Elgin Theater in Toronto

The novel opens at the Elgin Theater in Toronto where “King Lear” is being staged. It snows on stage and is snowing outside. The theater is a place where reality can be simulated. Staging the productions mimics out reality, even if it is heightened. Starting in the theater prepares the reader for the rest of the novel and the transitional world that awaits. While readers don’t realize the catastrophe that’s yet to come, readers are introduced to an unreal world that for a time becomes reality when it is presented.

Traveling Symphony

A significant portion of the novel finds characters on the road. The Traveling Symphony is a group of actors and musicians moving from settlement to settlement for their performances. The caravan is transported by horses. They carry their instruments, costumes, and supplies with them. The Traveling Symphony is meant to signify...