Acceptance, Forgiveness, and the Lasting Impact of ‘Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)’
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Me sitting inside the Longacre Theatre, sobbing in my seat as the last few minutes of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) played out in front of me. It was the middle of January, and we were experiencing some unusually warm weather; however, the threat of winter was just on the horizon. You could smell the snow in the air, which is truly a magical experience in the heart of New York City, and yet here I sat, emotionally wrecked, and unable to compose myself, with no real explanation as to why. At least, none that were dawning on me in that moment.
And so, as the exit music played and we shuffled out of the theater with the rest of the patrons, I filed those emotions away in my back pocket and chalked it up to the magical experience I had with this incredible musical. And that’s where I had left it. There wasn’t any particular reason to pull that back out and examine it under a microscope; I frequently cry at shows I see, so it’s nothing super out of the ordinary. However, there was some kind of emotional connection I felt to Two Strangers, one that kept drawing me back with a fierce loyalty. It wasn’t like I was listening to the soundtrack every day; in fact, I hadn’t played it once upon returning home from NYC. But I was discussing this show with everyone who would listen, championing it to win every award and recognition it could.
Again, I never questioned it, because why should I? And then came the moment when one of the songs came on my shuffle about a week ago. I recently found myself at a crossroads, lost in a life that I have so painstakingly built. For five years, I’ve been pushing out one article after another, podcast after podcast, chasing a dream that I had always wanted to some degree, and I loved every minute of it. However, something had shifted for just a moment, leaving me questioning many things. The passion for what I was doing was still there, but a voice in my head asked whether it was worth it.
Ultimately, it is worth it. Every step, every struggle. Every victory and loss. Everything has been worth it, but I had forgotten that until “If I Believed” began playing on my long car ride home, and the floodgates opened. And that’s when it all clicked into place for me. My reason for continuing to pursue a craft I love on top of a full-time job. The writing like I’m running out of time (pardon the Broadway humor). But above all, it finally made sense as to why Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) resonated so much with me at a time that I truly needed it.
[Warning: Spoilers from Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) are below!]
Two lost souls find their way in Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression to some degree my entire life, I understand that feeling of being lost, which is something universal to a lot of people. The journey most of us adults take can feel incredibly isolating and lonely in so many ways. Yes, we can (and should) surround ourselves with people who enrich our lives, as they make the path forward easier. However, even when we’re standing in the middle of a crowded room surrounded by those we love, we can feel entirely alone. And it’s there that Two Strangers really begins.
Dougal arrives in New York with a buoyant optimism that gives him a loveable, intoxicating energy, but inside he’s just a scared child seeking his father’s approval. Abandoned by his dad at a young age, there’s a piece of Dougal that is chasing the love and affection that should have been given to him unconditionally. He’s lost in that he has no true direction in which to navigate his life. His only goal throughout Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is to meet his father after having received an invitation to the latter’s wedding.
He’s the lost boy from Neverland, either refusing or incapable of growing past the time in which his dad left. It’s why he can travel to New York without any plans, because he’s not thinking past what’s right in front of him. He’s only seeing the desire to come face-to-face with his father and feel accepted for the first time in his life. He’s chasing a ghost because he thinks that’s what he needs to find himself, which is something that many people face in their lives.
Robin, on the other hand, has developed a thick skin from years of pain and suffering. That’s not to say that Dougal hasn’t felt pain, as I’m sure part of his journey through adolescence to NYC was filled with plenty of heartbreak and sadness. However, Robin’s dealing with a different kind of isolation from Dougal’s. She’s technically also chasing after the love of another, but there’s so much guilt that is built into her journey.
She’s seeking penance for her actions. Robin’s upset and isolation are internal. She’s angry with herself, ashamed of things she doesn’t need to be, and, as a result, has secluded herself from her entire life because of one person. She’s so desperate for his sister to love her that she would do absolutely anything, which her sister uses to her advantage. Robin feels like she can’t face her loved ones, and so she’s stuck on a trajectory she doesn’t love.
And so when the lives of Robin and Dougal collide, we’re witnessing two souls who feel lost in their own right discover something together. Being alone doesn’t work. Humans are social creatures; we need one another to make life bearable. However, when things get difficult, we also tend to isolate ourselves, thinking that will help solve the problem. Retreat, regroup, and then you can re-emerge. Like the phoenix, perhaps we’ll come back even more beautiful from the flames of our past.
What Two Strangers does so well is showcase just how important human connection is. Robin and Dougal don’t know each other before she’s sent to collect him from the airport, but in the matter of days, they understand each other in ways no one else ever will. Their connection is deep and unbreakable because of what they help each other recognize. For once in their lives, both Dougal and Robin realize that they don’t have to be alone in the world. That there are those who care for you and that love comes in many different forms.
Both characters learn important lessons in a short time that fundamentally change who they are. Dougal learns that approval has to come from within. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about you but what you think of yourself. Through his journey with Robin, he becomes more self-assured, no longer relying on anyone else to tell him who he is or that he is worthy of love and acceptance. Instead, for once in his life, he loves himself.
But it’s Robin’s lesson that became ingrained in my soul in ways that I’m only now beginning to understand. Forgiveness, but not just towards other people, but for ourselves. Dougal helps Robin understand that there’s power in finding grace for ourselves, especially in the difficult moments. That’s something I don’t do enough with myself, remembering that I’m human and will make mistakes. I find it hard to seek forgiveness from myself and to have grace when I don’t meet my own impossible standards. Two Strangers stands as a testament to what it feels like to be lost and the beauty that comes from finding yourself once again.
A journey not yet over
Some might say it was divine intervention; others will argue that it boils down to Apple’s algorithm, but there was a reason that song from Two Strangers came on when it did. In a moment when I found myself beyond lost and unsure where to head next, I needed that reminder of what’s important. There are people in my life who are the guiding force for me in many ways, even when I myself can’t see the path in front of me.
As the song goes, it may have been a strange few days, or, as we know from Robin, a few years, but Two Strangers reminds us that while we may be down, we’re definitely not out. I’m not done writing, as this journey is still in its early days and will stay with me until the day I die. However, thanks to Two Strangers, I’m reminded that I have so many amazing Robins and Dougal’s that will help light the way when I feel lost in the dark.
Two Strangers has demystified one of the most universal life cycles that people will go through, which is why it’ll always be such an important show. Have you seen Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)? What did you think? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation. Learn more about this show from their official website!
Cake Walk? Not in New York: Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) Delivers
