Woody Allen, “Turnings of Fortune” and the Cable in Herodion

As we climbed its marble steps Herod Atticus Conservatory At a Woody Allen concert, we knew we were there to see him more than hear him. In this sense, any shortcomings of the great director in performing the clarinet were overshadowed by the joy of his presence. We didn’t smile at anything: his movements, his deep breaths, his few lines into the microphone, the way he wiped his mouth with his sleeve after every song. When a man touches so much, so deeply, he can receive love freely. Because he displayed it many times through his work.

Some of us had already “met” him the day before, at the special premiere of his new film “Turnings of Fortune.” “I’m in your city because I have a concert tomorrow,” she sheepishly reminded us into the microphone, “so I thought I’d stop by and say hello.” Everything was great that night, everything except the movie itself: even Woody Allen’s biggest (or perhaps most) fans would agree that the movie was great. Cute, but also indicative of his artistic awkwardness.

The next day Allen found himself in a crowded Herodio, with six talented musicians from a New Orleans jazz band and an obvious love of his country’s traditional music. Songs from the beginning of the 20th century, jazz, ragtime, blues, church music, parades and brothels, he said characteristically into the microphone. “We’ll do our best to entertain you—and then we’ll get tired and go home.” On fast, upbeat tracks, my mind wandered to scenes from his old films. Scenes in which he persistently crosses a New York street, funny scenes, full of ironies and mischief. I dare say that even the unintentional “false” notes that came out of the clarinet every now and then were related to his comical persona, causing a mixture of smiles and embarrassment. But on the whole, the result was decent, and the audience remained calm, engaged, and generous in its applause. Upon leaving the stage for the first time, the 88-year-old Allen instructed the musicians to watch the cable so they wouldn’t trip. During the second, he avoided the cable with a comic skit, as if he were jumping on a river. He was the picture of a man mocking his old age, mocking his fears and his life, as he always did.