Article December 9, 2013 Issue

A theatrical wake-up call

Marjorie Kehe

It was one of the most acclaimed Broadway shows of the moment, and I was thrilled to have a ticket. So there I was, hugging myself in the dark, gripped with despair as I watched the characters slide into a downward emotional spiral.

All at once, a fire engine came barreling past the theater, alarm blaring and horn honking, jolting me into remembering that outside—just a few yards from where I sat—the streets were packed with people who knew nothing of the predicament on stage.

Of course they didn’t. It wasn’t real. And even the best actors, makeup artists, and set designers in the world couldn’t make it so. If I’d wanted to, I could have ended the suspense by stepping out of the darkened theater. But I didn’t. I stayed to watch the rest of the play—and learned a lesson I’ve never forgotten.