oh, my tummy! Yeah, can't seem to get that together--will have to wait it out.
Saturday: rest of the day---good conversations with Ben B when we met at the Public---went through all the theater reports and opinions of the last few months, while Ben has been away performing Small Mouth Sounds. Very fulfilling. Returned to the apartment in plenty of time--then walked to Ars Nova---from where I live---76th street and West End, to the theater at 54th and 10th. I really think walking is the best way to get there---maybe one can catch a bus on 72nd and West End that will drop me off at 10th and 57th, but oh, that waiting---seems like walking is a better alternative. Anyway, play be my friend (maybe acquaintance is a better word) Christine was a haphazard group of scenes, some realistic, some fantasy--that never quite congealed. Good and sensitive intentions but the work needs a lot more discipline and focus, and never gets around to saying what it really is about. Still, I like going to Ars Nova, and had a nice talk with my friend Jess who was in the play (the real reason I went) after it was over. Actually the longest talk we have had. When it was over, got a slice of pizza, then toyed with the idea of going home---did not--instead went to Lansdowne Road, where I was warmly treated---had a beer, and then became hungry.Prices there are expensive---still did not want to go anywhere else, so chose the only item that was reasonable---a large guacamole plate. Very good, and had some fun watching the football and basketball game on their large and clear televisions---but still overspent by about $11.00. Left about 11:20, luckily a number 11 bus was coming through, just as i was leaving---so got home quickly afterwards. That was Saturday.
Sunday---most of the day spent preparing for my "date" with my friend Jenni, the young woman I had met at Standings the Sunday before. An avowed Sea Hawk fan (she was raised in Seattle), our plan was to meet about 3:45. grab a place at the bar, and enjoy what I thought would be a close game between the Sea Hawks and the Rams. Well,it turns out Standings was packed, so Jenni and I had to stand by the door, and look up at the screen. At the same time, the Rams ravished the Sea Hawks--it was really no game at all. But Jenni and I talked constantly for about two hours---it was fun, but she is leaving for Seattle to live on Wednesday. Still, it was nice to hang with her---will return to Standings for other games, and friendly bartenders, Sam and Aaron.
Stomach was bothering me, but I was hungry---stopped off at the old Greek diner on Broadway near 8th street for a fairly decent BLT. The cost, with tip---$11.50---where are we going with this? Then headed home, went to sleep early, but woke up around 12, had trouble returning to sleep---you know what that means, cityboy. Yeah, a tough night. But here I am, ready to go for the rest of the day--at least one session and then (hopefully) off to Bushwick for a party at Starr Bar with the Bushwick Starr group. Looking forward to it.
One more thing. Yesterday I made a strong decision not to picket outside the apartment house of the Mayor's Deputy Commissioner on Housing. I usually support BAN on all their actions, but this one I could not---why? A little too close to home---perhaps I disagreed with targeting the woman, even though she represents an odious vision of housing for the future of the city. Well, hope to participate in other BAN events (maybe even one this evening) during the year, with all my passion. We will see.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
what now, city boy....
Saturday morning---the past three days at Friends, very full days, both in terms of work, but also feeling very happy about the great appreciation that I experience there. Really in a good place. Four more school days to go--no work scheduled yet---but whatever happens, will definitely go to the Christmas Assembly--always fun, and really looking forward to seeing some of last year's graduates, who usually return. Should be good.
Last night---returning from the full day at Friends, found myself physically very tired, so that precluded any movies, plays, or visiting bars. Stayed in the apartment, felt very restless--body tired, mind wanted to be somewhere else. Finally got to sleep around 11. Two full dreams, in one, I was at a Stadium event, when a loud explosion happened, and I saw the top of a layer of the stadium fall off. I immediately went under the table for protection--But the danger ended, that is all I remember of dream 1.
