Elinor Nauen

A karate friend is also an actor, part of this company. The Upstart Creatures usually feed people lavish homemade dinners between acts. Not at the moment, although we did get a delicious dessert after the wonderful staged reading of The Illusion, by 17th-century French playwright Pierre Corneille, English version by Tony Kushner. It doesn't take a lot to put us into the magic—Kushner's words & the cast's skill & enthusiasm carried us along. And of course it's fantastic to be back seeing live theater. 

It wasn't any random roof, it was in the West 30s where Upstart Creatures decided to try out LIVE THEATER. Carefully. Everyone in the cast was tested a day or two before, seats were 6' apart & the actors (who unmasked only when they spoke) were 10' away from the audience. We had our temperatures taken on arrival (dang it, even though I rode my bike & was overheated, I still didn't get anywhere near 98°). 

The play was Oedipus Tyrannus—a flawed leader during a plague. Brilliant but I think I would have been happy if I were watching a play in Flemish. It was so good to be around others, communally watching theater happen. I don't suppose I've ever appreciated live theater so much.