A reader writes, apropos of Terry’s recent trip to
Chicago:
Dear OGIC and Terry:
No time for hot dogs, but I had a day in Chicago worthy of you both
yesterday. I put the “Gone Fishing” sign on the door and lit out early
from Milwaukee to Chicago, where I caught the matinee Henry IV at the
Chicago Shakes. Terry, I’m with Harold Bloom on Falstaff, meaning I
think more of him and his code of life-affirming values and less of Hal
than you do, but it speaks volumes for how wonderfully this play was
done–and of how great the play itself is–that what I saw yesterday
supports my interpretation as well as your own. And thanks for the tip
on the box lunches–it sure beat the power bar I would have been
eating otherwise.
It was then on to Hyde Park, for an evening with Lettice and Lovage. I
thought the plot was a bit spotty, but the deadly earnest and real
nature of the dialogue, combined with large dollops of humor and
tremendous acting, made it a perfect complement to the Shakespeare.
OK, so I didn’t get back to Milwaukee until 1 this morning. And yes, I
had to get up for work at 6. And yes, I’m exhausted as I write these
words. But I wouldn’t trade my day for anything in the world. There
are few things in life as wonderful as good theater. One of them is
knowing that there are people like the two of you to whom I can write
and on whom I can count to understand exactly what I mean.
And another is having readers like this. Many thanks.