One of the few years I participated in giving up something for Lent, I decided to give up COMPLAINING instead of something more simple like eating Laffy Taffy. It was very difficult to say the least. When giving up something that seems so routine, complaining is part of it! “Oh, I can’t drink Coke for 40 days. How much does that stink? Am I right?” And then everyone around you talks about how awful it must be to live without Pepsi and Dr.Pepper and Sprite. And then after 40 days without carbonated beverages, you realize you actually felt better without it.
Hell week in the theatre is very similar. I complain all day about how I wish someone else would set up and tear down so I didn’t have to. Then while I’m actually setting up and tearing down, I want to punch someone. Then when someone asks if he can help, I snap at him, “Yeah! Just look around and do something! That’s what I do every day!” And at last when the production is over, I go through what I like to call Post Production Depression. I actually miss the hellish torture of setting up and tearing down.
So, with this production I gave myself a little pep talk. It went something like this:
“Kristin, you are about to make theatre a very large portion of your life. You made a decision to put theatre at the top of your to do list. Why? Because you love it! You enjoy creating theatre, meeting theatre people, and watching theatre. So quit complaining and enjoy it! What other profession involves creative people willingly going through a week of HELL for a few hours of fun and applause? It’s not just the actual few hours of performances that you love, it’s the process! Especially as a director, you enjoy the process. So quit your little show of complaining and smile.” And then I gave myself a high five.
So this production has been the most fun I’ve ever had! I’ve delegated a lot of the work so if I die, the show will go on, but I’m still in charge and doing most of the work, and that’s okay. Not many people get to have fun with fun people and get paid for it.
I’ll end with something Ronn Johnstone said the other day after complaining about something, “I shouldn’t have said that. Not many people get to live this long, so I’ll enjoy what I’m given.”
