Almost 3 three years ago I went to the Canadian National Voice Intensive in Vancouver. This is a program, led by the amazing David Smuckler on UBC campus. It basically is 5 weeks of voice work in the morning and then applying it to Shakespeare's text in the afternoon. It was an important time for me. The first time I gone off and done something on my own. I wasn't confident in Shakespeare. I knew I would be one of the youngest there. I was afraid of putting myself out there. During those 5 weeks I was pushed outside of my limits, forced to come to terms with my body, I met great people - one in particular, and I was inspired by David and the other teachers ( plus on the way home, right after having watched before sunrise and sunset, I met an Australian on the train, who followed me home.. not exactly a long lived romance but a good story)
The teachers decide what scenes to give you. They gave me one from Julius Caesar, where I played Cassius and I was in an argument with Brutus.
Now, as a refresher, Cassius is a opportunistic and sly general who convinces Brutus to turn against Caesar. Not exactly type casting.
But I found myself empowered by the fact that they chose this character for me. They saw that strength inside of me. I remember one part that Brutus says to Cassius
"There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not."
It has stuck with me for years. I love the image of being armed in honesty and having threats pass by like the wind.Sometimes, when life seems to be full of threat, I imagine myself strong, armed in a suit of honesty, and I am saying those same words to my fear. I imagine those thoughts to pass by me like the idle wind, which, just for the added kick, I have no respect for.
sometimes, even though you may not think your right for the role, you still need to be the strong solider.
But don't worry, this doesn't mean I'll convince anyone to kill their boss.
great post. . . one of the images from Paul's letters in the New Testament is of putting on armour, including 'the breastplate of integrity, the belt of truth and the shield of faith'. . . maybe Paul and Willy had the same thing in mind.
Posted by: BILL | November 22, 2007 at 04:54 PM