While I try to take whatever I am doing seriously, I try to not take myself too seriously. I think one of the things missing in our society right now is a sense of humor. And I think it comes from the top down.
I love to tell stories. Maybe that is why I have enjoyed leading these workshops- I have a captive audience to listen to my long winded stories. I love to sing and act. I am not going to lie- I love to hear those applause whenever I get the opportunity to perform in any capacity. But nothing beats the sound of laughter.
The play we just did was super short. I thought it was too short. When you have 25 kids and only 5 of them are boys it is difficult to find a play that gives everyone a decent speaking part AND is cute and fun. I had thought of going with a serious play I had found, but decided against it.
To make the play longer, a student suggested alternate endings and I came home and got to writing. Whenever I write, I question what I have said. Will I offend someone, will my point be understood?
Writing the alternate endings was even worse!
I had to hope that the kids would find it humorous and then that the audience would. Kids ages 9-15 are a tough crowd! When I brought the new endings to the kids they laughed, a lot! I felt better. In fact, I felt great!
When we had our performances and the audience laughed, I was backstage smiling from ear to ear and the kids would pat me on the back or smile and give me a thumbs up! I have to say it was the best!
Probably the best compliment I have ever gotten was after one of the fundraiser performances I just did with a good friend and a bunch of new friends. It was not my show at all. I was honored to be asked to sing a few songs with the real star of the show. After one of the shows a lady came up to me and said that I reminded her of Carol Burnett! Now I am certainly not worthy of that kind of praise, however when she said I made her laugh it was the best thing I had heard maybe ever!
I am not above throwing myself under the bus for a laugh. I certainly don’t mind looking a fool for a laugh.
I gave my workshop kids the opportunity to define their own characters. None of them had a name in the script, so they could name themselves and make up their own back story and personality. The results were funny and inventive. Some had to be added to or toned down, some had to be challenged and others were fearless in their pursuit of a real character to become. I was pleased and proud that they were so smart and creative.
When we step on the stage it is with the hope that we impact someone. Whether it be by making them think or cry or laugh, we hope that something we say, do, or sing might draw something out of someone in the audience. We can’t expect to do that every time with everybody. Sometimes the actors on stage are the ones who are changed. But I always hope that at least one person on one night gets to laugh and escape their life. Or maybe they see something they didn’t understand or hadn’t thought of in that way before.
For me, hearing a laugh at something I say or do is one of the best feelings in the world. If everyone could take their job seriously and not take themselves so seriously, I think it would be a better world.
I told my kids on opening night that it is called a “play” not a “drudgery” not a “chore”, but a play. They knew their parts, they had done the serious work before hand so that they could now enjoy the end of a long process. And I think they did! They loved hearing the laughter of their family and friends. And so did I!
So, let’s get serious. Life can be tough, work should be a process we take seriously. There are no elevators to the top, you have to methodically take the stairs to get what you want. But in the process of all of that hard work, lighten up a bit. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Know that you will fall, you will goof up, you will say or do something wrong. Laugh it off and keep going. Work hard and play hard.
To paraphrase Shakespeare- all the world’s a stage and all of the men and women are merely players.
So let’s play!
