Day 26
For my birthday, my brother bought tickets for us (he and I) to go see a play in NYC. It wasn't just any play, though - it was a play, Bella and the Pool Boy, written by his former college roommate and being shown as a part of the NYC Fringe Festival. HOW FUN, right?
And, not only did we go to the play, but we went to dinner at a favorite restaurant first: Republic.
oh heavenly beef skewers with peanuts, noodles, and veggies...
I took my brother to Republic years ago. Or maybe he wanted a Thai restaurant recommendation and I just directed him to it? I don't even remember anymore. For both of us, though, it's our default go-to restaurant in NYC. The food is incredibly delicious, the service is amazingly fast, the location is great (Union Square), the prices are surprisingly reasonable, the decor is super fun (huge photos of people covered with noodles), the waitstaff is always fantastic, and it has communal seating. If you show up with fewer than six or eight people, you will undoubtedly end up sharing a long table and benches with people you've never met before (which I love).
Following dinner, we made our way over to the theater. The cast wasn't allowed in until a certain time, so we actually got to see them outside - which means my brother got to hang out with his former roommate and some other college friends for a bit. It was their opening night, so most of the people in the audience were friends and family (and the show was sold out).
The play itself was great - highly enjoyable. I found the directing to be particularly superb. There's one scene that happens in slow motion that was really incredible. I'm laughing to myself right now just picturing it.
And, coincidence of all coincidences? One of the guys in the play is good friends with my brother-in-law (the hubby's brother). He went to the same Rutgers school as my brother's friends, just a few years later, and they run in the same work circles, basically. So here I was, going to see my brother's friends, and there was someone else that I've seen at parties at my brother-in-law's a bunch of times. I love a small world.
The play was not just enjoyable, but good. You know my barometer for that? I was still thinking about it today - about the themes, the ideas, the jokes, the way it was staged. It was all so good. I really hope - and expect! - to see my brother's former roommate become a big star one day.
