It's 20for20 week in NYC, twenty off-Broadway shows are offering $20 tickets, so of course, the Economiser goes to town. Wednesday, I saw David Mamet's adaptation of The Voysey Inheritance at the Atlantic Theater (along with the Cherry Lane Theater, the only NYC venues with comfortable seats I've come across so far). There was stuff to think about here--what right do people have to live on unearned income (like me!), what is the ethically preferable course of action when you find out your father's looted the capital of his clients and is barely able to meet current interest payments (like Social Security!) and why are so many characters named Booth?

After a couple of hours at Mare in Chelsey eating divine yellow fin tuna and drinking delicious Jack Daniels sours, I went over to the Village to Actor's Playhouse to see Guttenberg! The Musical. This was a great example of making a really entertaining show on a shoestring. And because I'm working on a musical, I was also trolling for ideas to rip off. (BTW, it's about Guttenberg, the printing press guy, not the "Police Academy" guy.)

Last night, it was New World Stages for Bill W and Dr. Bob, about the invention of Alcoholics Anonymous (and Al-Anon, founded by Mrs. Bill W and Mrs. Dr. Bob). Bill was kind of a dick, but Dr. Bob was awesome! I was probably the only one there who hasn't had to deal with substance abuse with anyone close to me. I didn't even know enough to yell "Hi, Bill!" when the character introduced himself. Anyway, I'd planned to see a different show, but the performances of Dr. Bob and the woman who played "Woman" made this worthwhile. Coincidentally, my wine guy just called, and I have to go pick up a case of Reisling at Slope Cellars.

This afternoon, my friend Lorna from Maine is coming for a long weekend with her friend. I'm meeting them for a late lunch at Balthazar, which I'm looking forward to trying, and then hitting another $20 show.