Winter 2011 - Joyce Theatre

So with the Winter being a brutal one I’ve tried to find some economical entertainment.  Of course movies are always an option, but I wanted something else besides that.  Enter Joyce Theatre.com.  Where allegedly “bad seats” are made amazingly affordable.  I’ve been in one of those “bad seats”.  Yes they were close, right up to the stage, but I happened to think it wasn’t a bad thing.  Nope not at all.  And for ten dollars a pop in NYC, it’s a steal and a find.  http://www.joyce.org/calendar_joyce.php

Anyhew at the price of $10 a performance I booked one for February and one for March.

The February show is on the 20^th.  I will be seeing:  

Buglisi Dance Theatre (Feb 15-20)

Choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi, a passionate descendant of Martha Graham, moves us with sublime images that touch the heart and embrace the soul. In the world premiere of Letters of Love on Ripped Paper, Buglisi reveals the rapture and human complexity underlying human relationships through a labyrinth of love letters: Pliny to Calpurnia; Queen Victoria to Prince Albert; Zelda to Scott. The magnificent dancers, expressionistic theatricality and Daniel Brewbaker's original score are captivating. Filled with compassion, Buglisi's Requiem is set to Fauré's soaring Mass and revered for being "extravagant and beautiful." (The New York Times)

On March 13 is the second show on the menu I will be seeing:

KEIGWIN + COMPANY (Mar 8-13)

After electrifying audiences with its first solo Joyce season in 2010, "a thrilling coup de theater" (Vanity Fair), KEIGWIN + COMPANY comes back with the world premiere of Dark Habits, an evening-length work that, through Keigwin's indomitable theatricality, examines fashion and drama. Driving the dancers' vigorous physicality is a score that features original music by cellist Chris Lancaster and pianist Jerome Begin, joined with instantly familiar rock music.

Reviews forthcoming.

The Kids are Allright – a DVD Review (**warning: spoiler alert**)

So over the weekend, via Netflix I watched “The Kids Are Allright”.  A story about a lesbian couple’s family.  15 yr old Lazer decides to seek his biological father “the sperm donor” and drama ensues as the donor played by Mark Ruffalo is drawn into this tense family dynamic.

This movie pissed me off in three different ways.  Way One:  Julianne Moore’s character has an affair with “the sperm donor”.  An accidental roll in the hay to see because she was a curious lesbian, yes I could see that.  But an on-going liason?  What?  Way Two:  Annette Bening plays the head of household while her partner, Julianne Moore is the flighty, creative type who names her son Lazer. 

And lastly after all is said and done, Bening’s character dubs “the sperm donor” as “an interloper” meanwhile before everything happened, the dude was living his life and minding his own business TIL THE CHILDREN came looking for him.

Annette Bening was nominated for her role.  Come on, Bening playing a lesbian, from most of her other roles, it hardly seems a stretch.

Me and my boy

So today I got some less than pleasant news.  (A running theme this week actually.)  My son missed the cut off day to enroll into Spring classes at college.  He was trying to change schools, having left Geneseo, and NCC being the only alternative.  I wasn’t totally surprised.  Between him and his father they were asleep at the switch.  The holidays falling amidst all of this didn’t help matter much either.

So my son calls me just minutes after finding out this little factoid.  “Are you serious?”  Was my reply.  It was actually his  reply too after having spoken with the clerk at the Registrar.  Yesterday was the cut off date?  It wasn’t the worst thing in the world  I KNOW he didn’t do this on purpose.  His failure to get everything done was due to procrastination.  I did a mental shrug and tried to be as positive and supportive as I could be. 

Jordan doesn’t know what the fuck he really wants to do college-wise.  Now he has a good 8 months to figure out what he might want to pursue and of course what other school he might wish to finish up his two years and finish to get his Bachelor’s at.  Plus there is the little matter of what does he truly wish to pursue in terms of his studies since he isn’t happy with the idea of Accounting at all.

Me being at work I offered to pick up on my lunchbreak and drop him at the bus stop so he could make it home.  As I’m driving up the street he has this huge smile across his face.  His smile in the face of disappointment is what prompted me to write this blog at all.  Because it was so contradictory to the situation.  I’d like to think it was ironic optimism.  But secretly I think he was just relieved to not have to go back to school anytime soon.  Of course I didn’t mention either of these thoughts to him.

He opens the car door still smiling, laughs and says something to the effect “Its messed up.”  He goes on to say the if onlys.  If only I had waited at the college yesterday longer.  If only I had gone earlier in the week.  If only this, if only that.

Right now the only, “if only” that’s on my brain was, “If only your father possessed your gentle optimism, it might prevent the conipcion he’s going to have tonight once he hears this news.”  Oddly enough I remained optimistic too.  I don’t know why.  I’m giving God the credit on this one. 

We rode in the car a short while to the bus stop.  I joked that we were stopping off at McDonalds to pick up his uniform.  Me using the classic “Ya want fries with that?” cliché   He rolled his eyes at me and said “Har, har, har.”  I warned him his father might be less than kind when hearing the news and that he should be prepared for that.

We tossed around some ideas of how he might most effectively use this time.  Since he’s still living and being supported by his father he isn’t under any strain to take the “safe route”.  He says he wants to spend a lot of time at the library reading.  He wants to keep his mind engaged.  I know I need to push him to keep his routine structured.  He knows that’s when he’s at his best.  Not having too much time on his hands.

Of course he plans on working he immediately tells me his options from his old job and plans to get a better one.  I know God is looking after this kid and I pray that my faith lets me trust in God even when I feel like everything is failing (or flailing) around me.

Tony DiNapoli's of NYC - a Restaurant Review

So yesterday I went to Tony Dinapoli’s in NYC.  A friend has recommended it whole heartedly when I asked for a good place to eat.  http://www.tonysnyc.com/

On the plus side, we were seated right away (ok it was a Tuesday nite, but hey whatever).  The ambience was relaxing, darkly lit, the walls filled with celebrity caricature paintings of some kind (I didn’t look close enough to see who the artist was).

Food is served family style, and by overzealous waitstaff who made me feel almost rushed through dinner.  The veal wasn’t tender and it made me wish I’d ordered chicken instead. 

For the money I felt the food could have been better.  This restaurant is very similar to my favorite Italian restaurant, La Parma in Oceanside.  The service is better, more relaxed, plus they actually put the food on your plate.  AND the quality of the food is the best Italian food I’ve had other than my Dads.

The Fighter - a Movie Review

So last night I went to see “The Fighter”.   The Fighter is based on the true story of professional boxer “Irish” Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg). It tells the tale of Ward’s relationship with his half-brother Dickie Eklund (Christian Bale), and how the brothers helped to put their city of Lowell, Massachusetts, on the map.

This movie fluctuates between fight scenes in the ring and fight scenes between family members.  Not much in the way of surprises or intriguing dialogue in this film.  There were however, outstanding performances by Melissa Leo as Alice Ward, Mickey’s mom.  And Christian Bale playing Dickey Ward the crack addicted has-been fighter turned trainer.

Wait for DVD

Lovely, Still - a DVD Review

Lovely, Still

A gem of a movie I discovered through Netflix is Lovely, Still. A love story between an elderly man (played by Martin Landau) and an elderly woman (played by the timelessly beautiful Ellen Burstyn).  I won’t spoil it with all the details.  All I can say is its heartbreakingly beautiful.   Not to be missed.