Today's Lesson According to Arazie, Bairstow, and Lewis.

I am a bit frustrated in that I wrote this entry once tonight, but it was swallowed by the blog gods...I hope Screwtape did not have anything to do with it...

A met Ilana Arazie for brunch at Caravan of Dreams in the East Village. I subletted from Ilana last year, and we have kept in touch. I have never eaten at a vegan restaurant, but my spinach ravioli was wonderful. Ilana works for the Associated Press during the day, but she is a video blogger on the side. Her site http://ilanadonna.com/ is a fresh approach to being single in the city. It admirably picks up where Carrie Bradshaw left off.

Last year, she and I had an interesting conversation about Sex in the City. She accknowledged that the hit HBO series served as an anthem to those over 35. It encouraged women to own their sexuality and find a language for a their wants and needs. Ilana claims that the residue that it left for those who were still looking for their first real meaningful relationship was, in fact, a warning....do not settle, because the next best thing may be around the corner. She argues that giving women a language of sexual dues compromised others' hope of "the one" romanticism. I believe she has a point; I am glad I am married and over 35.

Whew. On to the theatre where I can escape (PLEASE hear the sarcasm here), I attended the matinee of The Rise of Dorothy Hale. When I can learn about something historical and be impressed by theatrical conventions, it is a good day. This play exposed questions about the power of politics, the delicacy of language, the potential of art and the complexity of women. I loved it! Also, whenever a play contains the character of Frida Kahlo, it is guaranteed success.

Some favorite thoughts and moments:

"The work of art survive long after the battle is over."

The intermission was abrupt. This serves as a reminder that each act should end as if the play was over.

The woman playing Clara Booth Luce (Dina Ann Comolli) was too big for the space. She delivered most of her lines FF, and her wig made her look like a comic book character among the realistic tapestry of the others. I think the director should have pulled the Marilyn Monroe metaphor/angle back; it was unneeded and distracting.

Frida's fingernails were well manicured, an unlikely portrayal of a hungry artist.

The costuming was delicious.

"Truth is the daughter of time."

Shaw quote about the color of hope...look it up Kim

After the show, I spoke to Purva Bedi who played Frida Kahlo. She hesitantly agreed with the preceding thoughts and defended the director by saying that many of the actors came to the project much later than expected. I gave her one of my "sabbatical conversation letters." She seemed interested and said that she would call.

Next, I attended The Screwtape Letters at St. Clements. The architecture of the church certainly added to the foreboding atmosphere of the play. The stone gothic arches offered a perfect setting for the buying and selling of souls.

The bigger than life character of Screwtape as the teacher of tempters was paralleled by the animalistic and flexible Toadpipe. Even the space's temperature got colder as they employed every tactic of the Devil to capture the soul. For me, the most frightening message was that it is not the "big ticket items" that guarantee one eternal damnation...it is all the little things along the way.

Leave it to C. S. Lewis to turn a day or rest into a day of wresting.