steady Rain on Broadway. Have you heard of it?

It’s a two-man production — over-lapping monologues, I hear. Stark, disturbing, tough — about two Chicago cops and the night that changed their lives and their friendship.

Two Chicago cops played by Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig.

Do you think I’ll even blink?

Now you see why Kate wants to come along.

I sent her a clipping last week that said they are considering bringing it to London. So she may get a chance to see it there. Hope so.

In the meantime, I’lll be enjoying it on her behalf — and anyone else who wants me to enjoy it on theirs as well.

When I get back we’ll celebrate with a Hugh and Dan contest, so keep an eye out starting October 1st.

Sadly you won’t win either Hugh or Dan, but you’ll get a chance to win a couple of DVDs starring you know who and some good books and other treats.

Check back!