So on Sunday I saw Fiddler...

 at Friends Seminary---I have to admit I was awed by its execution. Steve the director, seems to have an incredible rapport with his students---everyone was on target--also a remarkable small orchestra and orchestrations that were totally in keeping with the vision of the piece. Steve has a great group of student actors around him--many are juniors or sophmores, so he can work with them for another year or so. Could be lots of meaningful theater at Friends Seminary.

But what did the whole experience--so overwhelming---mean to me? The original musical came at such an important moment of change in my life---three weeks before I saw it for the first time, my parents and I had to admit that my matriculation at Yale School of Drama was failing---I would be forced to take a new path.--enter the "real" and, like so many others of my generation deal with the draft. But watching this production---so spot on--I realized that not just Robbins, who invented Fiddler's vision, but also Bock, Harnick and Stein, were somehow galvanized into writing music and lyrics that were so honest in creating the world of Anatevka. Then of course, my complete interest into the life and work of Robbins---trying to put together the enormous contradictions of his art and personality. Many people he dealt with had "problems" with him ("problems" is a very polite way of putting it), but. as I watched Fiddler's opening procession---so real and potent---I remember what his scene designer, Boris Aronson said something like "when he creates something like that I forgive him everything" So my fascination and memory and attempt to understand his work continues---at 14 I felt I was defined by West Side Story, do I still feel that way? And if so, what has it given me?

In the program, the director says working on the musical brought forth a lot of discussions from the students on the different issuues that the musical brings up. I would have like to have sat in on those discussions---also wder if I could have added some important information on my own. But that is not happening now---and I wonder if I was still very active at Friends, would my input be wanted. This brings us to another aspect of my situation there--have not solved the "work" problem. but should be able to enjoy the next alumni reunion which happens in about five weeks. Who am I in that world? 

So enough of this---much more to express at future times. Tutoring continues---the next two weeks should be very full as the state wide math exams for grades 3 to 8---can I get to see some plays, movies or friends? We shall see.