homeless' affinity for theatre

I have the great opportunity to play Juliet alongside the Romeo of one of my very good friends. Falling in love with her every night and being able to die (almost) in her arms is tangible and breathtaking. 

Throughout this rehearsal process, we have been entertaining various homeless gentlemen. 

The first of which found himself in our space because he wished to use the facilities. He was engaged in our story and didn't leave when he was done. Proceeding to take out a couple of mini-can beverages from god-knows-where and mutter to himself while rocking to and fro, he sat and enjoyed the extent of our production. 

And he was welcome. Well, until he began to pick at his toenails. But at least he moved to the back of the room to do that.

Second, a gentleman approached me right before I went onstage and questioned me about "donations". I responded, quickly, that I was not the person to ask and this was a private event. That we were rehearsing a play. Then, I hear my cue and had to run onstage. The man was visibly a bit ashamed of distracting me while I was obviously busy and began to leave. When I looked next, he had taken a seat and was watching with rapt attention. He stayed for a long while, and then exited just as quietly as he came in.

Last night was the epitome of homelessness entertainment. At a certain area of the "stage", there is a glass wall that separates us (the actors) from the street, and therefore the outside world. The homeless convene in this little alcove, with it's little bushes and shelter. It just so happens that they are now entertained for the next couple of weeks in their very own home. Mostly, they stay pretty quiet, content to just watch and listen to our story.

At our final dress, last night, as Romeo and I lay dead in the tomb, we begin to hear discontented mumbling between a couple of men. The words are impossible to decipher in the beginning, but the tone grows more and more angry, volatile. Once all the other characters discovered our bodies, almost the very end of the play and certainly one of the most heartfelt, the outside conversation reaches a climax-- below is verbatim what we hear onstage.

"Stop being such an ass!"

"DON'T TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY GODDAMN LIFE!!!"

In asking our director afterwards, these two gentlemen were also watching our proceedings with great attention and interest. 

All of this goes to show me that everyone really does like theatre. Obviously, most homeless people are unable to watch productions, due to the whole it-costs-money thing. I've felt fulfilled, in a certain way, by sharing my love of things with people who rarely see it. And maybe they began to be intrigued because Romeo and Juliet are both women. 

But they stayed because they are people in love.