Pre (2009) Reviews

• LES: Back in the day

  dziengel2009-09-06

  PRE, the feature film reminds me, (btw I'm one of the actors from the film) and someone who also worked in the theatre back in 1999 to 2002 on LES -- that -- The Lower East Side was a mecca of underground, raw, exciting New York City theatre Less than 10 years ago!! And now its gone. A time when you could walk the streets of Stanton and Rivington and Ludlow to Houston To Allen Street -- there was at least 30 theatres up and running giving off an electricity that is missing on the LES today. I think there is less than 3 theatre companies running now. I might be wrong. But whatever, this was a time that I remember that a friend of mine who lived in an apartment building had to throw down her bldg.keys to any visiting friend so that they could get in her bldg and she lived on the top floor. At the time we thought that was funny -- but now I think its cool -- Because it reminds me of the type of people living down there at the time -- it was more of a mixture of artists and old New Yorkers of all backgrounds intermingling doing whatever kind of job and leading any kind of life they wanted and everyone understood. Now they can't afford to live down there. Not that its Bad today -- I mean its very nice today -- very safe and good restaurants,etc. But there is an edge missing and I believe when an edge is missing in a city like NYC -- then it kinda falls into a mold of other cities and they all end up the same -- no different, you know. I like that New York should be different than all cities -- I know it still is -- but the edges are getting dull -- so, to make a long story short -- PRE takes you back to 2001 -- an exciting time in NYC theatre and the LES neighborhood -- maybe 9/11 had something to do with making it change or NYU :) -- maybe it didn't -- I'm not sure -- but definitely after 9/11 or so -- that part of Manhattan wasn't the same anymore -- Like I said I don't hate it there now -- but I sure miss what that "little something extra" was. I'm glad I was able to work on the film that is like a piece of history we can savor and learn from. So, DEMAND to see this movie -- to get a feel for what it was like to be a part of off-off Broadway downtown NYC theatre then. It was fun and so was this film. Thank you -- to the back in the day LES -- with all your Edginess!!! Heavy, JRdz.