NR: Are you afraid you're going to come home and each day there's going to be more and more e-mail, and you're going to have trouble getting to it?

RB: (laughing) It has gotten a little heavy since I started the show. I think there were 31 messages this morning when I downloaded it. For me that was a lot.

NR: You did two shows today. If you go home tonight and you get another 31 messages that people expect you to answer, do you see where this could get to be a problem at some point?

RB: Generally, my rules about the site in terms of answering email, are that I don't become a pen-pal. I will respond to somebody but if it gets to the point where somebody is writing to me a number of times and asking me a lot of questions, I just let it phase out. Sandra's offered to help me and I'm probably going to have to hire somebody to sort of help me go through it. I will always answer everything personally because I really believe in that. It isn't a case with this show - this show sells because of its fans. My fans are not necessarily what keep this show alive, but for my CD, that is what keeps my CD alive - my fans. I feel that I always have a second to express gratitude to people who have shown an interest in something that I do, or who have taken the time to write and say, "I like this. This meant something to me." I can always find time for that. Like you said, it's getting heavier than I expected because of the exposure from the show. It's pretty manageable for me at this point. The nice thing about this show is it attracts some wonderful enthusiastic people who are delightful to talk to. Let's be real about this - this is the best job in the world! How many jobs are there where when you're done with your job, people stand up and applaud and cheer for you? Then on top of that, wait to personally tell you that they thought you were wonderful. That's great and I'm thrilled about that. I'll always find time for that.

NR: What do you think the League can do to keep the buzz going?

RB: That's a tough question. I think that word of mouth has always been the strongest thing this show has ever had going for it, and not just with the League, but just with the "average joe." What keeps this show alive is that people have a genuinely good time. This is a fun show. This isn't a show for people who have come to learn something, or who have come to elevate themselves, although I believe those things happen through this show. This is a show for people who've had a rotten, lousy day and get to come and they're smiling by the end of it.

NR: (laughing) It's funny you should say that because that's what happened to my family. We had all had a rotten day the first time we came. It was raining and we were stuck in traffic. We had about five minutes to eat a slice of pizza before we ran into the theater and I remember all four of us just sitting in our seats and thinking, "OK, entertain us!" By the end of the show we were smiling and laughing and thinking about when we could come back.

RB: That is unique of anything on Broadway. I haven't seen The Lion King...I haven't seen everything on Broadway so that's not fair for me to say that, but this is totally fun and that's a very rare thing. Shows like Les Miz or Miss Saigon are very heavy. Phantom is very heavy and the lead character is a wacko. All that stuff makes you crazy. This show is about fun and God bless it for that. I think Broadway's been aching for this. This is a remedy for what's been wrong with theater for a number of years. I'm thrilled to see it and I want to see more of it. This is where I think theater should be headed - towards things that people truly enjoy, can laugh at, and gives them some great tunes that they walk out humming at the end of the night. It seems to me that that's exactly what Broadway needs.

NR: So, what do you do to try and keep yourself sane?

RB: Well, love helps. My baby keeps me sane because she keeps me rooted in the real world.

Sandra: (laughing) He means the dog!

RB: (laughing) My dog keeps me sane. My kids keep me totally normal. It's been heady stuff for me coming into this and having the attention that I've gotten out of this. What's really kept me at an even keel is that I have a lot of people who really love me and care about me in my life that I'm very close to. They have been very much there for me to appreciate everything that has happened for me, but at the same time remind me, "You're just a guy. You're just my dad." That keeps me sane.

NR: That's wonderful. Thank you so much.

RB: You're welcome.

Ron does a beautiful job in the role of Percy and, not to contradict his daughters, but he's more than "just a guy" - "he's a really nice guy." I'm thrilled to see that SP is in his very capable hands and I encourage everyone who has been hesitating to put those fears aside and see the latest interpretation of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Questions suggested by:

Gillian, Andrea Barranti, Lois and Elizabeth Colpo, Beth Riley, Andrew Reith, Laura Cutler, Aimee Cherry, Ann Koehler, Stephanie C., Kristina S., Jan Combopiano, Karen K., Anne Teitelbaum, Leona Hoegsberg, Susan and Lauren Cassidy, Vi Janaway, Mary Alice Davis, Judy P., Renee Girard, Trisha Petty, CJL, Lisa George, Susan Luchey, Stephanie Henkin, Amy Lovett, Ladybel, Ruth Farco, Mary Helfrick, Katherine Trottier, Clare Fischer-Davies, Tom Robson, Jennifer Blaylock, Cathy Lemieux, Ken Miller, Michelle, Cheryl Glennon, Bec Finkelstein, Chris Miller

Interview conducted and photographs by Nancy Rosati.