Lessons learned from an amateur

We at Mosaic recently produced "Seussical: The Musical."  This is an endearing musical that rounds up all of Dr. Seuss' tales and turns them into a musical, including characters like Cat in the Hat, JoJo, as well as the Mayor of Whoville.  In the middle of the tech rehearsal, I sat in as I do, running the lights for most of what we do with education, and was struck by one of the performances and the weight of hat such a young person was able to do.  The young man playing Horton, was on the stage singing, "A Person's a Person..," and I was moved in a way that unusual for me. 

In class after class in college, the instructors would tell us about the authenticity of living in the "moment" while performing, and in this instant, this young man, all 6 grades of him was truly there.  Living in the moment.   He was honest and deliberate.  In a way that few of us will ever see.  He is that way, not just because he is talented, but also because he is a kid.  The thing about kids, is that they "mean" it every time.  They do not waste time skirting around the truth.  They are how they feel.  And that's what this kid was doing, he understood what is to be the underdog in the show, and he translated it without the filters that "growing up" often brings. 

I applaud such performances, especially the way they affect audiences.  I paid close attention to everything Horton did that afternoon.  I logged nuances and and performance qualities of his. 

I am a professional actor, but that day, I took notes from an amateur.

- Santry