just answered a....

facebook comment from my friend Susan, who saw Hamilton yesterday afternoon, and was "disturbed" that the audience was 100% white. What does that mean. I suggested that anyone paying over $200.00 for Hamilton (that is a low estimate) think about making a contribution to a community organization in a poor community for a similar amount. I wonder how she will respond. Well, we will see.
Yesterday, got a lot accomplished---went to Sarah's reading of a wild and wacky play--nice to see her again and Rolle, an actor who was in one of my favorite theater events this year, Beardo. What after, well I felt tired, but after a slice of two boots pizza, found the energy to get to EST (Ensemble Studio Theater) for the one acts. Got on the waiting list and got in easily. In the time before I was called, I was able to wander around the neighborhood, which has gone from a lower class "working person" neighborhood into an amazingly large group of luxury high rises. My God! How many of them do we need? Are there really enough people to move into them? And an amazing growth in the high end (what else is there) restaurants that surround 52nd-54th street between 10th and 11th. Where does all the money to support these restaurants come from (similarly on my way home, ninth avenue between 55th and 56th was also packed with restaurants, bars and people---on a Wednesday evening) ? This is like a phenomena that we have never seen.
Now the five one acts---on the whole very disappointing. The first one was irrelevant and obvious, the second, had a great buildup and two beautifully understated performances from the lead, but it just ended---for absolutely no reason. The play that my friend Eric was in was okay, but underformed---it could have explored the two characters in far more depth then it did. Fourth play about a Muslim teen ager who finds her identity after she is terrorized on the subway was earnest and had some intense moments---and finally the last one, I actually liked that one the most because the writing was edgy and harsh---something lacking in the other four plays. But this one too, seemed to simply stop in its tracks, when there was more to say.
Afterwards I said hello to Eric, who was sitting in the lobby, He is a really nice guy and was very happy to see me. We talked for a while--- I did not tell him my feelings about the play he was in or the evening. It was a good feeling knowing that he appreciated my coming to see him---this was the first play he was in in about 25 years. I hope this leads to more work for him.  Still, I couldn't help comparing the energy at EST with the on stage energy at the project that my friend Hannah was at HERE. Much more imagination and forcefulness of vision in the piece that Hannah participated in. The spark that I find in most "downtown"  theater work was missing from EST.
Today, I think I will try to see the play at Clubbed Thumb-that will leave Friday free for Anthony's movie, and Sunday free for ----well, maybe for HEAT at BAM. Lots of interesting movie choices in the city this weekend and beyond. Would like to check some of them out, without going "bonkers"
So that is it---I am off! Will report tomorrow.