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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Theatre Heals

I just got out of SUU's "Dog sees God" today, and I will talk about the actual show in a later post, but I want to talk about what happened AFTER the show

After watching the show, my friend and I went wandering and exploring around SUU campus: so many fond memories from high school days associated with that place. and while we were exploring, we got to talking about those old times.

So we walked. And talked.


My best friend, Alex Sousa, and myself, have been friends since the 9th grade. It has been quite a journey together; we have gone through a lot. Not all of it was pleasant. Times when we didn’t speak, and times when it seemed we spoke to no one at all.

And I arrived at a conclusion tonight: theatre heals. we talked about insecurities and fears being overcome; we spoke of injuries and emotional wounds finding resolution in the chaos of a high school stage; and we talked about the many small, large, and even astronomical events that happened in, on, around, behind, under(long story) the stage that led to the formation of a friendship that is one of my most prized possessions.

I was in a show with a girl who, in high school, was one of the most ridiculous, horrible people I had ever met. Working with this girl honestly was painful: she thought she was better than everyone, and loved to gossip. I don’t think there was a single person in the cast that hadn’t been offended by her. It was TERRIBLE. And she was my love interest in the show. Traumatizing experience.

I went on my mission, came back and this girl and I both ended up attending UVU. And we went to a play. And started talking. Long story short, we ended up in tears, holding each other, both apologizing to and forgiving one another. And all of this stemmed from us seeing a show, and having a conversation about that show. It was pretty incredible, and she remains a good friend to this day.

I remember hating a boy in high school. Maybe I felt threatened, whatever, I hated him. I recall working on a project in a theatre class with him. We were assigned to work together by the teacher. And it made me SO miserable. We were trying to create an original concept for an Oscar Wilde piece. We started talking about how it made us feel. And the memories it evoked. And I realized something: I didn’t even know this kid. He told me stories about his past that made my jaw drop. It was unreal. That project became one of my favorite things we did that year, and he is still a dear friend to this day.

Maybe its the fact that you have to rely on them so fully in an ensemble piece; maybe its seeing people in their most vulnerable, open state. Maybe its learning the skills to walk in another persons shoes.whatever it is, theatre has drawn me to the best of people, helped me forgive people, and has healed many wounds in my life.

3 comments:

  1. Great post.

    I like how honest you are with stuff like this. Heck, I updated my blog today with a post making fun of effeminate Japanese pop bands. I guess that's the difference between you and me.

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  3. Sorry, posted the wrong comment here before. I just wanted to say this really lovely and heartfelt. I remember hearing a little about your hard time with that show, and I'm glad to hear that you and your friend reconciled things. :)

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