Reopening theaters signal move to a new normal

Above : Gal Gadot stars in “Wonder Woman 1984.” (Photo: Clay Enos/Warner Bros.)

It’s been nearly a year since we’ve all been living under pandemic lockdown conditions. Most every aspect of our normal existence has been affected, from simply going to the grocery store to even thinking of flying to some exotic location.

Things slowly seem to be changing. The vaccine rollout has been a bit chaotic, but it’s been progressing – at least for the older generations – though that’s bound to apply to everyone else as more and more vaccine becomes available.

When lives are at stake, it feels inappropriate to talk about recreational activities such as movie-going. But mental health is important, too, and so many of us use movies and other kinds of watching as ways to step out of our real lives – and avoid, if for a moment, the anxiety that dwells there.

In any event, The Spokesman-Review is reporting that area movie theaters are reopening. Staff writer Maggie Quinlan wrote that AMC River Park Square opened last Friday, the Village Centre Cinemas at Wandermere will open tomorrow and The Garland Theater will open sometime in March.

There will be, of course, limitations imposed by the Washington State Department of Health . Theaters will operate on 25 percent capacity (or 200 people, whichever is less), “as long as six feet of physical distancing between households can be maintained.”

Physical-distancing, in fact, will be key both in lines to buy tickets and refreshments and in restrooms, along with sanitizing of seating areas between screenings. Other requirements include mask-wearing, except for “limited purposed and limited time period necessary to consume food and beverages,” which can be done only while seated in the respective theater.

Among the movies now playing at AMC are “Nomadland,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Wonder Woman 1984,” “The Croods: A New Age” and “News of the World.” Some of the same will play at the Village Centre Cinemas, as well as the animated feature “Tom Jerry.”

Some of these movie, at least, are already available through various streaming services.

Which brings up an obvious question: It may take some time for life to return to something resembling normal – if it ever does. I plan on taking things slowly, and that includes the question of when I’ll return to see a movie in a theater.

I’m not quite there yet. How about you?