Theatre, Chicago, Sherlock, Love

Today was the official launch of The 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre. It will be a year highlighting Chicago Theatre. The year will feature performances, grants for theaters, and a Global media campaign. Our mayor spoke tonight about how Chicago can give NY and London a run for their money in terms of theatre.

I remember when Hamilton came to Chicago, Lin-Manuel Miranda kept being asked: "Why Chicago?" and he kept looking at the various interviewers with odd bewilderment on his face and said, "Of course Chicago, Chicago's theater is amazing, How do you not know this?". I also remember during a theater open house having it be suggested Chicago has more theaters (storefront theaters/comedy clubs/etc) than NY. I am glad we will be spending a year remembering our amazing theater. Though I think "the world (is) wide enough for both (Chicago) and (NY/London)"

This is also the middle of Chicago's annual Theater week where numerous shows across the city can be seen for $15 or $30 dollars. Yesterday I saw "My Dear Watson: A Sherlock Holmes Musical" by Jami-Leigh Bartschi presented at the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival at The Edge Theater. I enjoyed it since I love Sherlock and because it was a nice break from the super heavy and troubling plays I have seen recently.

I will say one plot point which rubbed me the wrong way was the idea of trying to figure out if Sherlock was a man or a machine. Why would a machine not be a man, why can't a man be a machine too? I am glad that the program points out:

 "As you watch this show, remember that loving and being loved may not look the same to all people, but that does not mean they are not capable"

This week is also Valentines Week so I am even more aware of issues of Love. I recognize it can be problematic to give identities to people or characters who lived long before a particular term was created. But saying that, many in the Ace/Aro communities claim Sherlock as our own. And I feel identifying Sherlock as Ace or Gray A or Demi seems to both fit the character as written and as to how the character has been interpreted through history.

The question, if a person is a "man or machine", is problematic. Love is Love no matter what form it takes. I mean The Greeks had 6 words for Love: Philia, or deep friendship. Ludus, or playful love. Eros, or sexual passion. Agape, or love for everyone. Pragma, or longstanding love. Philautia, or love of the self.

I would say Sherlock "Aced" Philia, Pragma, and even Ludus with Watson. I would be happy to end up a Sherlock's Watson or even a Watson's Sherlock. So this whole man or machine is a false distinction and the question can x person Love is an unreasonable question. Everyone can love and everyone should be loved in return.