Dream 2; far more potent---I have, for some reason, taken a bus from around 125th street over a bridge that goes into the Bronx. I am very aware that I am moving into a mostly black and hispanic neighborhood, and a neighborhood of poverty. It is the day, the sun is out, probably a Sunday. The bus enters the Bronx, then takes me to my destination---a large art deco apartment house on the Grand Concourse, near 161st. I am very aware that this is an area that in my growing up years was all white and Jewish, and that I could have gone to parties or dated women my age in that apartment house. Now, however, I enter the courtyard, a large rectangle, fronting on the street. It is filled with many hispanic families---they seem to me to be middle class, all playing with their children, they line the courtyard, all the playing is friendly---still I feel like an outsider---what am I doing there? Finally I hit the center of the courtyard, sitting there in the center is an older white woman--it is very clear that she is not hispanic---looking straight ahead. I turn to face her---I think, wow! this older woman, obviously Jewish, is someone whom I could have dated when I was in high school or thereabouts. I try to understand what she is doing there---she shows no sign of discomfort at being the "other"> She says nothing to me, I don't speak to her, outside, the sun is shining on the Concourse---the dream stops.
What to make of it---not sure---realize that in some way I am fascinated by the changes in that neighborhood, trying to understand how one reality replaced another. Whenever I see one of those art deco houses, in pictures, or on google maps, my mind immediately snaps back to my childhood and the way there neighborhoods were part of my family reality. So what was the dream telling me---am I only myself in the dream. Recently at a forum at Bronx Documentary Center I ha a conversation with white woman photographer, about my age, who had just bought a co-op on the Concourse, near where I had the dream--she had been priced out of Greenpoint, was raised in Flushing, and was adjusting to this change. She was not the woman in the dream, but----
This morning: firmed up my appointment to meet my friend Ben, an actor now on hiatus from a tour, at the Public. Should be fun, I always enjoy my conversations with him. Tonight, go to Ars Nova for a play that a friend of mine is in. Should see many that I know.
Will report on all of that soon.
Last night---returning from the full day at Friends, found myself physically very tired, so that precluded any movies, plays, or visiting bars. Stayed in the apartment, felt very restless--body tired, mind wanted to be somewhere else. Finally got to sleep around 11. Two full dreams, in one, I was at a Stadium event, when a loud explosion happened, and I saw the top of a layer of the stadium fall off. I immediately went under the table for protection--But the danger ended, that is all I remember of dream 1.
Dream 2; far more potent---I have, for some reason, taken a bus from around 125th street over a bridge that goes into the Bronx. I am very aware that I am moving into a mostly black and hispanic neighborhood, and a neighborhood of poverty. It is the day, the sun is out, probably a Sunday. The bus enters the Bronx, then takes me to my destination---a large art deco apartment house on the Grand Concourse, near 161st. I am very aware that this is an area that in my growing up years was all white and Jewish, and that I could have gone to parties or dated women my age in that apartment house. Now, however, I enter the courtyard, a large rectangle, fronting on the street. It is filled with many hispanic families---they seem to me to be middle class, all playing with their children, they line the courtyard, all the playing is friendly---still I feel like an outsider---what am I doing there? Finally I hit the center of the courtyard, sitting there in the center is an older white woman--it is very clear that she is not hispanic---looking straight ahead. I turn to face her---I think, wow! this older woman, obviously Jewish, is someone whom I could have dated when I was in high school or thereabouts. I try to understand what she is doing there---she shows no sign of discomfort at being the "other"> She says nothing to me, I don't speak to her, outside, the sun is shining on the Concourse---the dream stops.
What to make of it---not sure---realize that in some way I am fascinated by the changes in that neighborhood, trying to understand how one reality replaced another. Whenever I see one of those art deco houses, in pictures, or on google maps, my mind immediately snaps back to my childhood and the way there neighborhoods were part of my family reality. So what was the dream telling me---am I only myself in the dream. Recently at a forum at Bronx Documentary Center I ha a conversation with white woman photographer, about my age, who had just bought a co-op on the Concourse, near where I had the dream--she had been priced out of Greenpoint, was raised in Flushing, and was adjusting to this change. She was not the woman in the dream, but----
This morning: firmed up my appointment to meet my friend Ben, an actor now on hiatus from a tour, at the Public. Should be fun, I always enjoy my conversations with him. Tonight, go to Ars Nova for a play that a friend of mine is in. Should see many that I know.
Will report on all of that soon.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
here we are...
my second day off----first time since October I have had two days in a row where I am not called. But I will be back there tomorrow; either for a half or full day. Will hear soon. So what now? Stay at the library then have to kill time while my apartment is being cleaned. Tonight: not sure---South fourth has the Hitchcock showings (I don't know which one) or possibly visit my bartender friends at the Dive Bar (they also have trivia there tonight, which might be fun). I have one session later in the day, how I feel after that will probably determine where I choose to go.
