Joseph Handlin

A few days ago, Penn State Abington had its very own performance on campus, EXIT: A Banquet Piece. A performance based on A Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare that began in the Sutherland Plaza. Soon we were guided to the IM Field to be seated.

It looked like rain, it was drizzling for a bit when EXIT began in the Sutherland Plaza at 6pm, but there was no small turnout for this event, not by a long shot. Even the Chancellor herself made an appearance. I was given an instrument alongside some other guests who arrived early. Almost as if on cue, the rain stopped for the performance to begin, an omen for what was to come. We saw the character Time in the plaza, and soon we were all chanting. It was truly a performance I will remember for a long time to come, even now, I find myself humming along to “All you touch is change.”

Once we arrived at the table, it had a nice tablecloth, there were candles, and beautiful flower arrangements. When we sat down, we were given a captivating performance in which the characters each introduced themselves and their relation to our Two Year Long Winter, a very nice metaphor for COVID-19. That idea was hammered home by the characters expressing feelings of being stuck, unable to move, loneliness, and pain. The sincerity of the acting took me by surprise, I was overcome by the emotion of feeling similar things in that winter they endured.

Afterward, we partook in two rituals. The first was where you spoke to your neighbor about which character you related to the most, and if comfortable, why? This ritual helped me connect to the other audience members in knowing I hadn’t been alone. In a quiet, lovely moment, the cleansing ritual began where each of us poured water on the neighbor’s hands, cleansing their energy.

There was very clear talent on display from all of the actors and actresses. I felt privileged to hear such beautiful and dreamlike music during the cleansing ritual. I believe the instrument was a xylophone, and the musician behind it absolutely killed it. The costumes and makeup were stellar; I was mesmerized by the colorful eye patterns of the cast.

After this cleansing ritual, we spoke one-word ailments, and then one word opposites, echoing “tis time” when they were spoken, before we enjoyed our feast.