The Mysteries by The Flea...Rocky...Once...& When We Were Young and Unafraid...

Mom's passing did not mean that I would never sit in a theater again to experience a play. On the contrary. One of the things we loved to talk about was Broadway and Off-Broadway...and I even tried to educate her on the Off-Off Broadway scene. Mom loved her New York Daily News and was a subscriber and avid reader of that paper all her life. What ever the News covered theater wise we talked about. She became very curious about the play "Once". That might, had she lived, have been the next family outing to Broadway. I bought her the movie and the soundtrack to both the play and the film. She was also very interested in Rocky as all of us were who experienced the 1970's. The Mysteries is as ancient as western religion itself. These are a series of Bible plays generally performed by the trades-people of a town during religious festivals in the middle ages. It was difficult to tell mom about how the Flea version was a modern sensual take on stories about everything from Creation to the Passion of the Christ.

Usually I don't cover so many events in one blog, but I have also been busy lately writing a short story dedicated to my sisters, and reading the biography of Johnny Cash. That and our mini family re-union last week have been keeping me busy.

When We Were Young and Unafraid...at Manhattan Thertre Club is a beautiful and important play about women set in 1972 by playwright Sarah Treem who may be better known for her work in cable television as the writer on "House of Cards". The play is about a safe house for women run by Agnes portrayed by the powerful Cherry Jones. This was the 4th time I've had the absolute privileged of witnessing her work. (Moon for the Misbegotten, Mrs. Warren's Profession and Glass Menagerie) She is a performer not to be missed on stage.

The battered woman she takes in is played by the young and talented (and often seen in my Cobble Hill hood) Zoe Kazan (Clive, Angles in America). Her performance is complex, layered and utterly contradictory at times, amazingly capturing the bizarre reality of  the Battered Woman Syndrome. The cast is rounded out by the charismatic Cherise Booth (Ruined) and Morgan Taylor making her Broadway debut.  This play is above and beyond my capacity or authority for review. If you go see it and are not moved, that would be proof positive that you are not human.

We went to see Rocky for and on my birthday which was completely bittersweet since mom died exactly two weeks before. The fantastic spectacle directed by Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Peter and the Star Catcher) which takes place in the last 20 minuets or so is not even nearly enough to make up for all the missed opportunities at story telling proceeding the climatic fight scene. Still, as a huge fan of both boxing and the film, I was all wrapped up in every aspect of the show.

Which brings me to Once directed by one of our all time favorite directors John Tiffany (Black Watch, Glass Menagerie). I had not seen the movie before the play. I had heard the songs and knew very loosely about the story. As always, Tiffany's direction along with his long time collaborator "Movement" man Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, Rocky) created an award winning show that was a simple as it was powerful.  I have said it before and will say it over and over: I am not a huge fan of musicals. I have a few favorites, but you will never catch me humming a tune from Le Miz or Phantom. Sorry. Just how I roll. I like theater. I want to be moved, not entertained. If I want entertainment I will got to the movies or a strip club. And Once moved me.  It moved me to write the song I published in my previous post. Still working on the music.

Of all the shows I've mentioned only Once will be open for the foreseeable future I can't endorse it more highly as a fun night out. This bit of theater had more moving sentimental value because of mom. I probably would have missed it if it were not for her.

Like I would have missed my whole life.

And I miss her more and more everyday. "I love her so...wouldn't trade her for gold..."

Later for now friends.