Chat with Deb— “Avengers: Endgame” Act II
Everything is fine. Everything is normal. So why do I feel like there could be a loud explosion any minute?
Two and a half years ago (March 2020), Deb and I went to see a production of “Kinky Boots” at the Fulton, a local live theatre:
The tone of the evening was… weird. Deb compared it to Act I in Avengers: Endgame when half the population had disappeared, but everyone was trying to carry on like nothing had happened. People were avoiding coming to large gatherings, large gatherings were being cancelled, the COVID numbers were going up but no one seemed to know what that meant. And before the start of the musical, the theatre’s executive director comes out and announces that Kinky Boots will be closing immediately after that night’s show.
A shame, because it was a great performance.
DEB: I would go see that again! They did a great job!
And as it so happened, for the 2022/2023 season, Fulton Theatre added “Kinky Boots” to the lineup again. And we have season tickets again, so we went. (In the afternoon, because when you’re retired you get to do that.)
DEB: Okay, two folks in the front row, one on the end over there, one couple back there. And us. So, what, six out of six hundred odd capacity, maybe one percent wearing masks?
ME: They have an understudy filling in for the lead. Okay, that’s one replacement for this show, we had two for the last show, I think? And then both shows we saw in New York over the summer had major roles replaced by understudies. It’s like the theater industry is trying to pretend that everything is fine, everything is normal, but really they’ve just gotten good at having backups ready.
DEB: Well… it’s been a beautiful day, anyway.
And it was! We walked around Lancaster, had lunch at a new international food court that opened recently, and enjoyed weather that was finally turning cooler.
Meanwhile, the COVID numbers are rising in Europe, which has been just ahead of the US the last few waves… Putin is threatening to use “tactical” nukes in Europe… we have people in this country threatening violence if they don’t get the results they want in the midterms, or the courts…
DEB: We’ll enjoy today, okay, Jackster? (squeezes my hand)
ME: You bet, Debster! (I give her a kiss)
At the end of Act II in Avengers: Endgame there is a moment where it looks like the plan worked. The family that had vanished forever is calling. The day is bright and pretty. And then, glancing into the sky, there are missiles incoming…
Or as Ann Litts posted on Facebook:
