So on Saturday when we were all stuffed into the clown car taxi, we drove by the Brooks Atkinson, and Fiona Shaw's Medea was playing there.

Melissa said, "I'm dying to see that!" and I answered, "I saw it in London last year, boy was it great. I'd sure like to see it again." "It's a limited run, only through January."

Well yesterday I got an email from this group that I guess I sort of accidentally joined when I got the free passes for Chicago (through a forwarded email from a friend), and they had free passes for Medea that very night! I called Omar and asked if he wanted to go, emailed Melissa and told her that she'd hate me forever, and left work at 7p to get to the theatre.

It was cold cold cold and I had left my gloves and scarf and hat at home, since I had gotten spoiled by the fact that it was not that cold the past few days, so we went into Starbucks to get warm. Of course, I had a chai crème frappuccino, because what else in the world is there? It didn't so much help me to get warm, but it gave me the first fix that I've had in months, so I was happy.

The show was, of course, amazing.

I saw Diana Rigg's Medea, I loved Diana Rigg's Medea, this production outclasses it in every way possible. Fiona Shaw is astonishing, and one of the most astonishing things about her performance, and all of the actors in fact, is that they have been doing it for at least two years and it is still so fresh! I recognized several of the other actors from last year, how can you do such a harrowing show so completely for so long and not go crazy?

I mean, for the last third of the show, Omar and I were just clutching each other, holding both hands so tightly, shaking with tension, and it's not as though we didn't know the story, it's not as though we were unaware of what was going to happen.

And the most incredible thing about it? How funny it was. I had actually forgotten that, that Fiona Shaw wrings every possible laugh out of her lines and it's never untruthful to the play, it makes you understand and empathize with Medea more that is generally possible, but the character is not undercut at all.

It is wonderful. And there is a pool of water in the middle of the stage. So Greek plays with pools, that's clearly what I'm liking these days.

Afterwards, we went to Vynl and talked and had dinner.

He was Medea, you see, in his last relationship, betrayed and wanting revenge (though of course not exacting it, because all that really does is hurt yourself), and I, of course, was Jason when I was with Greg, the betrayer. I'm still so ashamed of how I treated him, no matter how long ago it was.

After an hour and a half or so, they were closing, so we walked to the van, holding hands instead of arm in arm, due to my lack of gloves. My hand was warm by the time we got there, but my fingers were completely frozen, and I had to sit on my hand for about 15 minutes to get the feeling back into it.

Why didn't I put my hand in my pocket? Because I love walking down the street holding hands more than anything, anything. I haven't gotten to do that in so long, well actually Fran held my hand last year on my birthday date, but before that it had been at least a decade. It's such a sweet feeling, I have missed it so much, you think a little frostbite would make me drop his hand one second before I had to? Not a chance.

Today's horoscope:
Look beyond the mess that was left for you. When you take control of an abandoned project, you can turn it into anything you want. Someone's facial expression is priceless when he or she sees that you're winning.

One year ago today:
There is no computer in LA as of yet, so I'll see you when there is!

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Last Updated Wed 18 December 09:32:09 2002