Last night---did go to my friend Zoe's comic project at the Pit, an improve place on 29th street near Penn Station. Sort of disappointed. Zoe has incredible range, but her monologues did not show it---instead, they got bogged down in (what is best called) "messy internal junk". Do you know what I mean? But saw several friends there, including an old buddy from South Fourth, Will. We compared notes---he has renounced South Fourth, as he no longer lives in the area, but it was good to talk to him. Saw many other people I know there as well---nice to touch base---one of the actors was telling me he is "supering" at the Met---an interesting way of spending one's time. Maybe I will see him in one of the operas that he is appearing in.
Have not been to the Met this year. Why? Certainly part of it is the banal group of operas they are presenting this year, but also there is something else. What? Not sure, maybe the whole experience might be a little too overpowering for me at this time. But in terms of repertory, what is there to see?
Saw the first two acts of "Nozze de Figaro" two seasons ago---really hated the staging---now it is back. Maybe should go for the last two acts. Nothing else in the next couple of weeks really calls out to me. When The Merry Widow seems like an avant-garde piece, you know you are in trouble.
Not much else to say---will discover soon what the next day will be like, and will report soon
Last night---did go to my friend Zoe's comic project at the Pit, an improve place on 29th street near Penn Station. Sort of disappointed. Zoe has incredible range, but her monologues did not show it---instead, they got bogged down in (what is best called) "messy internal junk". Do you know what I mean? But saw several friends there, including an old buddy from South Fourth, Will. We compared notes---he has renounced South Fourth, as he no longer lives in the area, but it was good to talk to him. Saw many other people I know there as well---nice to touch base---one of the actors was telling me he is "supering" at the Met---an interesting way of spending one's time. Maybe I will see him in one of the operas that he is appearing in.
Have not been to the Met this year. Why? Certainly part of it is the banal group of operas they are presenting this year, but also there is something else. What? Not sure, maybe the whole experience might be a little too overpowering for me at this time. But in terms of repertory, what is there to see?
Saw the first two acts of "Nozze de Figaro" two seasons ago---really hated the staging---now it is back. Maybe should go for the last two acts. Nothing else in the next couple of weeks really calls out to me. When The Merry Widow seems like an avant-garde piece, you know you are in trouble.
Not much else to say---will discover soon what the next day will be like, and will report soon
Monday, December 11, 2017
Monday. no work....
at Friends---a good thing? Kind of relieved, as there are a few things I want to do this evening, and without a full day of subbing that will be possible. Still, there is an odd feeling that comes from the "freedom" of not working. Definitely a little different. Well, we will see how it all pays off in this evening's activities. First a weekend report:
Saturday: returned to the Flag project at the Brick---sat through nine monologues, all beginning with the same idea, and many including the same exact dialogue. Quickly felt a sense of exhaustion with the text, nevertheless experienced several really strong and individual interpretations of it. Went primarily to catch my friend Jessie's performance---I had seen several other friends perform last Saturday. She brought her four year old son along, and believe it or not, was able to incorporate him into her monologue. Much needed change from the others. Also got to see my friend Merlin do his for the second time, and it's great to see how much he has grown as an actor in the past few years. Will not return for the final Saturday, which I thought I would---yet it is meaningful to watch actors live through a monologue that really challenges them, and forces them to use endow the monologue with nothing but their own instruments. Not much afterwards, was tired so did not try to stay around Williamsburg or explore a bar. Returned home via subway.
Yesterday: attended the Friends Seminary Winter play, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Whew! Quite an evocative afternoon! Steve, the director, created an amazing space at the Baruch Center. many different levels with the audience seated in different places. Great use of space, and great collaboration between Steve and his setting, costume and lighting designers. The student actors, many of whom I have been watching for all four years of their time at Friends, basically gave professional performances. Great energy and early nineteenth century authenticity from the all of them Script, written by a woman whose work I do not know, gets a little hammy at times, but its structure is solid, and scenes are brief enough so they do not get bogged down. Basically, I am awed by the strength of the vision of the piece---something very close to a professional production.
