Ok, I stole that title from some lines in Garden State, but it feels like that here. I sit in a Starbucks in New York City to complete my online blog to my fellow students back home in Indiana. The music is lively, as are the crowds. I offer the extra seats at my table to whomever comes by and stop once and awhile to chat with total strangers. I know that would appall a few of you. I love it when humanity just washes around me as I sit or stand quietly by and take it all in. The first night we were here a well-dressed man from Denmark offered us the unfinished portion of his dinner, as I am sure he could not fathom leaving so much untouched food on his plate. We talked a little about portion size here in America and I made note that he was fit and slim—something that I am not.
Yesterday we went to the half-price ticket booth to see what plays were available. They ALL were and we stood in a terribly-long, but fast-moving line and spoke to the strangers on either side. As we got within a glimpse of the ticket windows, the sight became a little like a feeding-frenzy. But since our hearts were not set on one particular play, and we were willing to see anything, the anxiety of the moment dissipated. It also helps to be 5 foot 11 inches so one can peer above the average-sized crowd. I ask the couple in front of me what they found out from the ticket salesmen, and they answered with a smile. Single seats for Jersey Boys and restricted seating for Chorus Line. No thanks. We asked about Grey Gardens, a musical about the crazy aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Onassis who became even crazier in their latter years. We got the tickets for half price and lollygagged around the streets until the 3:00 showtime.
This musical was quite an unusual one. It told the story of the these famous relatives of Jackie's in two acts--one in 1941 and the second act in 1973. These two women made the newspapters in the 70's when it was discovered that they lived in their 28-room house in the Hamptons with their 52 cats and mountains of empty tin cans as the house sunk even further into disrepair and squalor. The play starts with a beautiful glimpse into the lives of the rich in the 1940’s as young Edie is engaged to Joe Kennedy Jr. The second half is basically a harsh view of two aging spinsters—Edie and her mother as they fail to feed their cats and go to sleep in beds infested with insects. Did I mention that this was a MUSICAL? Yes, one can write anything and have it play on Broadway. But not to worry, remember I am attracted to the dark and depressing, I just didn’t realize you could set that stuff to music. I love New York.
Today we will buy tickets to a comedy or maybe not. Inherit the Wind is playing on Monday, and most of the theaters are dark that day, so one’s choice of plays are limited. I hope to see the Guggenheim Museum of Art today, and if I have time I will write.
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