A Wonderful Relief - Shirley S. Tye

A wonderful relief from stress and a break from the usual work schedule is what my art means to me. I’m an amateur artist who dabbles in oil painting, pen and ink drawings, colour pencil drawings, and stage acting.

But that’s bit of an oxymoron when it comes to acting. I get very nervous before stepping onto the stage on opening nights; pacing until I wear a path in the floor while mumbling my lines. And during every dress rehearsal, I swear I’ll never do it again. The stress is just too much. But after the production ends, I’m running to another audition. Why do I torture myself like that? Ah, but it is fun living someone else’s life even if it is for just a couple of hours at the most. I’ve been a business woman, a manager of a large golf resort, a wife of a Texan who acquired his riches in not-so honest ways, a British aristocrat, a lonely old woman living with cats, an angel, and a mentally unstable artist who dies by her own hand. It was great fun getting into those characters’ heads and a safe way to experience different lifestyles.

I’ve met many interesting people at the theatre of different ages, with various levels of education and employment; a wonderful cross-section of people. Despite all their differences, they work well together on stage simply because of their love of the theatre.

The first time I saw a live play, I wondered what it would be like to act, to memorize all those lines, to hear the audience applause and laugh. Would I be able to do it? Would I ever have the opportunity to even try for a small part? Well, I really do feel blessed that I’ve been picked for all those plays. Each one was a wonderful experience. I’m glad I didn’t give up. I’m glad I pushed through those stressful moments before curtain call. The exposure to many types of characters has helped me to develop stronger characters for my stories. The experience has also strengthen me, given me confidence, and showed me how God has made everyone unique.