Character

I grabbed the mic and walked towards the stage. They said, “knock them dead, Steve”! I replied, “they’re already dead … I’m about to knock them ALIVE”!

Steve Maraboli

Character, as we often refer to it, describes the traits and features of ‘personality’ as they present in our human selves.

We differentiate between ‘good’ ones and ‘bad’ ones. With their endless varieties of contrast, counterpoint and shades of gray.

A bit like, “You say goodbye and I say hello”.

But, let’s 180°-pivot our perspective. Instead, to draw attention to character – as in, the part one plays on this earthly stage.

Get a little Shakespeare action going, yeah?

So tell us: What roles and dramas are you, a uniquely finger-printed personage, portraying in this life?

Are you wailing and roiling your way through Covid? Or, are your seas more placid and steady?

Whatever the scenario, we enact our parts with the utmost virtuosity. Always to the letter and right on cue.

Ah yes. And, at times decidedly more tragic than comedic.

Nature’s meticulous orchestration.

Our performances, invariably guided by a celebrated Screenwriter, for pitch-perfect cadence, rhythm and timing.

Ok then. You’ve stepped up. Auditioned. And were cast into a starring role.

Bravo!

Could you sneak us a peek of a vignette – currently playing on your big screen?

Ok, here goes:

“A Scene for the Unseen”. 3 Characters: 2 living, I dead.

Your long-time guyfriend narrates a story. Largely about himself, but involving an incident of animal cruelty – for which he was the perp.

You recoil as he details the demise. You’re not only distressed, but heartbroken by an account of such grimness.

After a moment’s pause with nothing said, he re-ups on his narrative and proceeds without skipping a beat.

Oi! You interrupt again.

Only this time, indicating more vigorously that you wish to be spared any further, frightful blow-by-blows.

On this Thanksgiving Day. Or, any day!

You take him into your confidence. Letting him know that you are feeling very unseen right now.

Wouldn’t he realize you’d be troubled by such a scenario?

When he responds with defense, but no empathy – that surely, he “can’t be expected to anticipate every little reaction you might have to something” … You despair in silence.

At the utter dismissal in such a remark.

(How would one pursue the calling of this role without provoking a descent into meanness?)

You’re incredulous that such a central aspect of your character (and soul) could have been overlooked by someone with a long lookback view.

The audience thunders applause at your earnest performance.

While you make your way home to cry yourself to sleep.

With God, brokenness is nothing more than the stage upon which the impossible is about to happen.

Craig D. Lounsbrough

The earth is just a stage, a school. Where we wear our masks and play our roles. And teach each other how to love.

Kate McGahan