Writing Samples- Critiques

September 12, 2022
FOOD REVIEW: Feeling like Bait
I have been dating my boyfriend for over a year and I’ve never met either of his parents- until this Saturday. I have been extremely nervous in anticipation of the dinner, overthinking everything from clothing to wearing too much makeup or smelling too strong or bad. There was so much for her to judge and with the amount of time we’ve been dating at this point and the fact that we’ve newly moved in together, there was more pressure than ever.
We called in a reservation an hour before the actual dinner and accidentally only booked it for two people, but Crave Fishbar on Second Avenue was happy to indulge us. I wanted to bring her something special that she didn’t have to pack and bring home not to kiss her ass, but a little bit to kiss her ass. I thought it’d be sweet if we grabbed cupcakes from Buttercup Bakery, my favorite bakery in the city, even though we were already half an hour late. The ube cupcakes from Buttercup are an alarming bright purple, similar to that of the NYU logo. The cakes are soft and supple, the frosting is not too sweet, and topped with tiny purple sprinkles that give the cake a much needed crunch. The woman who walked in a millisecond ahead of us began yelling at the bake staff who was now running around frantically trying to find spoons and cups for her huge pudding order. I can picture his mom sitting in the lobby staring at her watch and I can hear the hands of a clock ticking. I’m unintentionally tapping my foot and trying to catch eye contact with anyone in the hopes they will telepathically understand my desperation. The couple at the register looks at us sympathetically as they overheard us talking about our situation and they are also trying to pay for one single cupcake.
Fifteen minutes later, we have our cupcakes and rush down the street. It’s hot and humid and it’s showing on my forehead in the form of little droplets. We find her sitting in a comically large armchair in the lobby of her hotel. We exchange pleasantries for the first time. She tries to give me a hug from the aforementioned running down the street, but she’s kind and makes little eye contact. We make our way to the restaurant slowly. The sidewalk is noticeably too slim for all three of us to walk side by side so I trail behind in the hopes that my submissive nature will somehow make her like me more.
Crave Fishbar is crowded and people chatter amongst themselves outside. The exterior twinkles with warm string lights. It exudes what I imagine the word “nightcap” to look like. People are enjoying the summer evening and listening to the cars pass. Inside, it is much colder because of the air conditioning but still reflects the same warmth as outside using decor. The restaurant itself is two stories. I follow a petite brunette lady into a thin hallway and the boyfriend and mom trail behind, so far behind that we have to wait halfway up the stairs for them. I’m suddenly very aware that you may be able to see up my skirt as I walk up the stairs. Our table is up against a wall and I have a view of the terrace with the fire escape. Everything feels very cozy and inviting, but I’m still irrationally on edge.
The prices at Crave Fishbar are mediocre. For New York City, drinks range from $17 to around $22 and entrees range from $18 to $33. It’s even harder to find cheap drinks and food in Midtown. We tried extra hard to find something nice, but not overly indulgent. Crave Fishbar had average prices and checked all of the boxes for a first meeting spot where you don’t want to over pay. We start with drinks to which she inquires about espresso martinis, something the boyfriend and I actually discussed on the train here. I rave about how espresso martinis have become a delicacy of New York and how she should try one at least once in the hopes of bonding with her. She decided to order the “Big Ben” which contains vodka, grapefruit, elderflower, and fresh lime. I stick to my instincts and order an espresso martini. A cute detail that Crave Fishbar added, was a little drawing of what glass each drink came in next to the selection on the menu. However, when the boyfriend ordered they gave him a little martini glass that was not indicated on the menu.
We started with the calamari which happens to be one of my favorites and a good staple food; no one can ever say no to fried anything. This particular calamari was refreshing. Crave balanced the heaviness of the fried octopus with cold and crunchy bean sprouts. I do not like bean sprouts particularly but I didn’t want her to think I was close minded so I tried them and I’m so glad I did. The bean sprouts made the dish. They were extremely fresh and felt closer to water crests than the bean sprouts I’m used to eating. I was very proud of myself for trying something I have such a strong opinion of.
As an entree, I ordered the Barramundi, a fish I’ve never heard of. The fish itself was beautifully plated, a white fish with a miso glaze crust and some asparagus. The whole meal felt very grand. The fish itself was surprisingly good, but because I was so nervous I didn’t eat much.
