getting through...

the weekend. So Saturday was cold, and I was tired. but had to get out in the evening. Lincoln Center seemed the best choice---close enough and mostly indoors. Thought that a small crowd might be there for the evening performances---first idea I got that that was not so was when at the Met Box office I could not even buy a Family Circle ticket for Cav and Pag---had to settle for standing room. Then, as I waited for the Met to open, I hung out at the D Geffen hall. Amazing! the place was full of people. People of all ages. None of them seemed threatened or exasperated by the cold weather. Earlier in the day, Mayor de Blasio had stated that the best thing for people to do would be not to go out tonight. Looking at the throngs of people at both venues, I thought to myself" Well, his credibility with these people is certainly not very strong." So, off to the Met at Cav.
     A really remarkable performance---David McVickar the director has stripped down the stage into a square with chairs around it. At the very moment the music begins, the stage already in view, a woman crosses the stage. Who is she?  What does she have to do with the opera?  She sits alone, apart from the other chairs, soon to be inhabited by townsmen, all in black. So it is Santuzza, and the staging begins and ends with her---this is definitely her story. The singer was wonderful--the production meticulous in the way it brought people in and out. Luisi conducted a wonderfully lyrical performance, strings caressed the music to the utmost, it was as if he was undercutting the macho in the music. I was totally involved with the performanc---so glad I was there. When it was over I decided to leave---the emotion that I felt from Cav was too strong---could not sit through another intense verismo opera, hope to come back and buy a standing room and just see Pagliacci in the next week. Also, wanted to get home before the brutal cold got worse, and was hungry.
   Sunday, no tutoring---did nothing (and not very well) until took off to see a 4 P.M. performance of O Earth, a play that my friend Kristen was in. An interesting work begins with a riff on Our Town, then moves into other areas, some garish, some absurd. Loved the cast, and the constant surprises that the writer gave to the audience. But some scenes went on to long, the content could not hold up the concept. Final ten minutes kind of arduous---happy when it ended, but ultimately respect the work a lot. Said "hi" to Kristen afterwards, she invited me to hang out with her some time in the near future in Crown Heights, where she now lives. Felt good.
   Left HERE, cold the coldest--looked for Elephant and Castle to have a meal---it is now gone! Finally at at Greek place near apartment, overpriced but necessary that time. Returned home, went to bed (soon after)
  Monday, another free day, play at Abrons Arts planned for evening. But what of the afternoon.?
 Finally settled on a movie at the Bunin. Mountains etc.  a really moving and beautifully filmed
 movie from China. Just what I needed---returned home and then left for Abrons a little after six.
 Trip itself was an adventure, missed the local, and for some reason thought that if I took the N or R to Canal, the walk would not be much. Little did I know I was in for a surprise. From Canal and Lafayette to Grand and Pitt---pretty far. On the way, as I slushed through the rain, I checked out the new restaurants and a few new bars--made the trip interesting, but still it was long. Finally the play, a take on Mourning Becomes Electra by O'Neill. Stripped down to its essentials, four actors, of different ethnic identities play the all white Mannons. There are some deconstructed visions, but for the most part, scenes are played straight. Most of what we saw was the first act--second and third cut a lot. Thank God. Interesting and well staged, but what really is the point? Last twenty minutes seemed repetitive. Happy when it was over. Saw a few friends, but declined invite to hang out at nearbye bar after the play. Tired, had to get home---no heat in the middle of the night, but hot water on---see what happens tonight.
  So there is the long weekend. Will report further on tonight's "adventures".