Watching The Counter at the Roundabout Theater was an unexpectedly moving experience for me. At first, I thought it would be a simple play about a waitress and a regular customer in a small-town diner. As the story unfolded, however, it became so much more, a profound exploration of human connection, loneliness, and the burdens we sometimes place on others.

The characters of Katie and Paul, played brilliantly by Susannah Flood and Anthony Edwards, drew me in immediately. Their relationship starts in such an ordinary way, with Katie refilling Paul’s coffee, but there’s an emotional depth that’s slowly revealed as they open up to each other. The use of the passage of time throughout the play shows the first-person thoughts and feelings of Katie and Paul, which truly revealed the emotions that they both shared for one another. I found myself relating to Katie’s guarded demeanor, perhaps because it reminded me of those times when you’re going through something personal and, unexpectedly, someone in your life helps you carry that weight, even for just a moment.

The most powerful part of the play, for me, was when Paul makes a shocking request asking Katie to poison his coffee within the next couple of months, which ultimately forces both characters to confront their innermost fears and secrets. It made me think about how our everyday interactions, even the ones that seem trivial, can have such lasting effects on us. There’s a beautiful tension between humor and heaviness in the script, which is a testament to Meghan Kennedy’s writing. One moment I was chuckling at a light-hearted exchange, and the next, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering how these characters would navigate their intense, deeply personal emotions.

The diner setting was simple yet perfect. It felt intimate, as if I was sitting at the counter with them, observing their lives unfold. The minimalism of the set allowed the actors’ performances to really shine, and it made the emotional stakes feel even more palpable. The actors’ emotions and actions truly shone through the simple setting and made the emotional outbreaks even more prominent and touching. This play reminded me of my favorite episode from the show, Friends, called “The One Where No One’s Ready”. The premise of the episode is the fact that the camera never leaves the living room of Monica and Rachel’s apartment until the characters are all ready for an event in which they leave together, which is where the episode ends. The hilarious dialogue of Joey saying, “Look at me – I’m Chandler! Could I *be* wearing any more clothes?” as he is wearing 100 layers of Chandler’s clothes will forever be one of the most iconic quotes of the show. The simplicity of the setting, as the characters crack joke after joke and stress about what they have to wear to the event further highlights the incredible dynamic that the actors have with one another, very similar to the actors in The Counter.

What struck me the most about The Counter was how it left me reflecting on my own relationships, how even the smallest gestures or conversations can mean so much more than we realize at the time. The play’s exploration of deep themes like grief, loneliness, and moral ambiguity felt universal. I left the theater thinking about the people in my life and the roles we play for each other, whether we realize it or not. In short, The Counter isn’t just a story about a waitress and her customer. It’s about life, how we navigate our connections, and how even the most ordinary relationships can change the discourse of our lives.

The Art:

My Comment:

In 2018, Banksy, the anonymous street artist known for his provocative works, shocked the art world when his painting *Girl with Balloon* partially shredded itself immediately after being sold for £1.04 million at a Sotheby’s auction. A shredder, hidden in the frame, activated just as the gavel dropped, cutting the artwork into strips. This act of self-destruction was seen as a critique of the commercialization of art, highlighting the absurdity of its commodification and the way it’s often valued more as a status symbol than for its message. What interests me the most about this piece of protest art is how Banksy completely transformed the original message the painting had to an entirely new one. The stunt resonated with many as a bold statement against the elitism of the art market, reinforcing Banksy’s reputation as a protest artist who challenges societal norms. Banksy’s choice to shred his piece of art immediately after it was bought forms his art into a completely different message of critique and disgust towards the value that society places on how market value defines how important a piece of art actually is.

My trip to the Rubin Museum of Art was filled with so many eye-opening and interesting experiences. However, the art definitely grew even further on me as I write this blog post and reflect on what interested me the most. At first, I was very unsure of what to expect. I specifically chose the Rubin with the knowledge of its closing on October 6th, so I knew I had to go take the opportunity to see it one last time. As soon as I walked in and bought my ticket, I noticed the museum’s popularity immediately as it was substantially busy. I did no prior research as to what art pieces the museum held, so I went in with a very open mindset in what I was about to experience and see!

