Right before Thanksgiving, I spoke with Candace Bushnell, best-selling author, journalist, and television producer. I had just seen her new, one-woman show, “Is There Still Sex in the City?” in previews and consider myself one of her biggest fans.
As most know, she wrote a column for The New York Observer that was adapted into the bestselling “Sex and the City” anthology. The book was the basis for the HBO series “Sex and the City” and two movies.
Bushnell is working tirelessly bringing her show to life each day at the Daryl Roth Theater in Manhattan. The show — written by Bushnell and directed by Lorin Latarro — follows her life and career over the decades. Based on the book of the same name, she “shares her remarkable philosophy through stories of fashion, literature, sex, and New York City while pouring cosmos in Manolos. Sometimes your most fabulous character is yourself.”
For this interview, I focused on her show, which opened on November 13 in previews. Here is just a part of our conversation.
Run, don’t walk to catch her on stage.
Why were you compelled, after all these years, to bring your personal story to a live audience? What was the driving force?
This show is a culmination of my work of many years. Since 1996, I have been talking with audiences in many formats, including lectures about my experiences as a writer and a woman – and never could put it together in a way that I truly wanted. I finally found an opportunity to do that with this show. I also knew I had a major message to share about life, work, relationships, and just being a woman and wanted to take all my stories and share them onstage; but it wasn’t until now that it all came together and I had a chance to share my life, all it’s complications, victories, and challenges.
Why do you think so many women really relate to your stories, your life?
For me, it’s all about doing the best work you can do, being authentic — not shaping the material for the audience but rather being true to my own voice, feeling what I feel and then, only then, hoping the audience connects with the material. That is how I always work.
The truth is, so many women go through the same stages, children, work, and figuring out who we are. We all are navigating similar things. Was that a major goal for you in sharing your life story?
Yes, I think there is something for everyone in the show depending on where they are in life. I wanted to share my stories to demonstrate that we all may make choices, but we must keep going and roll with all the punches that inevitably come along the way.
Tell me about how female friendships have been central in your life and your work. It clearly is a major theme in the show.
The importance of female friendships can’t be overstated for women. All the things we struggle with and try to deal with in life means you need a village and friendships are a critical part of that village.
If you get divorced at age 50, like I did, you may need to reconnect with the friends you had when you were single or go out there and meet new people. Your oldest and best friends though are consistent and should be there regardless of marital status. The power of these friendships in my life have been so important in facing life’s challenges and celebrating its successes.
I know you have nothing to do with HBO Max’s “And Just Like That,” the next chapter of “Sex and the City.” How do you feel about the reboot?
I am excited to see it but yes, I am not involved with it. I think it’s great it’s coming back though and showing different ages and stages of the characters’ lives.
During the show you brilliantly demonstrated changing society, culture, and perceptions from the 1970s to the present – including even throwing out hair scrunchies to the audience as a nod to the ’80s! I especially loved that part. What is the underlying message that comes along with these seemingly innocuous hair accessories? What do they symbolize for you?
I think the scrunchie represents the freedom to not have to worry about our hair so much! I wear them every night, even now. That’s what I use to keep my hair in place.
Looking in the rear-view mirror and ahead, what do you truly hope is the one thing this show achieves?
I hope audiences and especially women realize you must always find a way forward and be true to yourself, stand up for yourself, and remember to embrace every chapter of life.
Do you still drink Cosmos?
Yes. And Earl Grey tea!
What are your plans for the holidays this season?
I always get together with girlfriends, and always Nicole Miller. That’s a tradition for me.
If there is one wish you have for your show, what is it?
I hope women are inspired to keep going and thrive regardless of the challenges that come their way. There are always new things to happen, we should dig deep, cherish our old friends, and remember, there is still sex in the city — even if it means redefining what this means at different ages and figuring out what makes it all come together. It’s symbolic for so many things that are sexy. Sex is metaphorical in the title — always has been — so many things can be sexy.
“Is There Sex in the City?” was published in 2019 and takes place in New York City and a fictional place called “The Village” based on the Hamptons, where Candace has spent many months over the years writing books, tv pilots and plays, biking, cooking, and taking walks on the beach, and, of course, rolling with the punches with all her girlfriends. Tickets for “Is There Still Sex in the City?” are available through February 2022.
