NYC, What is it About You?

So, to combat my last posting of distressing things re: the big apple, I have some exciting news about what else I did! Wow! Read on!

Trying to kick myself and get going, I took an afternoon and spent some time at the Metropolitain Museum of Art. Ah, life. There was an Egyptian palace there, that is strikingly similar to the one I saw years ago at Toronto's ROM. In any case, the higlights of my time there were (1) the Frank Lloyd Wright room, which is on permanent display. It was great, and I've found an appreciation for his design philosophy; and (2) the piece of silk on loan from Prague used as the tablecloth for the Last Supper. Of course, the Monet and Jackson Pollock were brilliant. [Seen here, Roy Lichtenstein's 1978 oil on canvas, "Stepping Out."]

After a harrowing experience trying to find the Public Theatre on Lafayette Street, I did. And I got a ticket in perhaps the worst seat in the house for Michael John LaChiusa's new work, SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE. His music here is perhaps his easiest to listen to. The visuals were fantastic. The 50s style combined with the Japanese theme... fun. The themes may have been brilliantly layered, but were slightly difficult to figure out once the show was over. Through lies, misunderstandings and confusions, we deduce that "only the dead tell the truth." And whose idea of the truth is what really happened? Who believes what? Why do we believe it? "Why not." [Seen here, the cast at curtain call.]

Lastly, I finally saw last year's Tony-winner, DOUBT with a standing-room ticket. The notes I took on the subway afterward: Brilliant performances. We all have sins and doubts, but we are not alone. Everyone feels lost--but, we all do. [That's the point. We all do.] I guess that's the consolation. Is it a question of how we act I wonder. Can we ever really be sure? I guess it parallels the idea of last night's show. Well, compliments. They are interesting ideas, no. "Oh Sister James, I have doubts." And, (1) who are we to judge? (2) Who are we really looking out for? My guess it that it is always "Number One" no matter who you are or what you say. And so, who are we hurting in the process? It's not easy. In fact, perhaps impossible, to make everyone happy. Life is hard and there's no easy answer ever. Choices and decisions inevitably leave someone out. If she's [the principal] right, well, he's [the priest] gone. But then there's still all those new kids.

Fun in the city turned to a rainy rainy ride to the farmhouse in New Hampshire.