The Circle Theatre by Susan L.

   I gotta give the ole brain a break today. Sometimes it's hard to do that especially when the hamsters get running the gray matter wheels.
  H and I went to see "Fantastic Beasts" at the local cinema Wednesday night. It was about the effects of abuse, anger, betrayal, emotional suppression...the beasts played only a small part. Perhaps watching the trailer or reading the book before going to see it might have been prudent because it left me feeling rather raw by the time it was done. I did enjoy the lead actor's performance and the special effects were pretty amazing.
  Our local theatre lets you bring your own popcorn bowl. They'll fill it for a buck a scoop. In existence since 1938, it's one of the last independent movie houses still surviving. In this case, it's thriving. Entrance fees are reasonable, about half what it costs at one of the big theatres. So are snack prices.
  They are also environmentally conscientious. Drinks (unless you bring your own mug) and snacks are all in recyclable containers. The staff is at the exit to take any garbage, making sure as much as possible is recycled. Apparently, they only have one green bag of actual trash in a week. That's impressive. The marquee lights have all been replaced with LED bulbs.
  It's had a lot of updates over the last several years since the owner passed away and his wife took over the business. The original seats were reupholstered, cup holders were installed as well as a new sound system. When we first moved into the area, twenty odd years ago, the popcorn came pre-made in boxes instead of being freshly popped. The movies playing were already out on video. Now, the movies are current.
  Despite all the upgrades, it hasn't lost its old fashioned flavour which is why the seats were re-done as opposed to being replaced with more modern ones. Walking through the entrance of round windowed doors is a step back through time.
  I think the next time H and I go to see one of the upcoming features, we'll toss in dinner beforehand so we've more of a chance to visit. A few minutes' car ride isn't enough time to get caught up!
  "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." 2 Thes 3:3