这礼拜本地 PBS 在伸手要钱，所以今晚放了一个 Great Performance 中的录影：Stephen Sondheim 的 Company，Raul Esparza 主演的版本。我没看到大部分，只是恰好碰上了后半部分，哎呦喂，笑死了。
其实都不需要知道故事，就知道讲的是一个新中年危机的故事，一个害怕成年人生的35岁大男孩，再也做不了男孩子，又不敢跳进围城。周围一群城里的朋友，各有各的荒诞，例如他的邻居夫妻，离了婚还住在一起，比婚的时候幸福安定得多。一个准糖妈跟有钱而忍受她的第三任丈夫，高唱一曲"The Ladies Who Do Lunch"，把所有的纽约女郎都讥笑了一通。如此眼熟，并不是因为我认识这些人，而是因为在太多的纽约题材的文艺作品里看见这些太过典型的人物们。
作者George Furth，音乐和歌词 Stephen Sondheim。让人不停骇笑。他们各自的问题有一点点都市广泛性，但是大部分带有强烈的纽约性格，太纽约了。
说实在的我都不敢相信这是1970年的作品，放在今天完全适用，每一句讥刺的台词和歌词都一针见血。这时候突然明白了为什么纽约吓到了我，为什么纽约是一个让人抓狂的城市。它太 fabulous 了，纽约太多 fabulous 的人和太多 fabulous 的东西。
经济学家和心理学家现在众口一词告诉我们，太多的选择不是好事，只会让人 depressed，因为不管你选什么，结果只有一个：你总是觉得 missed out。另一个现象是，邻居比你有钱漂亮幸运是最难受的，比你强太多太多高高在上遥不可及的人，你不会去比，但是隔壁 Jones 家比你强一点点更加难受。自然现象。
在纽约住就是天天被提醒 you are missing out，得到的同时失去的更多，每一个选择都是敲定你已经失去其他 possibilities 的钉子。被提醒你的邻居比你 fabulous，而且还不光是比你有钱比你漂亮比你聪明幸运，而且比你艺术比你酷比你独特比你... 一切可比的 quality，都有比你强的人，而且都在你的身边。
THE LADIES WHO LUNCH
(Stephen Sondheim)
(spoken) I'd like to propose a toast.
Here's to the ladies who lunch--
Everybody laugh.
Lounging in their caftans
And planning a brunch
On their own behalf.
Off to the gym,
Then to a fitting,
Claiming they're fat.
And looking grim,
'Cause they've been sitting
Choosing a hat.
Does anyone still wear a hat?
I'll drink to that.
And here's to the girls who play smart--
Aren't they a gas?
Rushing to their classes
In optical art,
Wishing it would pass.
Another long exhausting day,
Another thousand dollars,
A matinee, a Pinter play,
Perhaps a piece of Mahler's.
I'll drink to that.
And one for Mahler!
And here's to the girls who play wife--
Aren't they too much?
Keeping house but clutching
A copy of "Life"
Just to keep in touch.
The ones who follow the rules,
And meet themselves at the schools,
Too busy to know that they're fools.
Aren't they a gem?
I'll drink to them!
Let us all drink to them!
And here's to the girls who just watch--
Aren't they the best?
When they get depressed,
It's a bottle of Scotch,
Plus a little jest.
Another chance to disapprove,
Another brilliant zinger,
Another reason not to move,
Another vodka stinger.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
I'll drink to that.
So here's to the girls on the go--
Everybody tries.
Look into their eyes,
And you'll see what they know:
Everybody dies.
A toast to that invincible bunch,
The dinosaurs surviving the crunch.
Let's hear it for the ladies who lunch--
Everybody rise!
Rise!
Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise!
Rise!
