#13 Stay Sober
Apr 24th, 2008 by doing better
This advice particularly applies to those of us who are acting in a play within the next hour.
At the opening performance of our play, I was searching backstage during the first half for William, the aforementioned wealthy reprobate, to give him a suggestion about one of our scenes together. I had seen him before the play started, but now I couldn’t find him anywhere. Finally, during the intermission, I met him in the wings. His breath stank of whiskey. I gave him my suggestion, which he accepted with gusto.
“Where were you?” I asked. “I was looking for you everywhere.”
“Actually, I went drinking,” he said, “since I’m not on until the second half. But the official story is that I went out for a cigarette.”
I really didn’t know what to say. I was on tenterhooks during our court scene together, but apart from forgetting his judge’s robe, he performed admirably, with a booming voice - relaxed, I’m sure, by the drink. Of course he had not learned his lines, but, although he was slightly unsteady on his feet, he did not drop the binder which held his script. If that had happened, he would probably just have laughed, he was that drunk. In the harsh stage lighting, I saw that, despite his youth and floppy golden hair, he is already looking red-faced and dissolute, with the beginning of a double chin and sagging skin.
Later I encouraged him to come to the opening night meal with the rest of the cast, but he declined. “Campbell said there’s an LGBT drinks party. I’m going to get really drunk.”
The director was forgiving. “He is a well known alcoloon, but we were desperate to fill the part last week. He was very nervous, as he has never set foot on a stage before.”
“Perhaps you could keep him inside the theater tomorrow night,” I said.
“Don’t worry. Once he’s in, he’s not leaving.”
At midnight, on my way home from the restaurant, I saw him staggering down the sidewalk alone, smiling to himself. At all times he wears a goofy, complacent smile, an attempt perhaps to conceal nerves and disarm his many critics. Considering that he is facing his final exams in a few weeks, followed by the beginning of adult life, a trial, and a probable criminal record, he has a lot to be nervous about. I wonder what the real judge will make of that smug smile.