Once upon a time, I picked up an easy two-hour subbing assignment (for which I would be paid as if I worked four hours). Enter stage left.
Drama as a class in high school is something I have plenty of experience with.
Drama as most high school students want to play it is something I’d rather avoid.
What’s a Mime?
During the last class of the day, a sub expects robust energy. Yes, while the teacher’s mind is fading, blinking out to the large drink and crispy apple waiting at home, the students are revving up to do whatever it is they’re going to do once the final bell rings.
A mime is a silent actor.
The TA did her best to introduce the giddy dramatists to turn off their voices and exaggerate the movements she directed.
I applaud this girl. She had stage presence and enough projection to silence any craziness. In fact, she was able to keep a higher percentage of the class on task than I did in my last middle school final-class-of-the-day.
One girl had silent music she jitterbugged to the entire time. A skinny boy wearing a plaid shirt mimed his force pulls and throws pretty impressively.
And I wonder how often we’re going through the motions of life. Listening to some offstage voice calling out moves.
Isn’t there more to life than this? Shouldn’t I be going somewhere?
But watching the ladder-climbing or stair-climbing mimes distracts from any deep reflection.
Like so many unnamed distractions from those things that would add meaning to our lives.
And I’m back in the auditorium supervising a group of students. The class period is winding down. I can tell by the deconstruction of the actors’ concentration on the invisible treasure chest.
Sounds like this once upon a stage ends in a happily ever after. Exit stage right.
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