After experiencing a major setback early in life, why do some people scale back their expectations or even shrink from life while others go for broke?
The other night we watched the documentary above, about the Broadway production of the musical, “Merrily We Roll Along,” by Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince, in the early 80s. I had read that it was about “how we frame success and failure,” which is what made me want to see it.
In the film, director Lonny Price talks about how, growing up, he was not good at sports and did not fit in at school. When he took drama class, he found his place. At summer camp, he played the original cast recording of the Broadway musical, “Company,” so incessantly that everyone in his cabin memorized it. He remarked, “Somewhere in America there’s a 55-year-old divorce lawyer who can sing every verse of ‘Another Hundred People’ flawlessly. Whether he wants to or not.”
The idea of these 14-year-old boys at camp being subjected to a showtunes album just because Lonny loved it so much killed me.
Also, people who look at regular, normal life and say, “No, thanks” and immerse themselves in a world that is more to their liking, like musical theater (playing dress-up and make-believe)–that fascinates me.
We also watched the new documentary, “Jerry Before Seinfeld.” In it, Jerry says that when he was young, he bought all the hit comedy albums, and when he graduated high school and learned from friends that there was a growing comedy club scene in New York, he said, “Oh, I want to be in that world. I don’t want to be in the real world.”
I just realized that my way of opting out of the real world, when I was young, was to read books. Now it’s making movies and web series with friends. And I want to do that–“be in that world”–as often as possible.
I am in awe of those who opt out of normal and stomp on their anxieties along the way. You know they’ve got them; they just seem to wrangle them so successfully. Or, at least more easily and gracefully than some of us. Courtney, you are one of them!
Carol, every day I deal with some amount of anxiety! Ever since I have been shooting stuff. I am constantly out of my comfort zone. But in that book, “Finding Meaning in Midlife,” the author said we’re either depressed from stagnating or we’re slightly anxious because we’re taking risks while following our dreams. I keep telling myself it’s one or the other!
Your curiosity about human behavior is so appealing! Very special quality.
How nice of you to say, Anne. Hope we see you this weekend. xo
Yeah, girl. I’m with you. I defaulted to my own world when I was a kid, and I have never opted out of it willingly. Of course, certain types of reality drags me kicking and screaming from my made-up world and I guess this has me in good company. No artist I know prefers the “real” world to the one they can inhabit at will through simply connecting with that “current” of creativity they tap into. So, a virtual toast to those of us who make believe. xo, e
I’ve never thought of it this way! (That I get to inhabit my preferred world whenever I connect with my chosen currents of creativity–i.e., when I paint, write, shoot, etc.). I love this concept, Elisabeth! Yes! Toasting you and your brilliant brain from Sherman Oaks. xo