Liars and Saints

  It's hard not to see links between pre-Revolutionary Russia and today's United States: empires committing suicide, autocrats swindled by charismatic hucksters. Today's Rasputin might be RFK, Pam Bondi, or JD Vance. Antony Beevor's new book on Rasputin suggests that Tsar Nicholas seemed spectacularly incompetent in part *because* of his religious faith. Thousands of peasants would die in horrific ways, and Nicholas would refuse to alter his party plans. This looked cruel (and of course it *was* cruel). But there was context: Nicholas had a fatalistic outlook. He felt that God was pulling the strings. Rending one's garments wouldn't change God's mind. Rasputin succeeded with Nicholas partly because Nicholas was an idiot, but also because Rasputin had a very deep voice. When the heir to the throne was very ill, Rasputin's low, calming voice helped the heir to regulate his own breathing. And the heir recovered. This turn of events was viewed as miraculous....

 Like her papa, my daughter has a healthy disdain for organized fun. I myself cannot stand being at a concert when a B-list celebrity demands that I "clap along now, y'all!" Why should I do that? I find it oppressive. Susie's school danceathon was (typically) disorganized and puzzling. When I arrived, Dua Lipa was singing about her own private parts: Ooh, my outfit so tight! You can see my heartbeat tonight.  I can take the heat, baby; best believe... That's the moment I shine. Susie and I stood together while a stranger explained that we would be performing the chicken dance, the butterfly, the cha-cha slide, the robot, and the twist. I'm sure if I'd read my emails carefully, I'd understand the reason for all of this. My daughter spotted a moth--and wandered away from the crowd. She spent the hour talking to the moth, which reminded me of my "league baseball" days. (I would pick dandelions in the outfield.) One thing I learned was that the c...

 I have mixed feelings about the impending (possible) win that "Two Strangers" will (might) celebrate for Best Musical. On one hand, I admire the quiet audacity of this show: It's not about romantic love, and in a way it's not even really about friendship. It's truly about two strangers. It is grounded in character; it follows two people through fairly pedestrian problems, and it arrives at a plausible conclusion. On the other hand, on a line-by-line basis, the writing is often not distinguished. I'd save the Tony Award for a later work by these young writers. My two cents. I do think my personal performer of the year is Christiani Pitts. She will not win at the Tony Awards (and this has nothing to do with the quality of the performance). Her role isn't even the flashiest role in her two-character show. But I was touched and charmed by Pitts's work. That doesn't happen often in a theater. Pitts's character has screwed up in an understandable wa...

  "Tuner" is an old-fashioned thriller with ideas. Niki tunes pianos to pay his rent--but, in his past life, he was a gifted pianist. A case of hyperacusis means that he can no longer tolerate most noises. In my childhood, I studied the clarinet with a formerly professional musician. He himself had apprenticed with Luke Cage; when his body stopped working, he had to become a teacher. I could feel the weight of his sadness when I was with him. In "Tuner," Niki's depression is a ticking time bomb. He wants to live his life, but he also carries so much rage because he has been given a raw deal. His mentor encourages him to go out on dates--is this smart? If he can't take care of himself, should he really aim for an ambitious social life? Hyperacusis has an odd surprise for Niki. Because of his sensitivity, he can break the codes for access to various safes. Through a plausible coincidence, Niki falls in with a gang of thieves. He becomes indispensable to these ...

 It's odd to think of "Gypsy" in reference to "The Pitt," but I gotta be me. Sondheim's wonderful gift was his way of showing people at war with themselves; Madame Rose, running on fumes, often wants to self-destruct. Why did I do it? What did it get me? Scrapbooks full of me in the background. Give 'em love--and what does it get you? What does it get you?  One quick look as each of them leaves you. All your life--and what does it get you? Thanks a lot, and out with the garbage. They take bows, and you're batting zero. Like Rose, Dr. Robby has an addiction to work; it's the chaos of professional life that keeps the doctor afloat. Still, quiet moments are terrifying--because they allow for reflection. Dr. Robby doesn't want to think. One of the surprises of "The Pitt's" second season is that it gives Langdon a "Louise" moment. Having spent ten hours seeming insecure, vulnerable, Langdon finally sheds his skin and become...

  Having a child can be a wakeup call. One hundred years ago, literary theorists began to speak of "defamiliarization," the alien gaze. This is where you describe an ordinary object from the perspective of a non-human. A famous example involves Ariel from "The Little Mermaid": "LEGS are required for jumping, dancing....strolling along down the.... what's that word .....STREET!" Well, having a child can be like living alongside Ariel. My son is disturbed--in every sense of the word--disturbed by the existence of insects. Intrigued, alarmed, excited, flustered, enchanted. This is my wakeup call. Insects: They're really strange! We all tend to forget. For a long while, I thought my son used words in the way adults tend to use them: Words were a vehicle for thought. But now I'm realizing that words are (sometimes) more like a placeholder for Josh. They aren't always meant as a means of communication. They're a sound that pops out of his mou...