today is...

Wednesday....yeah, yeah, yeah, so what? Another day trying to negotiate this strange city with its massive contradictions. Where to begin...?
Yesterday night: The Criucible---an overwhelming second act of this production has left me "brutalized".
Never has the brutality of the play, the horror of what Proctor is facing, been brought home so clearly. Von Howe (the director) seems uninterested in the psychological and erotic aspects of the play (they are there) and instead creates a brutal mano a mano between Proctor and Danforth. First production I have seen that gets Danforth (and his cohort Judge Hathorne) out from behind the table and into the front of the stage, this coupled with Ciaron Hinds unbending performance as Danforth and  Ben Whishaw's Proctor's assent from a "little man" to a hero was overwhelming. The brilliance of Miller's writing is that all of Danforth's rigid assertions as to his "right" to pass judgement on the whole town of Salem, are so strongly articulated. Miller could have created two stereotypical characters in Danforth and Hathorne, but he didn't, the result being that they are totally unflinching leaders. Would like to see a playwright in today's world taking an interest in creating a character who was a "developer" or a hedge fund investor, investing in companies that removed rent stabilized tenants from apartments. Someone who believed that what he was doing was absolutely right--totally immoral--but forcing today's audience to consider them. This is what is absent from the writing of today's "downtown theater" people for all of the ingeniousness. Left the theater with an incredible respect for Von Howe's vision of the play, he definitely was able to expand all previous productions that I have seen. Still, really admired the one at Friends in December of 2012, and remember vividly my first encounter with the play on a Wednesday afternoon in August of 1958, at the now defunct Martinique Theater on 32nd and Broadway. Play took place in a rectangle with audience on all four sides. Very passionate production directed by Word Baker (he would later direct The Fantastics) and strong performances from Noah Keen, Ford Rainey and David Metcalf. That production emphasized (or did not shy away from) the erotic content of the play; it did contain the short scene between Proctor and Abigail (it has now been cut from all versions) that began the second act where Abigail repeats her love and urge for Proctor as he tries to deny it. This made her a much stronger participant in the courtroom scene---here the Abigail was all but forgotten as the conflict between Proctor and Danforth became stronger. 
After the play, hungry, had a pizza at a nearby pizza store then decided to go to Dive Bar on 96th; felt more of a chance for contact there; I was right---a waitress named Olivia saw my program and we proceeded to talk about this production and more. Our time was cut short because of her work, but may be able to chat with her again on her other shifts.
Just got the word: Fringe training on Sunday afternoon---good!
Tonight, not sure, there is the Shakespeare at the Brick which sounds interesting, but what if it isn't. These things can vary so much in clarity and strength. Hate the idea of being stuck in the theater with something that is awful Also, might just need a rest after the strength of last night's performance.
Rest of week, still not sure, will probably see Red Hook project one of the days.
That is all for now...will report tomorrow.