Dan Shapiro

Booth TheATER 3/09

Some days when I wade through New York City traffic or try to keep my cool when dealing with a mindless bureaucrat, the only thing that makes me stay here is the arts and theatre in NYC.

As a member of the Theatre Development Fund (TDF) I go to a lot of theatre, some good some bad and some very special. Last night I went to Next to Normal. A musical about a mother, whose grief at losing an infant son, has brought on a bipolar condition and how it affects her family.

The theme of this musical was a surprise to me after reading a brief review which stated. "Next to Normal is a contemporary musical that explores how one suburban household copes with crises..." The reviewer could have been talking about unemployment, or crab grass, but certainly not mental illness.

Next to Normal has thirty original songs and the last two are good enough, if re-orchestrated, to stand alone, but there is not a single title of a song in the Playbill!!! A Playbill about a musical without songs; I am reminded of "Don't write naughty words on walls, if you can not spell" and don't write reviews if you haven't seen the show!

This production is a wonderful night of theatre, especially the first rate acting of the grief stricken mother and the powerful singing of the mother and daughter. The songs were mostly to the point and poignant. The exception was a hilarious Mary Popins-like ... "Valium and Prozac are among my favorite things..."

Most musicals are banal, but Next to Normal, puts you in the family and you understand the emotional and practical problems of mental illness.

Next to Normal, also explores the hit and miss state of modern psychiatric medicine. The long dead infant appears as a teenager, who takes on a demon-like quality more like "the Exorcist" than a modern medical problem.

Despite a poor playbill, Next to Normal is not alternative condition, but another reason to see theatre in New York City.

FOR MORE SEE www.ditmasestates.com

La Villita

1249 Avenue U

Brooklyn, NY

718 998 0222

If you want a cheap, but interesting family meal Avenue U is definitely the place to go. There are a half dozen Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, but one Mexican Restaurant La Villita.

This small Formica table place has maybe a couple of dozen seats, but what it does have is good inexpensive food.

The Guacamole is a fresh yellow green and creamy (Guacamole turns brown almost immediately) and the Salsa fresca is a winner. Warning the regular salsa can be spicy.

I had the Mole Poblano, usually made with Turkey, but this time chicken fillets were used. Mole Poblano, a dark savory sauce is made with bitter chocolate, and should be easy to take down, but have an after burn. The sauce was thin, but tasty. A salad was included all for $ 11. The enchiladas and burritos were also good and approximately the same price

The waitress friendly and is constantly at attention. Avenue U has plenty of meters so parking is not usually a problem

for more see www.ditmasestates.com

Triple Z

1410 Avenue U

718 382 4328

With Ducks and half pigs hanging in the window, there is no doubt that this is an authentic Chinese eating place.

There are lunch specials as cheap as $ 4 and the food is very fresh, as there is a major Chinese market next door. A la carte main courses run about $ 10

The green vegetables are done just so and the sauces have none of the gloppiness of a Junior High School cafeteria. You can even get your Chow Fun dry

The ambiance is definitely family style, expect to sit at a large round table with people you don't know.

BTW definitely go to the market next door, the Chinese love their greens and always have at least a dozen varieties available. Don't worry if you don't speak perfect Mandarin, the store's help always answer every question with "very good, very fresh".

For more see www.ditmasestates.com

Lalezar Turkish Restaurant

2715 Avenue U, Brooklyn, NY

718 769 7003

My group of friends decided to go to Lalezar for lunch. Two of us arrived early, and we told the restaurant that other were coming, we were told to take a seat in a darkened dining area. When we were approached by a waiter, we asked that the lights be turned on and that bread and water be brought to us. I was rather aghast when the response was -we will when the others come!?! I should have walked out then, but my friends were meeting us there. My friends arrived so did the lights, water and bread.

When the lights turned on I noticed that the dining room was dingy. Lalezar had none of the delightful flat Turkish bread, but did give us a stingy amount of dry Pita.

Not a good start.

The lunch menu, a folded plain paper copy, had no lunch specials! It did have a catering menu. When we tried to order the catering menu, we were told it is not available in the restaurant. The a la carte menu was not cheap, but we were hungry. We ordered one large salad for the table and one small size main per person and the bill came to $15/per person. My lamb was greasy and the Feta was dry and yellowy.

Maybe Lalezar should keep the lights off.

For more see www.ditmasestates.com

Primorski-

282 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235

http://primorski.net

718-891-3111

In almost the center of Little Odessa ( a.k.a. Brighton Beach ) is Primorski. A nightclub, known for its copious buffets and flowing Vodka, but they are also open for lunch-or are they??? There was a roof leak and most of the bathrooms were flooded. We were the only patrons and none of us spoke Russian and our waitress spoke no English!

Primorski advertises a $6 dollar three course, sit down hot lunch, with soup, salad, main course and coffee it is a real bargain.

However, trying to resolve the complexities of their menu without speaking fluent Russian is not easy. It turns out there is a second prix fixe lunch at $ 12 and it is a true banquet. There is hot Georgian Borscht and a Lamb and Potato soup, served with Afghan Bread, which is a meal in itself. Next comes both Shepard Salad and Cabbage Salad, the cabbage salad is just oozing olive oil. A platter of Cheese Borekas filled us up and the main course was yet to arrive.

Be careful what you asked for !!! The main course finally arrived, an immense platter heaped with Sausage, Cornish Hens, Chicken Tabac, Chicken Sish kabob with a small mountain of potatoes done nicely with Rosemary. There was no way we were going to finish.

Just in case, you would starve between the main course and dessert. Fruit Blintzes, roll your own crepes with fruit jam and sour cream were served. My favorites.

The owner apologized to us a dessert was late, and still to come chocolate layer cake, with extra chocolates, but having spent ninety minutes over the previous courses, we paid our bill and fled.

For more see www.ditmasestates.com