Did not wait around to congratulate the actors, many of whom I know pretty well---will talk to them when I return to Friends---instead, in the face of many bar choices---headed to Standings, the sports bar on 7th street a little west of 2nd Avenue. I was a regular their in the late 00's, but have been there less recently. Usually I go to one of my two bars in Brooklyn for the end of Sunday, either South Fourth or Cobra, but both only get one game on TV, and at Standings I could watch the two (or even three) most important football games of the day. Really glad that I did---got a warm welcome from bartenders Aaron and Sam, watched the games in detail, and had really good conversations with a few friends of Sam, who were hanging around the bar. One of them, Jenni, a Seattle Sea Hawk fan, invited me to spend next Sunday at the bar with her, watching the next Seahawk game, a very important one against the Los Angeles Rams, I will certainly try to meet her there. Sounds like fun.
Nice to be at a bar where I am remembered--maybe I have found another "home". Will see how this plays out in the next couple of weeks, particularly the vacation, where I will have lots of time.
Anyway, it all looks interesting---will try to catch my friend Zoe's project at the PIT tonight, will report soon.
Saturday: returned to the Flag project at the Brick---sat through nine monologues, all beginning with the same idea, and many including the same exact dialogue. Quickly felt a sense of exhaustion with the text, nevertheless experienced several really strong and individual interpretations of it. Went primarily to catch my friend Jessie's performance---I had seen several other friends perform last Saturday. She brought her four year old son along, and believe it or not, was able to incorporate him into her monologue. Much needed change from the others. Also got to see my friend Merlin do his for the second time, and it's great to see how much he has grown as an actor in the past few years. Will not return for the final Saturday, which I thought I would---yet it is meaningful to watch actors live through a monologue that really challenges them, and forces them to use endow the monologue with nothing but their own instruments. Not much afterwards, was tired so did not try to stay around Williamsburg or explore a bar. Returned home via subway.
Yesterday: attended the Friends Seminary Winter play, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Whew! Quite an evocative afternoon! Steve, the director, created an amazing space at the Baruch Center. many different levels with the audience seated in different places. Great use of space, and great collaboration between Steve and his setting, costume and lighting designers. The student actors, many of whom I have been watching for all four years of their time at Friends, basically gave professional performances. Great energy and early nineteenth century authenticity from the all of them Script, written by a woman whose work I do not know, gets a little hammy at times, but its structure is solid, and scenes are brief enough so they do not get bogged down. Basically, I am awed by the strength of the vision of the piece---something very close to a professional production.
Did not wait around to congratulate the actors, many of whom I know pretty well---will talk to them when I return to Friends---instead, in the face of many bar choices---headed to Standings, the sports bar on 7th street a little west of 2nd Avenue. I was a regular their in the late 00's, but have been there less recently. Usually I go to one of my two bars in Brooklyn for the end of Sunday, either South Fourth or Cobra, but both only get one game on TV, and at Standings I could watch the two (or even three) most important football games of the day. Really glad that I did---got a warm welcome from bartenders Aaron and Sam, watched the games in detail, and had really good conversations with a few friends of Sam, who were hanging around the bar. One of them, Jenni, a Seattle Sea Hawk fan, invited me to spend next Sunday at the bar with her, watching the next Seahawk game, a very important one against the Los Angeles Rams, I will certainly try to meet her there. Sounds like fun.
Nice to be at a bar where I am remembered--maybe I have found another "home". Will see how this plays out in the next couple of weeks, particularly the vacation, where I will have lots of time.
Anyway, it all looks interesting---will try to catch my friend Zoe's project at the PIT tonight, will report soon.
Saturday, December 9, 2017
so, three days at Friends....
have come and gone. Should feel grateful for a;; the warmth that I am experiencing from the students. It goes all the way from seventh to 12th grade. Tomorrow I go to the school play, Dracula---apparently it is interactive---and that should be fun; I am friendly with many of the students who are performing. At the same time, I am tired from all the work. Only one day scheduled for next week so far---Friday---but I am sure there will be others. Friends has taken over my weekday life--not a bad thing---I am totally integrated into its world. But two theater friends of mine have small projects set for Monday. Will I be able to attend both or either? Not sure. Only time will tell.
