Some works of art just never get old: No matter how many times you've seen the film, read the book, watched the ballet or heard the symphony, it remains thrilling. I find this true for Edith Wharton's novella Ethan Frome, which I have read countless times since the tenth grade. (It's only 77 pages, so it's not too big an accomplishment.) I just picked it up again and the tale seems brand new. We all have the same experience with many movies, and despite knowing how they end, the watching is absorbing each time.
Then there are other works of art that make you say, "Been there, done that." Sadly, comedian Jerry Seinfeld's performance last night fell in that category. While he was certainly funny and everyone had a good time, some of the laughter seemed forced--I know mine was--stemming only from pure love for Jerry. The audience of baby boomers who grew up with him doing stand-up comedy and younger folks who were raised on Seinfeld came psyched and ready to laugh til it hurts. But like the sitcom, many of the bits were reruns, some dating back a dozen years or more. That was fine if you were seeing him for the first time, but for those of us who had trekked to the Merrill Auditorium two years ago, and two years before that, many of the stale punchlines packed little punch.
The evening was disheartening, since I've always counted on Jerry to offer a fresh look at life through his own twisted prism, acting as somewhat of a good-natured chronicler of our times. But last night he seemed more intent on the pitfalls of marriage and times gone by. And seeing him looking less fit and balder, and sounding downright angry, one had to simply face facts: Jerry is now 59, and what's so funny about that? Apparently, less and less.
Then there are other works of art that make you say, "Been there, done that." Sadly, comedian Jerry Seinfeld's performance last night fell in that category. While he was certainly funny and everyone had a good time, some of the laughter seemed forced--I know mine was--stemming only from pure love for Jerry. The audience of baby boomers who grew up with him doing stand-up comedy and younger folks who were raised on Seinfeld came psyched and ready to laugh til it hurts. But like the sitcom, many of the bits were reruns, some dating back a dozen years or more. That was fine if you were seeing him for the first time, but for those of us who had trekked to the Merrill Auditorium two years ago, and two years before that, many of the stale punchlines packed little punch.The evening was disheartening, since I've always counted on Jerry to offer a fresh look at life through his own twisted prism, acting as somewhat of a good-natured chronicler of our times. But last night he seemed more intent on the pitfalls of marriage and times gone by. And seeing him looking less fit and balder, and sounding downright angry, one had to simply face facts: Jerry is now 59, and what's so funny about that? Apparently, less and less.
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