Speed-the-Plow and Meeting Elisabeth Moss

Photo via Speed-the-Plow official site

So, Roberta and I saw Speed-the-Plow on Broadway, starring our very own Elisabeth Moss.

Now, I work in New Jersey, very near NYC, and I caught a bus into town scheduled to arrive at 6:50. I figured, even if I ran late, I’d still be fine for an 8pm curtain. It is to laugh!

While I was still on the bus, Roberta phoned me to tell me that she’d just met Elisabeth and yes, we were invited backstage after the show. Which made us, y’know, squeal.

Anyway, the play was fantastic. As great as Elisabeth and Jeremy Piven were, Raúl Esparza kind of stole the show. I mean, genius. (I’d seen him on Broadway before, in The Rocky Horror Show eight years ago.) The writing, the humor, the energy, just a top-notch theatrical experience.

And then…backstage.

We met Elisabeth and her mom after the show, and I know it’s a cliché, but what NICE people. Roberta and I had different first impressions. She was surprised at how little Elisabeth seemed, whereas I’d expected her to be tiny; everyone on Mad Men seems to tower over Peggy. In fact, she seems to be about my height (I’m guessing she’s 5’4″) and, while thin and lithe, she isn’t a wee little peanut at all. In fact, she exudes strength and confidence as well as sweetness.

She seemed genuinely sorry she couldn’t attend our party. (So are we!) She promised us a sit-down interview in the near future, but on the fly, here’s what we learned.

She is thrilled that her Broadway debut is a Mamet play, and she is equally thrilled with her co-stars. She mentioned Esparza’s energy (he jumps and jitters all over the stage). It has been six years since she last performed on stage.

Roberta asked if she had any crushes while working on The West Wing (because of course you can’t ask about Mad Men crushes, it would be talking out of school). She pointed out she was 17 when she started on the show, and they were all too old for her to consider, except Dulé Hill, and in that case, she knew his girlfriend (now wife).

I asked about a line that stuck with me, Ken saying that Peggy has “such an annoying voice.” What’s it like for an actress to hear such things about herself? Elisabeth responded, first, that it was a good line, and she loves a good line, and second, that much worse things have been said about Peggy (lobster tail in specific). Basically, she knows Matt Weiner has high regard for her and so she doesn’t take it personally.

She loves the hair cut! She sure did hate that ponytail. And she agrees with the Basketcases: Having a gay friend is exactly what Peggy needed.

Watch this space for a full interview very soon.