STAGE STUCK
The celebrated bard, Will Shakespeare, was correct when he suggested that all the world is but a stage upon which we act out the individual role to which we have been assigned.
We lend unique qualities to that role, of course, so that
it seems to be not to be controlled by any force than our own. We act beyond self more than we realize, Shakespeare illustrated that point quite often as he depicted men and women acting out their “fretful hour” on stage. Much that we do, if we are to be counted excellent in our role, came from the writer, the director and, yes, from the willingness of your fellow actors to hear you out. They fit you into their lives, or, at least, accepted your presence upon life's stage with them as being just and good and logical.
I shall always be grateful for my short but memorable experience during my teen and post-teen years with the Radford (Virginia) “Little Theater.” group. Things I learned then about myself and others who acted out parts with me have stayed on as valued assets. The most prominent lesson among then, I think, might be that it was then I came to know that the most common actions we take are dramatic in a real sense. I came to find that concept of value in writing and have done passages in which I had little or nothing to do with other than serving as a funnel of sorts used to transfer the action to paper for others to heed, read and do.
Even now as I sit here typing these words, in a sense may well
be activating a role. I have wondered why Shakespeare did not differentiate between an actor and “ham” actor. The play - the drama of living - depends largely of what the individual makes of it.
A.L.M. April l9, 2004 [c330wds]
