LIFE, THE DRAMA, THE ACTOR, AND THE ROLE

AND REALITY BEYOND

As Shakespeare said, “All the world is a stage ….”

That life is a drama feels strange to the actor while fully engaged in his current role on this stage. A great mystery. I think on “I” playing the role of Rip Parker. I am grateful he is not all there is to “Me”, the actor, whoever that is.

As the actor, I must focus on my role of Rip Parker, and not lose myself in speculations about who I am off stage, or other roles I might have played, or yet may play. Now, on this stage, I am only Rip Parker. When I step off this stage at the conclusion of this drama, I’ll be more free to remember who I, the actor, really am.

— — —

I am, as the actor, sure this is not my first role. There have been others. It is odd to be consumed by the role I currently play, and attempt to grasp that it is just a role in a wonderfully designed drama. A drama within a drama.

It’s even odder to consider that these thoughts I write are the thoughts of the character I am currently playing, by which I am consumed, thinking I am only this person named Rip Parker.

The actor I am must remember that every thought, deed done, word spoken while on this stage is of the role I currently am playing. This is the ego of Rip Parker. The actor must remember that there is a great deal more to the role he is playing than these conscious thoughts, ego expressions.