Tuesday night: BAN meeting, the first in a long time. Preparations for the March on next Sunday outside the apartment house of DeBlasio's head of city planning. Do I want to be part of it? On one hand, really feel committed to the vision of BAN---I have just read another post of how the DOB allows aggressive developers to pray on Brownstone owners (particularly those of color) , and does nothing to stop it. It's frightening! So I should want to commit myself to his march. But something about where it is--close to where I live on the UWS, and some other issues, scares me off. Not that I have to go. There will be plenty of people there without me. Or should I watch from afar? A block away? Nothing is certain at this point, so just let the time pass, and see how you feel as it happens. Right, cityboy? Nothing else you can do, I guess.
Yesterday, came home from Friends and slept--then got myself out to see the 9:00 showing of the documentary about the life of Arthur Miller, made by his daughter, Rebecca. A fantastic documentary--really a must for anybody teaching his work or who has grown up watching and thinking about his plays. Miller's bio covers the whole story--from his father's arrival in NY about the turn of the century to his death in 20007. Lots of details about the three marriages that Miller lived through---and also about his life as a father to his three ( a fourth was institutionalized) children. The auditorium at Cinema Village only had seven people in the audience. Strange. I wonder how many theater people are going. A cold night, but one worth going out on to see this film.
So where are you in this, cityboy? From the time you were nine, Miller was a household word in your apartment. You saw the first off Broadway revival of The Crucible (August, 1958) and the revival of A View From the Bridge (1965) that put the play back on the map. You were at the first production of After the Fall, and saw it four times (Once with Robards playing the lead, then three times with Hal Holbrook) --put together the many issues that the play deals with, into a comprehensive vision of Miller---at 21--then also the first versions of Incident at Vichy and the Price, a play that seemed outmoded when it opened in the spring of 1968--family issues had been overwhelmed by the Vietnam War and its opposition.
Miller wrote the first act of Death of a Salesman in one long day, in isolation in a small work shack that he had built himself. He separated himself to create the play. That's what you feel incapable of doing, cityboy---simply creating one world by rejecting another. That dynamic, so far,does not suit you. Still, your mind works fast--you can see a conflict quickly. Can you do it, at some point? no sure. And that is where we must leave it.
Tonight, weather permitting (if it is still snowing, I will try my best to go) I want to return to the Brick to see more of William Burke's series of Flag monologues. Know them well by now, after seeing all nine of them last Saturday. Want to see my friend Jessie perform, as well as some new people. It is going to be interesting. Let's see what happens, as the time approaches.
Tuesday night: BAN meeting, the first in a long time. Preparations for the March on next Sunday outside the apartment house of DeBlasio's head of city planning. Do I want to be part of it? On one hand, really feel committed to the vision of BAN---I have just read another post of how the DOB allows aggressive developers to pray on Brownstone owners (particularly those of color) , and does nothing to stop it. It's frightening! So I should want to commit myself to his march. But something about where it is--close to where I live on the UWS, and some other issues, scares me off. Not that I have to go. There will be plenty of people there without me. Or should I watch from afar? A block away? Nothing is certain at this point, so just let the time pass, and see how you feel as it happens. Right, cityboy? Nothing else you can do, I guess.
Yesterday, came home from Friends and slept--then got myself out to see the 9:00 showing of the documentary about the life of Arthur Miller, made by his daughter, Rebecca. A fantastic documentary--really a must for anybody teaching his work or who has grown up watching and thinking about his plays. Miller's bio covers the whole story--from his father's arrival in NY about the turn of the century to his death in 20007. Lots of details about the three marriages that Miller lived through---and also about his life as a father to his three ( a fourth was institutionalized) children. The auditorium at Cinema Village only had seven people in the audience. Strange. I wonder how many theater people are going. A cold night, but one worth going out on to see this film.
So where are you in this, cityboy? From the time you were nine, Miller was a household word in your apartment. You saw the first off Broadway revival of The Crucible (August, 1958) and the revival of A View From the Bridge (1965) that put the play back on the map. You were at the first production of After the Fall, and saw it four times (Once with Robards playing the lead, then three times with Hal Holbrook) --put together the many issues that the play deals with, into a comprehensive vision of Miller---at 21--then also the first versions of Incident at Vichy and the Price, a play that seemed outmoded when it opened in the spring of 1968--family issues had been overwhelmed by the Vietnam War and its opposition.
Miller wrote the first act of Death of a Salesman in one long day, in isolation in a small work shack that he had built himself. He separated himself to create the play. That's what you feel incapable of doing, cityboy---simply creating one world by rejecting another. That dynamic, so far,does not suit you. Still, your mind works fast--you can see a conflict quickly. Can you do it, at some point? no sure. And that is where we must leave it.
