Great Weekend:
Had to do my workout T, W, Th and skip a day because we had Erica’s play on Friday: Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge.” Having just been to Red Hook the weekend before for my and Peter’s birthday dinner with a visit to the pier looking at the Statute of Liberty, Governor’s Island, Buttermilk Channel and the harbor, it was interesting to revisit the place theatrically.
I didn’t know it was all Sicilian in the 50s. Thought it would be much more Irish, but if you think about the Scottos and that longshoreman’s union you realize. I went with Maguy and Elizabeth; Audrey met us later for a drink, having seen it on Thursday and planning to take her father to Saturday’s matinee. Well, needless to say the kid was great, Brooklyn accent and all. So mature, but you know all of the kids were great, particularly the lead, an Italian kid from Staten Island.
Interesting observation: In the context of the stage, where their tiny, young bodies all dressed up in adult 40s and 50s clothes, where each could only be compared to the other, they looked like a cross section. Some imposing figures, strong, muscular, adult-like, others mature women and the smaller one’s kids. That disappeared however when they came out after the play in their street clothes. Short and childlike. What a transformation; couldn’t believe it. You would have loved it, with the whole political dimension: Kazan/Miller dilemma presented from Miller’s perspective, McCarthy, the rat, response to “On the Waterfront.” Just three words to describe it “Fab U Lous.”
After the show, three of us went to Delta, a Cajun place on the corner of 48th and 9th, the same block as the school. Maguy wasn’t feeling well, so she went home. We ate a little and had two bottles of wine. Interestingly, Audrey was taken a little aback by the play. Apparently, the fact that Erica told the lead guy playing her husband, that she wanted to “know what it was like to be a wife again” was a little too mature for Audrey. Of course, it didn’t bother her that the reason for the lead’s disinterest in her daughter was that he had the hots for the other female lead, who played his niece, who just turned 17. “Almost incest didn’t matter, just Erica’s direct expression of sexuality on stage. I really think that it was the fact that Erica’s grandfather was coming the following day to see the play that drove Audrey to distraction. (Anyway Audrey’s day loved the play.) Also, Audrey was put off by Erica’s Brooklyn accent: where could she have picked that up; Audrey had been so careful.
Liz asked me to recommend some hotels in ZAC. I told her I’d get back to her after my visit with you. I think she may be considering a visit. She wondered why you haven’t answered her email. I explained your illness there, and assured her I experienced the same and that you would answer in time.
Saturday: Well, the next day Barbara and I got together for my birthday. I took her to Red Hook to see the restaurant where we went for the birthday dinner and the park with the harbor view. (She’s asking for ideas where to take a new guy she’s dating. He’s a teacher from LI, and apparently doesn’t get Brooklyn. I’ve successfully sent them to the Russians in Brighton Beach, and maybe now this, but I really need to pick Peter’s brain for more. She likes this guy and wants to show him the finer points of Brooklyn. Liz also sent me a list of places she sent to Lila in Calif, who was sending one of her doctors or her hairdresser to the City, I’m not sure. )
Well, Barbara and I we went to my favorite downtown place for my birthday dinner – Juniors and I had my cheeseburger deluxe. Afterwards, she suggested a movie. I said I had a better idea: A View from the Bridge. We made the evening performance, and she loved it. It was worth seeing again. They really were great. Well, that’s all for now. Today. I’m going to the movies, and Barbara’s on her date, possibly in Red Hook and Juniors as we speak. Be well.
