Why I Like Drama
by Sandy Hancock
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Having just finished the fall drama Lifeboat, though goodness knows, much of it is STILL in my living room, I have to say I really, really do love drama. Three days before performance, I hate it, but, afterwards, I love it again.
I have no background in drama in high school or college. I saw my first professionally done play in Houston when I was in 11th grade. It was Fiddler on the Roof, with the original cast. I was enthralled. A short time later, I saw The Importance of Being Earnest, and loved it as well. However, I knew I could never do that kind of thing.
Later, at what was then New Covenant Fellowship, I saw my first non-professional play, an Easter play I'd grow to love called Road to Calvary. It was done outdoors, complete with small horse for Jesus to ride. One of the actors had died about 4 days before the performance, and they handled the loss well, leaving an empty chair where he would have sat and moments of silence where he would have spoken. I was enraptured with the whole thing.
Shortly afterwards, I went to the director, Becky Williams, and said, "I have never done anything with drama, but I feel God pulling me into this. I'll do whatever you want me to do if you'll allow me to be involved, actor or backstage, whatever." She said that what she really needed was someone who would run errands and help keep order backstage. I said I'd do it. Over the next few years, Becky moved me from position to position, sound, lights, costumes, makeup, props, writing, stagehand, curtain puller, whatever she needed that year. Then one year, she said, "You know, I was thinking about how to use you this year, and it occurred to me that you have now done every backstage position at least once, and you've been faithful and didn't gripe, and you even encouraged me. How would you like to be assistant director?" And so that was my job, my love, for years. When Becky became fatally ill with cancer, she gave me the director's position. I will always be thankful for the mentorship she provided along with her friendship.
So, what is it that is so interesting about drama? First, drama allows you to be someone else for a short time. You get to see life from a different perspective. You can improve your craft every time by trying something new, even if it is a simple hand movement gesture or an accent. Drama encourages you to watch people so you can use things you observe in future performances. You can also observe nature and places as well, so that creating sets and props can be done with excellence.
Being a director has positives as well. You get to encourage other people to take steps beyond where they have been, to move beyond their comfort zones and thereby increase their confidence in all sorts of life situations. They might even like a role so well, that they incorporate some portion of it into their own lives. You get to solve a great puzzle by figuring out how to do things like make a boat in an ocean in the middle of a stage, and have people believe it is so. You get to solve the puzzle of getting numerous people to work together on stage and off stage who may not otherwise have ever met each other. You learn how to decide what's really important and where to spend the money versus where to spend the elbow grease. You have to figure out how to motivate an actor to develop the role on a pace so that they don't get to the perfect level before the performance, lest they peak early and then get bored with it, let their minds wander, and lose the performance. You have to figure out what makes dawn look different from dusk, so you can explain it to the lighting guy (the gaffer). Or how does rain sound on water when it's gentle or what does an earthquake sound like, so you and the soundman can work it out.
Shakespeare said something like, All the world's a stage, and we are just the actors and players upon it. In many ways, he was correct. What I've learned in theater has helped me immensely in my Christian walk. I've learned that the best way to get to know each other is in hard work. Hard work sands off the veneer of politeness, and you'll see the person who is really there. I've learned that every one of us is walking a difficult life, perfectly designed by God to get each one of us ready for the heavenly performance. God doesn't let it happen all at once, or we'd get bored and wander off. You learn that we all need encouragement, even when we're acting a part and smiling through the real hurt. You learn how to work with the fellow believers of your own church, whom you probably wouldn't have met or associated with if the church wasn't there. We hurt inside, but show the world a different face; actors know that, and begin to see past it. Or some days, we're so joyful that, even when we have to act somber, we can't help but put a little bounce in the step.
Unlike sports - from which research is now showing that the participants of soccer, football, basketball, and baseball - end up with brain injuries that affect their concentration and short term memories, theater increases your memory capacity and your concentration ability. Little physical injury results from drama (although I have fallen from the stage more than 10 times). Therefore, theater is a better activity than sports for teamwork, personal confidence, memory, concentration, and the ability to develop one's character. That's my stance, and I'm sticking with it! What do you think?
Oh, and it's not too late to sign up for the Spring Drama, either front or back stage work, and we need adults as well as students. A willing heart is what we need; we can train you for the part. I know. It happened to me.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! Make gratitude your attitude.
