Playing Now

November 6, 2008

The greatest actor ever, was born

in a theater. Both his parents were

actors. He grew up in theaters,

his nannies were actresses, his only

friends were the children of actors

and stagehands. No wonder he loved

acting more than life, and as soon

as his means permitted, bought the

theater he was born in, and became

director, actor, empresario, and

writer of his own plays. It was only

fitting that he died performing at

the theater he was born, and was buried

beneath the stage. His life, like his

plays, was a success, except he never

became the audience, nor the theater

itself.

As you probably has guessed by now,

the above is a parable about our lives.

We are born and die acting, but few ever

get to watch the show from a box above,

and fewer still, become the theater: that

ineffable infinite space in which solid

objects float like clouds, and suffering

becomes fiction, and art.

From the theater perspective, the play

with all its faults is perfect. From the

theater perspective we can be actors,

audience, play and theater at the same

time. No better view in the house, and it

is playing now inside your own head.

Pete

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