Since May, I have been working intensively on the school production of William Shakespeare's masterpiece (in my amateur opinion, of course) of Macbeth. Taking on the role of Stage Manager took more courage from me than one would expect. Theater is one of my few irrational fears (the others include clowns, bananas, and lampposts after 11 PM). I don't have very promising prospects of overcoming my other fears, but these past six months have successfully transplanted theater from my "AVOID AT ALL COSTS" list to my list of passions.
I always knew that I loved Shakespeare. Since working on Romeo and Juliet in 9th grade, I have longed to be transported to a fantastical world where iambic pentameter and frilly collars are the norm and I could stop by any market on any day to buy my very own nemesis. But there's something absolutely incredible about seeing the words jump to life on stage. The words, already replete with poignancy and potence, take on meanings that transcend mere diction when spoken aloud. In the lines I would normally have skimmed over, such as "Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!" (Act 2, scene 2), I now hear emotions bubbling and tensions brewing.
Total immersion in a work like Macbeth does have consequences. I have spent so many hours making stage blood that my fingernails are irreversibly a sickly red and the recipe is forever ingrained in my memory. Staying after school every day until 8 or 8:30 has forced me to postpone many of my other responsibilities (such as writing on this blog, obviously). Additionally, now I spew out random Elizabethan phrases in my day to day life. If someone ever gives me both good and bad news: "Such welcome, and unwelcome things at once, 'tis hard to reconcile". My normal laments ("Aaaaah" and "Errgghh") have now become "O, Scotland, Scotland!".
Perhaps I am flattering myself, but stage manager seems to be the toughest job in the whole production. I am responsible for every cue, set change, and blocking change. If something goes wrong, it falls on my head. Luckily, such blunders are rare because of the unbelievable quality of our stellar cast.
Our first show is tonight. May Fortune go with us. So thanks to all at once, and to each one, whom we invite to see us triumph at 6:30!
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