When I was told that we would be attending a play as a part of our and Creative Writing classes for CreComm at Red River College, I immediately developed a list of expectations in my head.
I have enjoyed live performances at the ballet, attended skits and shows at the Fringe Festival, and have even taken in a few comedy shows over my experience in the melting pot of Winnipeg's performing art scene.
Having not ever been to a theatre play by my own accord, I was pleased to find that all of the expectations I had set were not only met, but surpassed.
The acting in this play was the caliber of which you would see on the screen. As I sat in my firm seat of the Rachel Browne Theatre, I kept saying to myself, "Wow, I could never act that out while keeping my composure!"
The play had it all. It dealt with old school life of a Mennonite couple on the prairies, the longing one has for a baby after marriage, and the means by which one is capable of going to in order to have that desire met.
The live musical performances on the piano complemented the play and tied in the entire character of Beethoven Blatz.
The adultery in the play was the only thing I think was presented a bit too casually. I think if the writer had incorporated more of a physical attraction between the characters that committed the adultery, it would have made for a more real-life scenario. It had all seemed a bit too 'mechanical' where as in real life I think the crime of adultery exists due to incredible passion and physical desire.
The scene in which that act takes place almost leaves one to imagine, "Did Beethoven know what just happened?" Meaning that it was so forced, it was almost a criminal act.
The talk-back at the end of the play was a bit disappointing only because we had hoped for a chance to speak with the actors themselves. Wiebe however, did share his thought behind the script but left one question for his audience to answer: What if it was Beethoven's child at the end?
Here are the words to the lyrics of my montage written by Baz Luhrmann. Baz is a talented director and he wrote this song based on his own perspective of life. I decided that I would visually interpret his words with my own perspective of the gift of life.
Enjoy.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….
You’re not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
When I was told that we would be attending a play as a part of our and Creative Writing classes for CreComm at Red River College, I immediately developed a list of expectations in my head.
