"Teatro in times of plague"

4189 cases, 182 deaths.

Terribly hot day. I walked down to the main gate and out to the street. The San José main entrance is on one of the principal drags of the city. There is a slight incline in the street: to the right downhill takes you downtown, to the left, uphill, you go to Los Jasmines, IMVA, Pénjamo and the public hospital. There is a stoplight – a single one over the middle of the intersection – about 200 yards down to the right. The cross street is paved on one side, dirt road on the other side.

There was very little traffic while I was there. It was about 5:30 so it was technically covered by the 5:00 curfew, but I didn’t feel any police presence enforcing that. There just were very few cars (and nothing of taxis and buses). Funny how walking through the gate makes you feel free.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

4401 cases, 188 deaths.

The virus has gotten into the women’s prison in Támara, which has about 2000 inmates. There was some sort of massacre in it which was a gang-related adjustment. I had never thought much about women MS13.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

4640 cases, 194 deaths.

Today was my day to go out – 9 is the last digit of my Residence Card. The goal was to get an end of the month payroll organized. I left the house at 9:00, heading for the teatro and a date with Luis for 9:15. I pulled out of the main gate of San José and took a right into the stoplight; there were three cars ahead of me at the red light. There were very few people on foot or on bicycles. To get to he teatro I skirt the downtown. All the streets around the cathedral and the main square are blocked off. Luis later tells me it’s a tactic to keep from having traffic piling up. I guess so.

Downtown seems uninhabited even by our now exacting standards. I pull into the teatro. Luis is already there. I’ve got everything I need with me (I had done all the calculating at home), so we get into his car and head for the bank; he would serve as driver and bodyguard. Luis stayed with the car. There was no line and I immediately went through the rituals of hand sanitizer and temperature and went right to a teller. Everyone was quite friendly but definitely businesslike.

I went out, we got back in the car and headed for María’s house, not far from the bank. She was waiting. María is our bookkeeper. Essential worker. We went to the teatro. María got to work. Meanwhile, Israel the watchman (essential worker) washed my car. The poor thing really needed a bath. It’s been gathering a lot of dust.

Edy showed up with Lizeth. He and Luis huddled about how they were going to do rehearsal tomorrow. The are adapting The Lorax for radio. They had a live rehearsal on Monday and had tried virtual (zoom) rehearsals during the week but were very unsatisfied with that, so they are going to have another live rehearsal tomorrow, thinking on recording next week.

Friday, May 29, 2020

4752 cases, 196 deaths. 131 cases in El Progreso.

Edy and Luis had a rehearsal in the morning. I suspect they are having trouble with the rhythms of the language of the Lorax. Most of the actors haven’t done this piece, and Dr. Seuss’ poetry is a serious challenge; the pieces translated by one Aida Marcuse are the good ones and really capture his genius. I talked with Luis afterward and he seemed pleased with the rehearsal. They could do it because since they aren’t moving, they are seated in chairs at proper social distancing order.

It was cloudy and cool all day, and rained in the afternoon.

Very sad news to close the day: the violence virus struck on the Pénjamo bridge. José Geovanni García was shot varios times and killed while directing himself on bicycle to his home. He was 42 years old, owner of two stores of celulares and accessories; and was a body-builder who had a gym in the Colonia Bendeck. I didn’t know him, but at least two people I know did. He leaves 2 young children.

Keep safe and wash your hands.

Jack

 

 

 

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