Sushi consumed. Check.
Finished remnants of bottle of wine (in process).
Then it must almost be time to go!
I hate flying, I loathe staying up all night, but, in just a relatively few hours, New York, New York!
And it's supposed to be 60 degrees and sunny tomorrow!
The other day I worked from home and ran into someone I hadn't seen for months while picking up a coffee. "I wasn't sure you were still here," she sputtered. (The best defense is a good offense?) And proceeded to go on with a story about how she had had lunch with Miss X (fill in name of mutual friend), who also had told her that she didn't know if I still was around either.
Well, I had e-mailed person #1 a few times months ago and given up, having never gotten a response. I think I may even have left a voice mail message. As for Miss X, I saw her making her way to a meeting in my own workplace a few weeks ago. She looked busy, so I didn't run over to say, "hello" (and I also was busy with something too). I'm pretty sure she didn't see me, but obviously she didn't seek me out or let me know she was going to be there. Anyway, I'll ignore what person #1 said about Miss X -- she could just be projecting. But either one of them is perfectly capable of picking up a phone or sending me a message. I haven't changed my address or number recently.
This morning I did happen to hear from a friend from whom I hadn't heard in so long I had assumed she was dead (she is old enough where this is not all that unlikely a scenario), so that was buoying to some extent. Also, although not warm, it definitely is starting to feel like spring.
As in my mood that is. Largely attributable to blowing off the final day of the conference altogether.
Too many obligations -- real and perceived -- piling up. This next few weeks look to be far from relaxing.
Still, I managed to work in a performance of Pacific Northwest Ballet. I don't know why I persist in attending opening night performances when the later performances tend to be better. But shouldn't the works arrive well-rehearsed on the stage? I wasn't looking forward to this program, "Broadway Festival" all that much. I'm pretty familiar with three of the works through the NYCB repertoire (and despite the fact that I am interested in musical theatre or maybe, come to think of it, because of that fact) and none is a particular fave.
Anyhow, in a nutshell: I approve of the continued policy of ACATT (All-Carla-All-The-Time), but sadly, she did not appear in Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, which could have used her commitment. Lesley Rausch was physically splendid, but vacant as the Striptease Girl. There's no character there yet, just steps, and also no emotional connection is established between her and the Hoofer. It did not help that I had seen Carla Körbes perform it at the PNB season opener with far more vividness, as well as an even more recent witty and emotional performance by Maria Kowroski just a few weeks ago back in New York (not to forget the frequently unsung, but indispensable Philip Neal). But Rausch is tremendously talented, and given the opportunities, should also develop. I grow less impressed with Carousel (A Dance) each time I see it. The steps for the couple are uninteresting and repetitive (despite rumors to the contrary, pas de deux are not Wheeldon's strength) and the stuff for the corps just tries too hard to be clever as it strains toward the final, artificially naif coup de theatre (if that term is appropriate in this context; I won't give it away for those who may not have seen it). Again, it really needed Carla (cast here against type as an innocent) to lend it any interest. I am not partial to the work of Susan Stroman either, though her Take Five ... More or Less came off the best. Made "on" most of these same dancers last year, it had the most life (although the choreography could have been assembled by a software program). And I am definitely not a fan of West Side Story Suite -- its main charm, when it first was staged over a decade ago, was the novelty of hearing "our" dancers sing, but it neither honors the original show nor works as a ballet. A big challenge for the PNB dancers (and orchestra, which, except for the Brubeck, surprisingly sucked all evening), they weren't quite there. I also sat through this one recently in New York, and, by comparison, the PNB performance looked more like a summer camp production. But then again, there was Carla in her dark wig. Not much of a belter, but giving a more Dietrichesque reading of Anita. Now, putting her in a revival of Harold Rome's Destry Rides Again (reconceiving the part of Frenchy more for a dancer than a singer) would get me excited!
By the time I get to writing about my last trip to New York it will be time to go again (this time for an even shorter stay, alas).
Been busy. But doing what? I can't think of anything worth the trouble of describing when I try to think about it.
I've spent the last few days attending a conference locally. Tomorrow I intend to duck it entirely. Feeling quite demoralized at work and discontented in general. Oh dear, this sounds very familiar.
