Theater, Art and a Rock 'n Roll Heart

Took a break. Doing a theater piece and time wasn't on my side. I can now let the lines, blocking and cues drift away making room in my brain for other things to take hold. I had the feeling as one memorizes a script something else in memory gets pushed out. This particular time I wasn't required to do but three small character roles but balance must be maintained and I must let go of what was held in the cerebral library for the past couple of months. I'm kidding, of course. Can you imagine putting
the "Scottish Play" to memory only to let it go once the final curtain falls? Imagine having to memorize it again when you are cast somewhere else or during another season. Personal experience dicates that certain lines stick and certain actions can trigger even more to resurface. I'm one who requires a spacial reference. I am there when I say...whatever or I reach for the cup and I exclaim...something.
Acting is an odd sort of self deprecation where you hide behind a faux personality by endeavoring to bring to life a character who only exists in the two dimensions as print on a page. Amazing, no? Scary? YES. You would think this should be left to highly trained experts. But that's not the case.
Those with ability and training face the same judgement by an audience along with their less talented or untrained fellows and put themselves out there and up there without a net. Gotta love the craft, the art and the risk. The stuff of junkies...that first laugh earned or early applause. Intoxicating.
When I direct I usually start off reminding the cast if experienced (and preaching if not) that acting isn't like putting on a coat. You have to respect that there is much work to be done...and I don't mean simple memorization of lines, lyrics, blocking, melody and harmony. The worst thing that can be
said about a performace by an actor
is that you didn't believe anything the character said or did. An actor has to be able to interpret the human
condition and communicate it faithfully to their audience. That
requires talent well trained. I don't
mean to suggest natural ability and
talent can't take the stage and make it work. Happens every day in what
we know as Community Theater.
And I say, God Bless it! (Oops...sorry for the Dickensian blerb. We only closed a couple of days ago. I'm sure it will pass soon.)
There are some great people toiling in less than ideal conditions as volunteers for the simple love of the theater arts. It's a hell of a committment. Depending on where you get cast you could have anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks rehearsal and a 9 to 18 to ??? performance run. Combined that's a minimum of 9 weeks and a maximum of  ??? Community theaters are non profit and provide fertile ground for youngsters finishing high school or entering college to get a taste of the responsibilities that go hand in hand when "doing a show." I've shared the stage with folks that made the decision to pursue a career in the theater with some having made it to Broadway or have performed in national touring comapnies, Others have been in films and on TV. Trust me, There's no jealousy, just simple pride. In America we celebrate the self made man (or woman though not as much as we should). It's a tale of rejection and humiliation with little or no guarantees of any meaningful return on investment.  It takes guts to keep putting yourself out there. Enjoy being rejected for being not tall enough/too tall, not blonde/or blonde but wrong color blonde/ and on and on. I made a decision many years ago to make my love of theater an avocation. I chose not to follow through and move to New York. I for one, wasn't willing to give up everything to follow that dream and I have no regrets. Ya gotta love those who make a go of it...even if they wind up working construction or waiting tables while they get to live in one of the greatest cities in the world.
I sort of went on this mini rant with the knowledge that it might only be relevant to a minority of people out there in blog-o-land, but it was fueled in part seeing the Oval office commit to the need for the arts to remain and be supported in our schools. We do. I'm concerned we are failing to provide a meaningful education to our young. One day all this (sweeping arms wide while standing on a mountain top) will be theirs and if they can't see the beauty or understand the heart of humanity who will be left to lead the nation forward into the next milennium? I saw a quote supposedly attibuted to Winston Churchill (look him up if you don't know who that is). During WWII he alledgedly was asked if he wanted to divert moneys being used fund the arts in schools to the war effort and he said "Then what are we fighting for." Even if he didn't say it it rings true. Years ago I had a professor who reminded us that sometimes the only thing left of a culture destroyed in war after being trampled on by occupating armies were the plays that were memorized and performed in cellars and any space large enough to hold a gathering. I never forgot that. It's hard for us to imagine something similar happening here, but I visited the countries where it happened and saw theater done with such committment that I was in awe.  We are lucky to be free and have the opportunities we have. Keep the arts alive and we will continue to grow as a people.

I intentionally left photography, painting, sculpture and music out of this post. If you read my earlier renderings you will understand. Enough said.
Oh! One more thing. The Rock 'n Roll heart refers to all the geezers who pick up their guitar and play. Just like yesterday. We can cover this another time, but ask yourself. Are you getting tired of seeing 75 year olds in tight pants with long hair and wrinkled skin gyrate to their hit songs that were recorded before your father was born? Think it over. We can chat it up next time.