EXHIBIT 1: MUTED EXPRESSIONS, TSHERIN SHERPA

I wanted to start with the exhibit that truly resonated with me the most: Muted Expressions by Tsherin Sherpa. The bronze statue represents so much more than what is shown to the eye. It represents the effects of a devastating earthquake Nepal faced in April of 2015. At first glance, I was impressed by the size of the art, yet confused about why it was such a vocal point to the room.

 An employee of the museum approached my sister and me, explained the statue’s story, and pointed out the most intricate details only the trained eye could see. The employee explained the “rock on” and “peace” symbols shown in the front and back of the statue among the traditional hand poses in Hinduism and Buddhism. Seeing the employee’s passion for art truly inspired me to learn more about the Himalayan culture and how artists could incorporate both modern and traditional aspects of their respective backgrounds. I saw an example of this as well with a statue called the “Uber Rat,” in which the Buddhist sacred animal, the rat, is wearing headphones while looking like a yellow NYC taxi cab. All in all, learning about the inspiration and story behind a piece of art, however meaningful it actually is, truly transforms the image and offers a new perspective of a piece of art that one may have never come up with beforehand.

 (Different perspectives and details of the instillation)

EXHIBIT 2: COMPASSION, Jasmine Rajbhandari

Out of all of the paintings in one specific area of the museum, I was immediately drawn to Compassion the most. The red figures against the stark yellow background were extremely eye-catching and unique from a lot of the tapestries that were surrounding it. This painting’s visual aesthetic really intrigued me more than other aspects, and I really loved the vibrant colors of the paint. Looking closer, I saw the artist’s technique and how they strategically painted the yellow surrounding the figures in the painting. I remember admiring the effort and accuracy it must have taken to use such a bold color to surround the very intricate figures. After reading the description, the painting was about a Buddhist tradition called the Panchadan Festival that centered on men helping women and children during a war. Instead of representing human men assisting the women, the red figures in the painting actually represented the five Buddhist structures that would traditionally provide aid during times of war. 

EXHIBIT 3:

Lastly, the interactive exhibits were fascinating and entertaining. One exhibit that particularly stood out to me and my sister was the one related to scents. It was a fascinating and entertaining experience to be able to smell such specific scents coming out of machines. This reminded me of the way scents are pumped during rides at Disney to fully immerse the park guests, but in the case of the Rubin Museum, I was immersed in different scents and smells from regions worldwide. Some of the scents were unique and exotic, while others were familiar and welcoming. My favorite scent can be seen in the video with this link: IMG_7698 .

Conclusion:

All in all, the overall span of Himalayan culture represented in art is truly inspiring to see. At the Rubin, I saw Himalayan culture shown through gongs, scents, and even CGI characters. It truly opens your eyes to life outside of Western culture and the values that other cultures and religions hold. Referring back to what I said in the beginning, I recognized the art’s true meaning when I was able to see the blend of Western and Himalayan culture that the exhibits at the Rubin held.  As I learn more about the culture and story behind the exhibits shown above, the exhibits become more significant and hold an even deeper value. It is such a unique experience to be entirely surrounded by Himalayan artwork and culture in the middle of one of the world’s most bustling cities. I am so disappointed that I only learned about the Rubin due to its closing, however, my great experience has inspired me to further my journey in improving my knowledge of art. At the end of my visit, I wrote an inspirational message on a prayer flag that represented one of five Buddhist elements, which will be hung on the day the Rubin closes. 

By: Elisa Ujkashi, Rachel Malamud, Suzanna Grigoryan, Anna Kopachevsky

This piece of art speaks to us because it reminds us to also take great strides within our academic career. The person stepping alludes to taking risks and reaching for big goals in life, especially challenging yourself during college. This sculpture represents our campus because every student takes their own strides towards their future in whichever path they take. This sculpture is there to inspire and motivate students to persevere in their new chapter of life, despite how challenging it may be. We do not know who put it there, but the campus could have included it to serve as a constant reminder for students.