Tonight, weather permitting (if it is still snowing, I will try my best to go) I want to return to the Brick to see more of William Burke's series of Flag monologues. Know them well by now, after seeing all nine of them last Saturday. Want to see my friend Jessie perform, as well as some new people. It is going to be interesting. Let's see what happens, as the time approaches.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
cityboy at rest.....
so it seems---after a pretty frenetic day at Friends yesterday---three eighth grade classes and an eighth grade collab---enough said, and then a session around 125th street and Broadway. I left my sweater behind in the library during that session---but it forced me to buy a new one and voila---it turned out to be one that I liked. But I hate losing things---a lot of agitation, but it is over now.
Saturday: did head out to East Flatbush to table for BAN, only to find out that there was no table at the conference being held in the church on Avenue D. But so what! It gave me a chance to wander through a neighborhood that I never really go to, and do some exploring. This is the area directly east and a little south of Nostrand and Beverly Road. Near the station, mostly private houses and a few small apartment houses---they become less and less as one walks east. Walked mostly on Clarendon Road---very quiet---I would assume most if not all of the private houses that I passed were owned by black families. Long walk from Nostrand (about East 30 street) to East 44th Street: I finally found the church on Avenue D, where the housing forum was taking place. Left soon after, since there was nothing for me to do there, but was not frustrated---I had to be in Williamsburg (not terribly close) in a few hours, and again, I always feel that a walk through a new part of Brooklyn is a viable way of spending time. What to do in the interim? Well, there is a bus on Avenue D that goes west to Ditmas Park; I took it, then wandered over to the Connecticut Muffin on Cortelyou Road for coffee and some marble cake. After that, took a circuitous route to the Brick Theater--arrived at Lorimer and Metropolitan early (of course) and waited to take my place at the Flag Project, written by William Burke a friend of mine.
And it was quite an amazing evening. Nine actors perform a variation of the same monologue while they sow and take apart an American Flag.The monologue is non-realistic---it really challenges the actors instrument to make choices, but in this case, the nine actors that I saw were really able to create something different each time. By the fourth monologue, I was familiar with the material, comfortable with it, and able to really enjoy the commitment of each actor. And I really saw some amazing choices being made. There are about 18 actors participating in this project; I will return Saturday evening to see one other actor whom I know, and watch another round of the monologues. Feel that I should make this commitment.
Sunday, a slow day---too tired from the enormous amount of walking that I did the day before to go to Brooklyn, so I stayed around the apartment until dinner time, then off to La Flaca (after some deliberation) to see what was going on there. Very quiet, but did have a good chat with bartender Tom, about the money that can be made from commercials---also watched a bit of an important football game and made friends with a new patron, John, who actually works in the armed forces where he collaborates with the city anti-terrorism unit. Did not ask him about that---we stuck to football, but I had a very good time. Will probably go to La Flaca again, soon.
Today, a BAN meeting this evening, that I will finally be able to go to--will see what happens from there. Will report soon.
Saturday: did head out to East Flatbush to table for BAN, only to find out that there was no table at the conference being held in the church on Avenue D. But so what! It gave me a chance to wander through a neighborhood that I never really go to, and do some exploring. This is the area directly east and a little south of Nostrand and Beverly Road. Near the station, mostly private houses and a few small apartment houses---they become less and less as one walks east. Walked mostly on Clarendon Road---very quiet---I would assume most if not all of the private houses that I passed were owned by black families. Long walk from Nostrand (about East 30 street) to East 44th Street: I finally found the church on Avenue D, where the housing forum was taking place. Left soon after, since there was nothing for me to do there, but was not frustrated---I had to be in Williamsburg (not terribly close) in a few hours, and again, I always feel that a walk through a new part of Brooklyn is a viable way of spending time. What to do in the interim? Well, there is a bus on Avenue D that goes west to Ditmas Park; I took it, then wandered over to the Connecticut Muffin on Cortelyou Road for coffee and some marble cake. After that, took a circuitous route to the Brick Theater--arrived at Lorimer and Metropolitan early (of course) and waited to take my place at the Flag Project, written by William Burke a friend of mine.
