so it's over.....

(the summer, that is)---I always see the Labor Day weekend as the end of my summer "break". So how am I feeling? Pretty good---this weekend is wide open for me, and that is the way I like it. Might just want to read, read, and read. But what? Am in 42nd street library now, looking for books. Just chose some essays by Jerome Charyn---I think a few are about growing up in what we now call the "south Bronx" , a neighborhood that sent students to both the schools that my father and mother taught in. Always important and stimulating for me to read about those neighborhoods when they were basically all Jewish. Let's see what he has to say.
  Looking for one more book----at home had some Elizabethan plays--I started the Duchess of Malfi yesterday, but don't know if they will sustain me. Anyway, one more book I hope.
  Last night---chose to see Fiddler, Miracle of Miracles at the Quad. Good choice---I enjoyed it, felt filled up by it, and knew most of the talking heads who recalled the original. That was in 1964--- my "horrible" year at Yale School of Drama. I actually saw the original Fiddler three times in its first year---with three different Tevya's (Mostel, Luther Adler and Paul Lipson) At that time I really worshiped it. Never will forget the first time that opening tableau in Tradition came at me. Nothing like it before---that was Robbins' genius. The documentary showed many scenes from other productions---most more recent---there seems to be know tv memories of the original or the 1976 revival which also starred Mostel. What was interesting was how much darker these productions were---was there different way of looking at Fiddler?  The original production---even with its ending of displacement still had a really buoyant feeling. The final talking heads of the movie stressed the sadness of the ending and linked it to what is happening today, Understand that, but are they pushing it too much. Anyway, it was interesting to see a few scenes from the most recent Broadway revival, which I did not see. Its different staging and in some cases line readings, surprised me--as did some scenes from the movie, which I also did not see. In any case, I wanted to share some of my memories of the original and some things that I remember about it that are not in the documentary. Will this happen---don't count on it, but it is a nice idea.
  So, wish me luck for the weekend--hope to get some good reading intake some amazing walks, and follow at least the first two Yankee-Oakland games this weekend. Speaking of walks, after the movie I walked from the Quad on 13th street to the Times Square Station before getting on the subway to go home. Why? My stomach was filled, so no place to stop in and have a beer, and I was restless. Seemed to be a good idea since I slept well last night (better than most nights) and am pretty rested today. Wish me luck!