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A Toast to Madame Mitnick


Looking Towards Times Square, half a block from the theater

For the last fifteen plus years I've had the pleasure of a theater subscription at the Pearl Theater Company. I go with a friend I first met and worked with thirty years ago. The company does classic theater -- rarely anything later than 1950 -- and over the years we have seen just about everything by Ibsen and Strindberg and lots of English Restoration Comedy, with some Shakespeare and Greek tragedy in the mix.  I especially like the comedies and tonight we saw "The Misanthrope" by Moliere. It was very enjoyable and the acting was terrific. 

My memory flashed back to my years of high school French and my heart ached for our French teacher, Madame Mitnick. She had the unenviable task of fostering an appreciation of French literature, especially when presented in rhyming couplets, to easily distracted adolescents. But forty years later her vision was achieved and although in English, I had a wonderful evening with Moliere.  A toast to Madame Mitnick and to all of my teachers throughout the years for all of their efforts. Bravo and merci bien! 

3 comments

Gloria said...

Oh, your theatre subscription sounds great! You are so lucky. I wish I would have taken French. I made my son take it in H.S. I took Spanish in H.S. and the only thing I can remember is: "Donde es el bano? (with that thing over the 'n') and that means: "Where is the bathroom?" Which is, I think, the most important thing for one to know in any language. :)
Best,
Gloria

Grammy Staffy said...

How sweet of you to remember your French teacher so fondly. I hope that from time to time some of my high school students I had over the years will think of me with fond memories. Teachers put so much of themselves into the subjects they teach, but it is rare to know if your students catch your vision. A few months ago I ran into a student from 20 years past who stopped me and told me I had made a difference in her life. That meant so much to me. It still warms my heart to think of it.
I hope the Madame Mitnick is still around and by some chance of fate, she finds this post and reads it. It will warm her heart and make her day... and if she is reading it from the other side, it will still make her day.
Hugs, Lura

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Sounds like fun! I love the theater but don't get there as often as I would like. Friday evening my husband and I are seeing Amadeus at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia for his birthday. I am looking forward to going!

Sweet memories of your teacher!