Editorial: Kinship can get us through anything — even catastrophe

Editorial: Kinship can get us through anything — even catastrophe

Pink lights shine bright on Theatre Three's marquis at last year's event. Photo by Heidi Sutton

This past Monday’s storm decimated chunks of Suffolk’s North Shore. From Stony Brook, to Rocky Point, and so many towns in between, roads have collapsed, trees have fallen and homes have become boats in the street.

TBR offers our heartfelt sympathies to any person affected by this storm, in any way, and wishes to give you a beautiful example of the type of visceral human kindness that often pops up when tragedy strikes — but is never short of poignant.

Theatre Three, a beloved staple of the Port Jefferson community, was devastatingly hit by this storm that, seemingly, came out of nowhere. It was, bizarrely, not even connected to Hurricane Ernesto, which made its way along the coast.

Vivian Koutrakos, managing director of Theatre Three, said that throughout her 45-year tenure with the playhouse, she has witnessed it struck by 10 severe floods, with the worst having been in the past 10 years.

Due to this alarming trend, the basement, which has been frequently flooded, has “flood protocol” in place, like a raised washer and dryer, and items of that nature.

Well after Monday, that was all for nothing.

Chairs and tables literally floated away, and tools, machinery and cherished costumes from the playhouse’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” were drowned.

The situation looked bleak. When speaking to Koutrakos, she half-heartedly joked that she always says “she doesn’t have another flood in her.” But, with the unwavering support of empathetic neighbors, it certainly makes the load easier to bear.

In just 48 hours, locals teamed up and raised $20,000 and counting. Volunteers, actors and just concerned people, who’d heard of the theatre’s dire state, showed up with mops, and just started cleaning. And, one woman — in a display of utter compassion — who works in Queens and lives in Huntington, took the LIRR train to offer any help she could provide. Koutrakos had never seen her before.

So, while the tragic nature of this storm may leave you feeling down, disheartened and disappointed, remember the example of these local, good Samaritans, who decided to turn their heartache into a helping hand.

In the words of patriot Patrick Henry, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Remember, together we can overcome anything and everything. And the show must go on.