Life is But a Stage... :: Personal Narrative Essay Example

Life is But a Stage... This fall I performed the social function of Stage Manager in the local high schooltime production of Thornton Wilders Our Town. Our director didnt cast the role as the traditional lead, duster male that most productions use we cut the role into two female person parts of different race. Without the traditional portrayal to fall back on, we had to take a shit our causas from scratch. The thought crossed my mind a a few(prenominal) times that my character didnt really have a epithet. Certain names remind you of stereotypes, and base on a name you can make some easy, worldwide choices on how to portray that character. Mindy is a ditz, Christine can easily be a nerd, and Irma can make a nice old maid. That name connector befuddles you a point to start from, after which you can explore some other things. But where on earth do you start with a name like Stage? I formed an image of a rib wearing dirty overalls, walking barefoot and playing guitar outs ide his confine in the woods. He liked to philosophize about the world, and found that a little Baileys in his coffee made that world slightly clearer. He didnt need people around and didnt completely understand them -- or by chance he did, and just got frustrated because they didnt understand themselves. He usually walked with his work force in his pockets, looking either up at the trees or raze at the ground, scarcely never focused at eye level. someplace in the process I adopted a feminine placement on my character, very much a tomboy but withal very much a woman. At two points in the delegate I took on other roles. . . in Act Two I played the minister at the wedding, which was a background character and non very distinct. Then, with fairly short notice I took on the role of Joe the undertaker in Act Three. I learned the blocking and the lines quickly, but my problem was that I had to change into Joe right on-stage, and just after my preferent Stage Manager speech. I decided to use a few simple physical traits to help get into character. First I button my shirt, which in three seconds was the only thing I could think of to give the audience some clue that I was changing identities. I essential a squint, changed the tone of my voice, and I gave Joe a limp by keeping my left knee locked.