Sunday mid afternoon...cold...

in Brooklyn, not sure what the future brings---how do I get from Grand Army Plaza to Wycoff Street in Bushwick, yes, it is all Brooklyn, but a long way away---may take train to Utica, then bus that will either take me to Williamsburg (south fourth) or to Broadway where I can catch another bus to Bushwick (short ride). Did not expect it to be so cold today, hopefully more of a walking day. Doesn't not look like this will happen, unless when I leave the library it will have sufficiently warmed up. Possible, but not probable.
Friends is officially on Spring break for two weeks, which mean no waking up at 5, wondering if I will get a phone call. Time will be much more spread out for me, that is a good thing. Still overburdened with choices of how to spend it, and what entertainment to see.
Yesterday, when sessions were canceled,  got a chance to go to the Theater twice, a rarity for me in these days. Afternoon at Signature, decided to see The Liquid Plain, at last minute, had not thought I would go, but it was available at 1, and Chuck Mee's play was not (sad, I really like his work). Got my ticket, stood in the vast lobby of the Signature, marveling at the amount of people sitting around waiting for the three plays to begin. How did this all happen, how did we evolve from a world in the seventies in which theater was struggling to stay alive and non profits were considered radical and risk taking, to this point today, where there is so much demand for theater, and a complacency and repetitiveness has taken over the not for profits. Not for profit theater growth mirrors the growth in corporate and financial strength of the past forty years, whether you like it or not.
Still Liquid Plain had some clumsy moments in the writing but the overall effect was very moving. I admire Naomi Wallace for her vision, scope and passion, which came across most of the play. Great acting by the woman who played Demby (her name is too complicated to remember, she is of nigerian descent), and the four or five other leads as well. Very moved at the ending, the audience gave it a strong round of applause---basically glad I went.
Evening, off to HERE to watch an adaptation of The Idiot, with my friend and bartender Merlin in it. HERE is a strange place, maybe because the artistic director was responsable for most of this adaptation, anyway, she knew everyone there, except me, a little bit alienating---one hour presentation was straightforward, meaningful and had good performances, especially from the actor playing Mishkin, Daniel Kublick. Saw Merlin afterwards, will try to visit him at South Fourth on Tuesday, after what looks like three solid hours of tutoring.
Time to get on with the rest of the afternoon, will hopefully continuen reporting tomorrow....