As If on Cue by Marisa Kanter

Author:Marisa Kanter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: S&S Books for Young Readers
Published: 2021-09-21T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Reid taps his knee to the beat of the music for the entire first act and it’s so distracting, but I know, without a doubt, bringing him was the right decision.

Our seats are in the mezzanine, second row, with a perfect view to take in the artistry and choreography of the animal puppets and the set design. The show is incredible. I tear up pretty much the moment the music starts. “The Circle of Life” is an intense emotional experience live, okay! There is so much to take in… but I’m having fun watching Reid. I’ve never seen him so absorbed in a moment. He even sheds a tear when Mufasa dies, and doesn’t try to hide it. Then he dances in his chair during “Hakuna Matata”—when he knows I’m never going to let him live it down. Reid is… having fun?

It’s shocking.

At intermission Reid excuses himself in the name of overpriced M&M’s and I try to reconcile this musical theater–obsessed Reid with the serious clarinet is my life person in my kitchen every morning. I try scrolling through my phone but the service is spotty this high up, so I drop it back into my purse and take a sip of water. The lady sitting next to me makes eye contact and smiles. She’s grandma age and wearing a statement glam necklace.

“How long have you been together?”

I choke on water. Full-on spit up all over my dress.

“We’re not,” I cough.

“Sure, sweets. Sure.”

I blame the matching outfits. But luckily Reid returns, and we all stand so he can squeeze by, ending the conversation with Glam Necklace. Reid’s arm brushes against mine when he takes his seat. He doesn’t shift, just stays like that, like it’s normal for our arms to touch. I don’t pull away. If I do, that’ll mean I think this is a thing. It is not a thing.

Glam Necklace is making me overthink everything.

Reid holds the M&Ms out to me as the lights dim. I shake my head because Glam Necklace is throwing some major side-eye in my peripheral vision. Reid dumps the contents of the M&M’s box into his palm, so his arm is no longer pressed against mine and I can relax again.

Except The Lion King is based on a goddamn tragedy!

Reid repeatedly tears up during act two. So do I. It’s ridiculous. I have seen this movie countless times! (The animated version, of course. In my house, we pretend the live action one doesn’t exist.) And Hamlet is one of the most heavily adapted Shakespeare plays of all time. Both the movie and the musical require suspension of disbelief, but in the theater the stakes somehow feel higher. The moment when Simba reunites with Mufasa’s spirit just hits different onstage.

It reminds me of the power in live theater that I love so much. Why I love Melted so much.

The show ends with a standing ovation and we both leap to our feet.

This might’ve been the best birthday present ever.

Reid is, like, full-out

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