For dessert, we got key lime cheesecake because she wanted to try “New York cheesecake”. The cheesecake ended up being from a different restaurant nearby. The cheesecake was alright but would have been much better had it been fresh.
Crave was the perfect place for meeting the boyfriend’s mom because of the comfortable atmosphere and the laughter covered any awkward silences that pursued.



THEATER REVIEW: Hadestown
The doors of the Walter Kerr Theater flood 48th Street with warm lights followed by an extensive line consisting of tourists, theater lovers, older couples on a date night, students, native New Yorkers, large families who brought their young child in a giant stroller against their better judgment and more, despite being open for over three years (excluding COVID). Not to mention this particular show has won a total of 8 Tony awards including Best Musical and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. The musical is “Hadestown” adapted from a book by Anaïs Mitchell, who also wrote the music and lyrics for this theatrical adaptation.
The show follows two stories of Greek mythology. The first is about Euridice and Orpheus, two lovers who find each other despite struggling to survive through poverty since global warming has made their environment unliveable. Euridice sings poetically, “All I’ve ever known is how to hold my own, but now I want to hold you too” perfectly encapsulating their feelings for each other despite the hardships of their life. The second storyline follows Greek Gods, Hades and his wife, Persephone, who are experiencing marital struggles despite their love for each other. The stories overlap when Euridice is tricked and lured by Hades to the underworld with the promise of a meal. Orpheus makes it his mission to travel to the Underworld to retrieve Euridice and bring her back to the real world by writing a song and performing it for Hades.
Lyrics are the core of the show because there isn’t much speaking outside of the songs. The lyrics of each song are beautiful riddles, while they are poetically beautiful, the show feels like it’s moving too fast and dragging at the same time. The audience has to quickly analyze what each line means. The plot could have been more fleshed out for an audience member who doesn’t know the original story of Euridice and Orpheus. However, the music is so beautiful that the show still shines.
The New Orleans jazz sound of the melodies adds much needed enthusiasm and whimsy to a melancholy plot. The songs are accompanied by a band who stand on stage throughout most of the show, unlike most Broadway shows who hide their orchestra under the stage. The story is narrated by Hermes, another god, who breaks the fourth wall by talking directly to the audience and sometimes giving other characters advice. At one point, he even introduces the band by name to the audience. There are also a few fun and upbeat performances from Persephone, Hermes, and The Fates, who embody the cycle of life.
There are some real stand out performers who are necessary to bring this show to life. Hades, played by Patrick Page, has the perfect speaking voice for Hades as his voice is very deep. The audience audibly gasps after his much anticipated first line, he growls, “I missed ya,”
Eva Noblezada who plays Euridice has a clear and bellowing voice that fills the room with passion. Her second rendition of “Wait for Me (Reprise)” when she belts her verse. The pain and determination emanates so purely as the stage is filled with huge swinging lights that hang from the ceiling providing a physical obstacle for the performers and a three dimensional feeling to show as they swing over the crowd.
There are two minor faults with this musical. The first is the amount of time they spend on Orpheus’s journey to get Euridice and bring her back from the underworld. They utilize the same leitmotifs and songs repetitively. The other idea that they spend too much time on is the doubt they have during the journeys. There could have been more variety in the music which would give the show a bit more flair, rather than the amount of reprises they use. It seems Mitchell wanted the audience to feel the suspense as Euridice and Orpheus do. However, there was a disconnect for the audience because the show should remain exciting and engaging at all times.
The second big fault with this musical is not the musical’s fault, but the critics. All the reviews of this show rave about the brilliance and beauty of this show. While these raves are accurate, this play is not a . It requires much more thought and analysis then the average musical viewer is used to. This particular musical is more complicated than The Lion King is. The fact that reviewers are leaving this important aspect out of their reviews feels unfair to the potential audience.
“Hadestown” is a beautiful retelling of an old story that has been told many times. This retelling of Euridice and Orpheous’ story is worth seeing for the music alone, but you will also have a wonderful time watching the gorgeous set and dancers parade around the stage if you have two hours and thirty minutes to spare.