strange night....

a restless sleep after attending my friend Emily's theater project entitled The Russian and the Jew at the Tank. I liked the play, was happy for Emily that it came off so well. It is a strange mixture of serious memory and the fantastical. The key plot centers around a Jewish doctor living in Brest in 1964, dealing with her career, her loves and her plan to emigrate to Israel to avoid the overt anti semitism she finds at her workplace. It is all presented in a straightforward, sober manner--the dialogue is direct and reveals the woman's vision and her life vis a vis the others who surround her. A legend interjects the action from time to time. There is nothing forced about the work, it simply comes at you and shows you what it is. I admired its directness---perhaps it lacks a kind of "clout" that would put it over the top, but what is there has integrity and at times, great sensitivity.
  Afterwards, said hello to Emily, who I have seen in many other plays, beginning with Home/Sick by the Assembly, and her husband Moti, also in the play. I was very complimentary and I think they appreciated that. Again, I was happy for Emily, she is the co-writer as well as one of the actors in the play, and I know how important it was for her to have this appreciated. Said my goodbyes and left. Tired, not sure if I wanted to "hang" and eat at a bar and lose about $15.00, or buy some stuff left at Fiarway (my only choice now) and eat it at home. Opted for the latter--a large portion of chicken salad. Tired, then went to sleep. Awoke at around 3;30 after a strange dream in which I meet Frank Crosetti, the man who was the third base coach of the Yankees during the Stengel era. He also lived on 167th street and Walton Avenue, short walking distance from the old Stadium---I remember that street as part of my "safe' childhood, an all white Jewish area at the time. In the dream, he is still alive. Why? Anyway, for some reason, I experienced a lot of anxiety as I awoke. Its always different on the days when I don't have planned work at Friends--not having an immediate focus and goal when I get up, seems to effect me a lot. Still, I am not sure where all the anxiety I faced came from.
Better now, and by not having work it means I can attend a party in Brooklyn at a bar near the old South Fourth which will be kind of a Christmas reunion. Should be meaningful--it is really cold today, but I will try to make it.
  Tomorrow, back at Friends for at least one period and then we will see about the last two days of the year. Will report soon.