I think people might find all the hugging we do backstage a little strange. Here we are telling the story of a murderous King and people are backstage fist bumping and embracing. The actors are encouraging each other after every scene like we just scored another touchdown.
It is an improbable community composed of people who do not know each other very well, yet acting like they are close family. The emotions are real. The sense of purpose is palpable. You genuinely feel that what you are trying to do has meaning and real value.
It is always a little strange trying to explain to people who don’t share your interest why you enjoy community theater and Shakespeare so much. Your friend listens to you blather on about history, poetry, lighting, blocking, and ‘the importance of your work’ with polite indifference.
“But dude, your wearing tights and ruffled pants”, he notes. For him, it stopped being meaningful after that observation.
He is right of course. For many, the outlandish costumes and the high sounding speech is little more than silly babble. Maybe he has a point. We live in a world of often virulent nativism and such seemingly trivial things can matter little to your personal tribe.
However, you are wrong.
The beauty of community theater is that for a period of 6-8 weeks complete strangers come together with a common goal. Some are very experienced in the theater, others are not, It doesn’t matter. People come from all walks of life. Yet when you pass through the door, you can leave the world behind. At least for a time. No matter how large or small your role is, everyone is needed and desired. The whole house of cards will fall apart without you doing your bit.
How many other activities can you say that about?
So you develop bonds and get to know rapidly people who otherwise you might miss. The desire for your fellow actor and crew to succeed becomes central. You think outward and beyond your own needs and concerns. It is church; inclusive and profondly spiritual. And you begin to love people whom you only recently met.
I have been fortunate with this production of MacBeth. I have been surrounded by people who genuinely care about each other’s success. You cheer people on as they go out before hundreds of people and endeavor to create a moment for them.
When it works, as it does with this show, it is a revelation.
There are many art forms in the world. All of them bring beauty and culture to a fallen world. Art makes life worth living. It brings color to an otherwise achromatic landscape. Art makes us human and comes as close as we can to touching the divine.
However, theater is singular in that it is collaborative. You need everyone to succeed. And when it does, you can transport an audience to another world and, for a time, touch their souls.
All of this will go away in a couple of days. That is the way of theater. It has been described as creating a scuplture of snow. It is fleeting and then gone.
Very soon I will say goodbye to my new friends and we will all go back into the world. And, as we walk across the lawn for the last time, we will look back at the sun as it is hitting the red sandstone of the theatre and remember.
We built something here. And for a time our sculpure of snow dazzled in the sun.
It was glorious.
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