Whew!

Just have spent much time editing Richard Payne's interview with me, to be published in the Friends newspaper. Kind of pleased with it---his reporting is very accurate. Expected to begin this post with a statement of being "free"---no work today at Friends, and kind of enjoying the space that I experience, but the interview has taken up much of my time at the computer. Still, a few reports re the weekend or necessary.
Saturday evening---returned home from the library, rested a bit, then off to Clinton Hill for what I thought was going to be a take on Schubert's Wintereise, but turned out to be his earlier long song cycle, Die Schone Mullerin. (the maid of the mill, so to speak). As per last year with Wintereise party, songs were given out to about 18 different people,each one did their "take" on the song, or in some cases, just played it. A strange evening, not too many people there that I knew well, sat right above one of the actresses in Dave Malloy's pieces, I had had a brief conversation with her after
Dave's Ghost music play at Bushwick Starr about a year ago, but she did not recognize me (no surprise) I could easily have re-introduced myself but the two guys sitting adjacent to me seemed to know her well, and she spent most of her time talking to them, so I let it go. Many of the "takes" put me off, they seemed to distort Schubert's vision, rather than enlarge on it, some seemed a bit self congradulatory---lots of thoughts going through my own mind as I was watching it---on the other hand, it is clear that the three pianists who were the raconteurs of the evening, and who had conceived of it, were more interested in a spirit of fun and celebration then a real intrusion into the work and head of Schubert. Left feeling a little sour, but, remember, the overall idea of this was to raise money for Jack---and I really admire what Alec is doing, his vision is inclusive of all races and classes, and so I was glad to contribute.
Sunday, after a session in Harlem, was tired but decided to go to see Slut at Dixon Place, very glad that I did. Got there just as the first play was starting, which meant that I had an hour to kill. A walk around the lower east side, got me through, walked from Chrystie to Ludlow from Delancey to
Rivington. Not a great deal of ground to cover, but very interesting, already so many changes since the last time I was down there (probably a few months ago) new stores restaurants, bars (of course), came back in time to join the waiting list, ultimately got in just as the play was beginning.
  I found Slut a very strong piece of theater---it is totally focused, as it describes the ordeal of a high school rape victim. Beautifully acted by a group of high school students, Willa, the student from Friends, very good in her medium size role. Afterwards a nice discussion, then said hello to Willa, her seventh grade sister Josie (it was good to see her there) and Katie Capiello, the artistic director of the group who also brilliantly directed the piece. I had known Katie since around 2006; she was part of a group of actors who performed in a really good production of Suburbia---she was a friend of my friend Nyla, and so it was good to see her and be recognized by her.
  Left feeling very upbeat, had a good meal with Robin at the hotel (I overate, much stop that) then took a nice walk down fifth avenue from 35th through 57th street, have not been on that street in a long time, remember when there were several bookstores on that street? Walk was good, stopped in and browsed at a Barnes and Nobles around 48th street, now the only bookstore one can find there.
Returned home and went to bed.
That is all for now...