Wednesday, July 5, 2017

unexpected piece of drama

My friend, with whom I am seeing Pipeline at Lincoln Center, has to cancel.

It's a beautiful day and tonight I'm having dinner with a friend I haven't seen in a while.  I'd love to spend the day at home reading The Good Widow (great so far) and the last three episodes of The Crown. But I have a ticket, a good seat, and maybe it'll be good.

I am totally surprised, and shamefully admit, I enjoyed this play far more than the much better one at Lincoln Center, Oslo

Pipeline is a powerful 90-minute play that totally sucked me in. And others too, as I didn't spot even one matinee-goer dosing off.

As I was leaving the theater, I inserted myself into the conversations of two different groups as they discussed the many issues the play raises. The playwright has a good ear for dialogue, and there's not one false note in the play.

Among other things, it's a play about a single mother who's dealing with her own issues, and those of her only son. She would still like a relationship with her ex, but he's made it clear that their relationship exists ONLY because they share a son. The boy's parents want him to have the best education, and so are willing to pay the high price that private school demands. The father regularly sends his support check, but is absent in any meaningful way. The son is angry at his father because of his absence. Loves his mother who blames herself for any of her son's shortcomings. And that's just the basic set-up. There are multiple overlapping plots.

For me, this isn't an escapist drama. Rather it's a short trip back to those challenging middle and high school years. 

I am happy to be beyond that. And beyond college too. But as a mother — single or not — our love for our children, and vulnerability because of them, never really stops. 

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