Archives for April 19, 2006

“Of all possible debauches, travel is unsurpassed by any I know. It’s the one invented after all the others have ceased to excite.”

Gustave Flaubert, letter to Ernest Chevalier (April 9, 1851)

The spring rush has started. I saw three plays last week, and this week I have four more on my plate: The Importance of Being Earnest tonight, Lestat on Thursday, The History Boys on Friday, and The Wedding Singer on Saturday. In between I’ve been chipping away at the fifth chapter of Hotter Than That: A Life of Louis Armstrong (the rough draft is finished, but I’ve only edited about half of it so far) and reading the newly arrived second volume of Stephen Walsh’s Stravinsky biography, which will be published on April 25. Next week I have three pieces to write and two more shows to see.

None of this is especially surprising. May 10 is the cut-off date for Tony Award eligibility, meaning that Broadway producers are cramming in lots of big-ticket opening nights between now and then. Having been The Wall Street Journal‘s drama critic for the past three years, I’m used to it, or ought to be. It is, however, my first spring rush since my recent illness–or, to put it more precisely, since I recovered from my recent illness–and even though I’ve never felt better, I’m also more aware than usual of the potential dangers of running myself ragged, especially given the fact that I’m going to be doing more out-of-town reviewing this summer than ever before. (Look out, America, here I come!) To this end I’ve been husbanding my energies in between previews, deadlines, and visits to the gym: I’m staying home whenever possible and, as you’ve doubtless noticed, blogging less frequently.

Today is so beautiful, though, that I can’t very well ignore the blandishments of the weather, so I’m planning a picnic in Central Park with a friend, after which we might just stroll across the park to a museum and look at paintings. Or not: I’m in an improvisational mood. I don’t have any more deadlines until next Tuesday, and so long as I make it to Brooklyn by 7:15, it doesn’t matter what else I do. That’s a nice feeling.

Anyway, all this is simply a roundabout way of letting you know why you haven’t been hearing from me lately. I’m still here, I’m just fine, and I’ll be back.