With house lights up, arena stages let
The audience, once settled and in place,
See not just every facet of the set,
But also every audience member’s face.

And with a mustache or a lock of hair,
The seemingly familiar will beguile
And lead one to consider and to stare-
Is that someone I know? And should I smile?

And does the very nature of the space,
In which performers don identities
Like costumes, make it easy to replace
Unknown with known to ease one’s vague unease?

At least it’s possible to take some pride
In friends accurately identified.