There is a group of 125 people in the theatre. The space only holds 250 so they are a significant group.
Many of them are wearing red hats. The red hats are a symbol of their club. They wear them with pride. They are a sign that they belong to something that has a great deal of meaning to them.
You may see the red hats and think that they are silly. That's fine. That just means that you aren't in the club.
The group is having a fantastic time at the theatre. The performance on stage is excellent but the audience is elevating it. They are bringing the energy.
On one level this was just a group sales transaction. The theatre gets the cash, they get a seat. But for these people it is a lot more than that. It's a chance for them to see friends that they may not get to see often. It's an excuse for them to break out those fancy red hats.
When people ask me what "art" is important, I tell them about those red hats. I tell them that art, particularly live art, matters only to the extent that it allows people to have an experience that they can share with each other.
Live art comes and goes. But the experience and bonding those people had will last most longer.
To me, that is what makes all the effort worthwhile.
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