Well, it's my first time writing in this thing, so please bear with me. I usually don't write to an audience, so I'll write as if if I was writing in my own journal. I will fill you in on certain details of my life; for example, some of you may not know that I am married, have two puppies, and like to hang out at home in my underwear. Maybe that is too much information, but hey, you're reading this blog, so you're entitled to that. I wear boxer briefs, mostly. Joanne, my lovely bride of 3 and a half years, and I went to a play at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley. We went with a couple of good friends, and had dinner at Kirala afterwards. It was an enjoyable weeknight of culture, good food, and lively conversation.
The name of the play was "The Guys" and starred Jimmy Smits and Wanda DeJesus, both NYPD Blue alums. It was a play written as a reaction to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Jimmy Smits plays the role of Captain Danny Flanagan, a fire captain of a NY Fire Department ladder company. It is about a couple of weeks after the attacks, and Danny finds himslef having to deliver a eulogy for 8 of his "guys". Problem is, he can't find the right words to properly eulogize them, or at least he can't keep it together enough to come up with anything on paper. He seeks the help of a writer, played by Wanda DeJesus. Incidentally, Jimmy and Wanda live together and are a real-life couple. Danny, the quintessential blue-collar New York Firefighter, is an endearing character. He is deeply distraught over the loss of his guys, but is able to talk of them with admiration, affection, and humor. He is barely able to keep it together throughout the play, but is able to stamp out a tango session with the writer (her character's name escapes me) in a moment of levity.
Man, this play was both thought-provoking and emotionally evocative. It made me think of the events of the past three years, and how Americans, New Yorkers, and individual people affected by the attacks (that's everyone, I suppose) have dealt with their emotions. Personally, I have moved on with my life. Many of us have; we watch movies like The Matrix, eat out at new restaurants, and have birthday parties for our kids. We have to move on. Otherwise life will just pass you by. But this doesn't mean that we have to forget. Watching this play reminds me of how I felt right after the attacks, and the visceral reaction I had towards the perpetrator of the attacks.
Then, I just enjoyed the beautiful job that Jimmy Smits and Wanda De Jesus did in portraying these characters. From the high-end, upper west side, latte sipping, manolo wearing character of the writer to the everyman that Jimmy Smits portrayed, everyone was deeply affected by the attacks. It made me truly appreciate the craft of acting and how much I missed seeing Bobby Simone, Jimmy's character on NYPD Blue, on the show. Dude, Wanda has a great looking body for a 40 year old. I was a bit starstruck at first, but Jimmy's character was so vulnerable and engaging, that I forgot that he was Jimmy Smits.
Overall, it was a wonderful night because we got to spend it with two of our favorite people, and we ate at Kirala, a really good Japanese restaurant with an authentic Robata grill. Although, it took almost an hour for us to be seated, we spent most of the time talking with each other so the time passed effortlessly. No worries, though, because we were the last party in the restaurant, almost staying an hour after closing time. I figure you make us wait an hour, and we'll reply in kind. Hahaha. Anyways, the food was pretty good, and the conversation was lively. It's always nice to catch up with a couple of good friends.
The name of the play was "The Guys" and starred Jimmy Smits and Wanda DeJesus, both NYPD Blue alums. It was a play written as a reaction to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Jimmy Smits plays the role of Captain Danny Flanagan, a fire captain of a NY Fire Department ladder company. It is about a couple of weeks after the attacks, and Danny finds himslef having to deliver a eulogy for 8 of his "guys". Problem is, he can't find the right words to properly eulogize them, or at least he can't keep it together enough to come up with anything on paper. He seeks the help of a writer, played by Wanda DeJesus. Incidentally, Jimmy and Wanda live together and are a real-life couple. Danny, the quintessential blue-collar New York Firefighter, is an endearing character. He is deeply distraught over the loss of his guys, but is able to talk of them with admiration, affection, and humor. He is barely able to keep it together throughout the play, but is able to stamp out a tango session with the writer (her character's name escapes me) in a moment of levity.
Man, this play was both thought-provoking and emotionally evocative. It made me think of the events of the past three years, and how Americans, New Yorkers, and individual people affected by the attacks (that's everyone, I suppose) have dealt with their emotions. Personally, I have moved on with my life. Many of us have; we watch movies like The Matrix, eat out at new restaurants, and have birthday parties for our kids. We have to move on. Otherwise life will just pass you by. But this doesn't mean that we have to forget. Watching this play reminds me of how I felt right after the attacks, and the visceral reaction I had towards the perpetrator of the attacks.
Then, I just enjoyed the beautiful job that Jimmy Smits and Wanda De Jesus did in portraying these characters. From the high-end, upper west side, latte sipping, manolo wearing character of the writer to the everyman that Jimmy Smits portrayed, everyone was deeply affected by the attacks. It made me truly appreciate the craft of acting and how much I missed seeing Bobby Simone, Jimmy's character on NYPD Blue, on the show. Dude, Wanda has a great looking body for a 40 year old. I was a bit starstruck at first, but Jimmy's character was so vulnerable and engaging, that I forgot that he was Jimmy Smits.
Overall, it was a wonderful night because we got to spend it with two of our favorite people, and we ate at Kirala, a really good Japanese restaurant with an authentic Robata grill. Although, it took almost an hour for us to be seated, we spent most of the time talking with each other so the time passed effortlessly. No worries, though, because we were the last party in the restaurant, almost staying an hour after closing time. I figure you make us wait an hour, and we'll reply in kind. Hahaha. Anyways, the food was pretty good, and the conversation was lively. It's always nice to catch up with a couple of good friends.
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