Devotional: Thoughts on theatre concepts with a Biblical perspective.

MOTIVATION

"Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation." -- Mark 16:15.

You know the story. Actor is told to cross from Point A to Point B. Says Actor, "What's my motivation?" Says Director, "Paycheck."

In his primer on acting, "Audition," casting director Michael Shurtleff lists 12 guideposts actors should consider when preparing for a role.

"The guideposts are questions for the actor to ask," he writes. "They are not rules. They are to guide an actor to his feelings." Guidepost No. 2 addresses the feelings of The Actor above.

"Instead of using goals or motivation, or any of those customary acting terms, I use, 'What are you fighting for?' " says Shurtleff. "The actor must find a positive motivation since it will serve him in a more forceful, stronger, emotional way than a negative choice will."

Guidepost 2 would well-serve those wondering, "Why should we do drama?" particularly in areas where performing arts in the pulpit has been criticized as "shopping mall Christianity," "McChurch," or "crass marketing of the New Testament."

If Osama bin Laden said nothing with which we agree, he correctly noted, "This is a holy war." The battle is not ours, it's the LORD'S. However, we are His weapons armed with unique artillery.

It is no irony that combat zones are called "theaters of war." Just as methods of terrorism have changed how this world traditionally views warfare, the weapons of our warfare - video, stage, dance -- must go tell It on the mountains of our drive-through, sound bite, short attention span, impersonal society. The Internet is the new Tower of Babble.

Critics babble on about how much sex, war and murder is in the Bible, equating its contents to a Danielle Steele romance novel or Marilyn Manson CD without the alluring cover. Even among Believers, many Bible stories remain unread because we "don't have time." The 2000-year-old Jesus doesn't "speak today".

But like any thorough director, Christ prepares the cast then moves on after Opening, expecting the cast will remain inspired by His notes. Like, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

That's what we're fighting…and fighting for.

P.S. Sometimes the director returns unannounced.

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Copyright 2002, Michael Edgar Myers
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