What have I learned? Oh my. Where to start?
1) Tell the story no matter who you think might be in the audience.
2) The story is in everyone's heart.
3) Don't hide. What's the point?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Final Six
Tonight begins the final six performances of WIT.
What have I learned? Oh my. Where to start?
1) Tell the story no matter who you think might be in the audience.
2) The story is in everyone's heart.
What have I learned? Oh my. Where to start?
1) Tell the story no matter who you think might be in the audience.
2) The story is in everyone's heart.
Monday, March 1, 2010
No Acting Involved
Second week of the run of WIT concluded yesterday. Four more weeks to go. Friday night's show was strong - it didn't have the "warm-up" feel that some Friday shows can have when you have had four days off.
As I walked into the theatre to leave at the end of the night, some of my classmates/friends from my acting class were there to greet me. They were incredibly supportive and showered me with lovely words of encouragement about the show. Something every actor wants to hear, of course.
Another person was there to greet me - a woman who has ovarian cancer. She is terminal. I had read her blog during rehearsals and was stunned at her courage. Now, to get to meet her was indescribable. She thanked me for getting it right, for being a voice for her, for helping to explain through the story what this miserable disease and facing death is partly about. And, for helping her through the pain she was experiencing during the show. She had left her morphine in the car, and my scream of pain toward the end of the show helped release the pain she was feeling.
Sunday's show had a woman in the audience who also had stage four ovarian cancer - and she was a survivor. Talking with her and her husband/advocate afterward, she recalled the fear and pain - and the thankfulness that she is healthy. Their tears were fresh again on their faces as they recalled the events of that struggle. It almost seemed strangely grotesque for anyone to say what a great job I did when I am just acting out the story - I don't have cancer, I haven't faced nearly what these woman have faced, will face.
My conversations with both of these ladies reminded me once again of the greater purpose of this play, of theatre, of art in general - to illuminate life. And, it really humbled me in terms of looking/seeking/wanting accolades after a show. Here were two woman that were not acting - they had lived it and were continuing to live it.
They taught me over the weekend.
As I walked into the theatre to leave at the end of the night, some of my classmates/friends from my acting class were there to greet me. They were incredibly supportive and showered me with lovely words of encouragement about the show. Something every actor wants to hear, of course.
Another person was there to greet me - a woman who has ovarian cancer. She is terminal. I had read her blog during rehearsals and was stunned at her courage. Now, to get to meet her was indescribable. She thanked me for getting it right, for being a voice for her, for helping to explain through the story what this miserable disease and facing death is partly about. And, for helping her through the pain she was experiencing during the show. She had left her morphine in the car, and my scream of pain toward the end of the show helped release the pain she was feeling.
Sunday's show had a woman in the audience who also had stage four ovarian cancer - and she was a survivor. Talking with her and her husband/advocate afterward, she recalled the fear and pain - and the thankfulness that she is healthy. Their tears were fresh again on their faces as they recalled the events of that struggle. It almost seemed strangely grotesque for anyone to say what a great job I did when I am just acting out the story - I don't have cancer, I haven't faced nearly what these woman have faced, will face.
My conversations with both of these ladies reminded me once again of the greater purpose of this play, of theatre, of art in general - to illuminate life. And, it really humbled me in terms of looking/seeking/wanting accolades after a show. Here were two woman that were not acting - they had lived it and were continuing to live it.
They taught me over the weekend.
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