Fallen Angels
We recently saw the Noel Coward revival of “Fallen Angels” on Broadway, with Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara. Amazing does not do the play justice; it was a timeless analysis of life, love, marriage, friendship, and desire. Oh my…. What amazed us was the ease with which a 24 year old Noel Coward could capture the complexity of middle aged marriage. And no profanity! A true miracle to attend a play without a barrage of f*** bombs. Thank you Mr. Coward, truly.
We settled back into the early spring snow storm that Hanover, NH greeted us with (yup, April snow…. not that uncommon) and reflected on an extraordinary week in New York City. The Frick? Outstanding! The Irish Rep? Brilliant, as usual, if a little off-putting; a new playwright testing the waters with ‘Ulster American’. Still chewing on that one. But Central Park and our usual wanderings around the city left us with great hope for a beloved American landmark city. People are out and about and, seemingly, unaware that their city has been deemed ‘doomed’. Even our subway ride to visit the Cloisters Museum (way far north of the city) was easy-peezy. I am delighted to report that all is well (or good enough) in Gotham.
We are all fallen angles, struggling to make our way forward in this odd little world of ours. One step forward, two steps back. A quick plug for Broadway, and a further recommendation for the new revival of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” - who would ever think that Nathan Lane could epitomize Willy Loman’s existential nihilism? It is an artistic work worth reviving every decade; sadly, it never goes out of meaning. Never. Attention must be paid.
You give us hope.
Peggy