And it was quite an amazing evening. Nine actors perform a variation of the same monologue while they sow and take apart an American Flag.The monologue is non-realistic---it really challenges the actors instrument to make choices, but in this case, the nine actors that I saw were really able to create something different each time. By the fourth monologue, I was familiar with the material, comfortable with it, and able to really enjoy the commitment of each actor. And I really saw some amazing choices being made. There are about 18 actors participating in this project; I will return Saturday evening to see one other actor whom I know, and watch another round of the monologues. Feel that I should make this commitment.
Sunday, a slow day---too tired from the enormous amount of walking that I did the day before to go to Brooklyn, so I stayed around the apartment until dinner time, then off to La Flaca (after some deliberation) to see what was going on there. Very quiet, but did have a good chat with bartender Tom, about the money that can be made from commercials---also watched a bit of an important football game and made friends with a new patron, John, who actually works in the armed forces where he collaborates with the city anti-terrorism unit. Did not ask him about that---we stuck to football, but I had a very good time. Will probably go to La Flaca again, soon.
Today, a BAN meeting this evening, that I will finally be able to go to--will see what happens from there. Will report soon.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
cityboy relaxed (I thinnk)
...after averting a crisis at Friends, where yesterday afternoon, at the end of the day, he left a class' quizzes on the desk. But did not discover (or remember this) until I was sitting, somewhat comfortably at the Bunin, waiting for the movie, The Cool World to be shown. That last period was difficult, anyway, this only added more fuel to the fire. So what was to be done. Earlier this morning, I went to Friends, was able to get in because the security man was someone who has known me over the years, and went up to the room where the class was held, and voila! there were the quizzes---they had never been touched. Retrieved them, then deposited them on the appropriate desk in the history department. Whew! Have never done that before---had fantasies of trying to explain why the quiz was lost---very embarrassing, now that will not happen. Good to get that off my mind.
Wednesday, did get to see Jesus Hopped the A Train (or at least its first act). Left because I had a heavy day the next day, and wanted to get some sleep. The act of the play that I saw had some riveting moments---some of the writing goes very deep, and the acting was amazing. Still, did not feel compelled to stay---besides the needed rest---perhaps the play is ultimately a little too intellectual for me---that sounds strange after the way I described it---but at times, for all its well meaning and savage moments, it gets a little too polemical. Should read the second act at some point.
Yesterday, at Lincoln Center saw The Cool World, by Shirley Clark---poverty stricken Harlem in the early sixties. Story centers around Duke, a sixteen year old who wants to be the leader of a gang, and wants to prove his worth, even if it means killing the opposite gang leader. It is a picture of Harlem (around 5th Avenue and 119th street) that shows very little hope of a young person escaping. Excellent camera work and music--a great cast. Two of the actors who played the young gang members were at the Bunin, and spoke before the movie began---both very solid and eloquent gentlemen, now in their seventies. Despite my agitation (see above) I was able to enjoy the film.
Tonight, the Brick "Flag" show, with several actors that I know doing monologues--should be interesting, before that may head to Brooklyn to do some tabling for BAN. Want to get involved again---this would be a good way since I have missed the last three meeting. Will report soon.
Wednesday, did get to see Jesus Hopped the A Train (or at least its first act). Left because I had a heavy day the next day, and wanted to get some sleep. The act of the play that I saw had some riveting moments---some of the writing goes very deep, and the acting was amazing. Still, did not feel compelled to stay---besides the needed rest---perhaps the play is ultimately a little too intellectual for me---that sounds strange after the way I described it---but at times, for all its well meaning and savage moments, it gets a little too polemical. Should read the second act at some point.
Yesterday, at Lincoln Center saw The Cool World, by Shirley Clark---poverty stricken Harlem in the early sixties. Story centers around Duke, a sixteen year old who wants to be the leader of a gang, and wants to prove his worth, even if it means killing the opposite gang leader. It is a picture of Harlem (around 5th Avenue and 119th street) that shows very little hope of a young person escaping. Excellent camera work and music--a great cast. Two of the actors who played the young gang members were at the Bunin, and spoke before the movie began---both very solid and eloquent gentlemen, now in their seventies. Despite my agitation (see above) I was able to enjoy the film.
Tonight, the Brick "Flag" show, with several actors that I know doing monologues--should be interesting, before that may head to Brooklyn to do some tabling for BAN. Want to get involved again---this would be a good way since I have missed the last three meeting. Will report soon.
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