DSP’s Suzanne Meyers at the ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ NYC launch

Published on: 18th May 2022

By Suzanne Meyers

A full moon, a lunar eclipse and a bevy of stars made for, dare I say, a celestial evening at the Metropolitan Opera House for the New York City premiere of Downton Abbey: A New Era. Thanks to a long lasting friendship with Geneva Carr, star of Broadway and of late, CBS’s Bull, I found that once again, I was Cinderella going to the ball! How would this event compare with the Downton premiere of 2019? Why, equally grand and glamorous!

Busy hours leading up to the event found us in a mad rush to Lincoln Center only to learn that all celebrities needed a Covid test before the red carpet. As I waited for Geneva’s negative results I could spy the Gilded Age’s Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski posing against the step and repeat backdrop. Soon Geneva finished her turn and, running in heels we arrived with minutes to spare before Mr. Fellowes and the head of Focus Features came on to introduce the film. After that Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Allen Leech, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy and Elizabeth McGovern walked onstage took a bow and left!  Then we saw the movie.

Since everyone will see it, you don’t need my opinion. Just know you will laugh, cry and cheer. Oooos and Ahhs will spill forth; the ladies will wonder; where the hell is Matthew Goode? (Just as I wondered: where is Harry Hadden-Paton at tonight’s event?) True blooded Downton Abbey fans will rejoice in the clever storylines that enfold the Crawleys and their staff: tying up many questions, providing a happy ending but sadness too.

Exiting the theater I found myself behind a hirsute giant who was none other than Brett Gelman, the grotesque American in Fleabag. I would later envy his presence at Michelle Dockery’s very crammed table at the after party. But yes, on to the party, our hosts provided double decker buses for the short ride to Central Park’s Tavern on the Green. On the upper deck the atmosphere was most convivial. Even the young woman who, smacked in the head by a tree branch as we turned onto Central Park West, laughed it off!

The iconic restaurant opened onto a garden with twinkling lights, a jazz band, bars and gelato stations. Inside the delicious buffet served a variety of succulent meats and seafood, canapés were passed. We decided that first a drink was in order. I was handed a prosecco, which after a sleepless night and a day of very little food or water, was just the fuel I needed to succeed in baffling and bewildering several of the film’s stars. Let me show you how I did it.

To start I approached Kevin Doyle to admire his portrayal of Molesley, expounding on my theory that Molesley was the foil for Julian Fellowes himself. Frankly, that probably isn’t the correct use of “foil” but what does it matter when the English and Americans are separated by a common language? Confused, Mr. Doyle agreed that poor Molesley had been put through rather a lot. He allowed me a photo and with a kind smile, turned to get on with his night. For my next prey, it was Lord Grantham himself. Procuring Mr. Bonneville’s attention, I complimented his acting and especially how very well he looks.  He mentioned the lockdown had been good for him and truly, the man glows! From there I produced our photo taken together at the previous premiere and basically told him to assume the position. Photo won! I could leave him in peace.

Next I took myself to a back dining room, found a seat and ingested about three ounces of food, when suddenly a beautiful man/waiter appeared and offered me a drink. Half a glass of rosé later, it seemed a good time to speak to Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan). Compliments given, I then asked her if she was from Yorkshire herself. “No, I’m Scottish. Scotland is a country above England, it’s north.”  Now at this point the music is quite loud and I’m not sure how to proceed in yelling at her that I didn’t flunk grammar school geography, although clearly she has met plenty on this side of the pond who have. Still she gave me her likeness on camera so it wasn’t all bad. (Except for my mortification.) I hurried off to speak to Elizabeth McGovern. When my turn came, I sincerely told her how wonderful she was and how great I thought the screenplay. Folks, she pressed her hand on my arm in agreement!  A few more moments and I’m sure we would have been friends when who suddenly appears but Phyllis Logan, wanting Liz’s attention! Probably whispering to her “Stay well clear of this one, she’s as thick as two short planks glued together.” I had no choice but to shuffle away and try for snaps of the other stars. It was a lovely evening. Being a “nobody” in a room of “somebodies” is great. Some lovely journalists spoke to me. A few people mistakenly thought I was a producer. By midnight, my feet screaming for bed, and we called our car to retrieve us. Still on cloud nine, we sailed down Fifth Avenue, sharing our stories and gossip. This, the best part of the evening!

Instagram: @iamsuzannem or @3.6.9.magic