In the beginning of June I checked my Yahoo Alerts and found out that Albert "Gordo" Insinnia would be staring in a play called CLEAN very soon. Having missed his stunning performance as "Juan" in Trolls I knew I had to see this show. I dropped him an email saying that I'll be coming to his show and we agree to maybe grab a coffee or drink afterwards.

The night of June 29th finally arrives. It's pouring rain in NYC but I manage to get to the Urban Stage theatre just in time. It's a small venue, but modern. The stage was empty save for a projection screen. Albert had mentioned the "fun production values" so I couldn't wait to see what the company would do with this bleak canvas of a stage.

The show begins. CLEAN is a complex show to describe. Basically it's about the love between a father (Daniel, Albert's role) and a daughter (Digby, Sarah Viccellio) and how far she'll go to save him from prison. The first half takes place on a LIRR train. Now I practically lived on the LIRR in my Undergraduate College days so I got that whole concept. Not everyone in the audience did. Oh well. The production used that projection screen very well. Filling it with interesting images related to the scene going on.  I kept expecting Albert to show up in the first hour but he did not. He did show up after the intermission and I was really impressed. I was expecting to hate Daniel for being a crook but in reality he wasn't such a bad guy. There was a nice vibe between Albert and Ms. Viccellio. Some of the props were distracting (blow up dolls? a copper robot?) But all in all, not a bad play. It wasn't as horrible as I was led to believe.

Show's over and I wait outside. (Mercifully it had stopped raining.) A short while later, Albert leaves and calls my name. We said hello and I was relieved when he didn't freak out over how young I was. He introduces me to the rest of the cast and then we go to this bar a few blocks away.

 I'll take this time now to say that Albert looks damn good, considering it's been many years since my favorite film was shot. He's a man who's comfortable within his own skin. He's warm, open and enthusiastic. Any questions about the movie I asked, he was more than willing to answer. Stories flowed freely.  Real nice guy.

We ordered a couple of drinks then we chat. Here are some tidbits Albert was kind enough to share:

• He and James Van Patten became really good friends that summer. They had some adventures--fun for them (not so fun for the crew or Van Patten's father.)

• He was supposed to play Bobby. The original script had Bobby as a skater but also more of a musician/singer. (Albert got his start on Broadway in musical theatre.)

• The cast shakeup continued. Albert was playing Hoppy and Van Patten was Gordo but in the early days of the production that got flipped to the way we have it now.

• His introduction in the film. You remember, the scene of Gordo making out with some blonde on top of the dumpster. Well that was his idea! I followed that up by asking him if he had some hand in picking out the extra? He did.

• He improvised a lot of the pick up lines in scenes with Lana (Kimberly Beck.)

• Said the Excalibur belonged to ROLLER BOOGIE choreographer David Winters.

• Several rinks/buildings were used all over LA for filming.

• During the filming of the Garden Party, Beverly Garland recommended a change in one of Albert's lines (the one about the hors d'oeuvres.) It was originally supposed to be "hors ovaries". Some of the scenes took forever to nail because Albert and Jimmy couldn't stop laughing.

• In the last scene (before Terry/Bobbie say goodbye) those are his own pants.

I am sure there was more. But those were the most memorable things I remembered.

A fellow cast mate from CLEAN, Karl Jacob, joined us. They talked about managers/agents and various other acting related topics which I found fascinating.  Albert's been in the biz for a long time so one gets the impression he really does know what he talking about.  I still can't believe he was in the original Broadway cast of GREASE! Incredible.

Karl left and I was done with my Corona so we wrapped things up. He stressed again how he enjoyed the website and I thanked him for all the support he has shown me. Albert walked me to Penn Station and I bid him adieu.

Albert Insinnia is a wonderful human being and I was so honored that he took time out of his busy schedule to chat with me. Thanks Albert!

- Susan Miller