Does it offend you, yeah?

It seems like people take offense to absolutely everything these days. Offhand remarks are so easily misconstrued, and entertainers and politicians are walking on eggshells trying not to say something politically incorrect. When one of them slips up, he or she is torn apart by the media. And these aren't even Mel Gibson-sized slip ups; many of them have nothing to do with race.

I'm not saying that people shouldn't be sensitve to others and their lifestyles and beliefs. But everyone's human, and everyone says something they regret once in a while. And everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.

The play's the thing

I just started pit orchestra for the spring musical, and it made me think about all the details and hard work that go into planning something as ephemeral as a school play. For all the times I have been to plays, I have never once taken into consideration the immense effort it took to make that three-hour production happen. I feel kind of guilty about that. I've been in some plays, too, but even then I only thought about the part I was involved with.

Think about it: the actors go through auditions, casting, read-throughs, choreography sessions, music rehearsals, run-throughs, and performances. All of them have to coordinate their schedules around the play. The stage crew has to figure out how to interpret the play and adapt it to the particular stage it will be performed on, then make it a reality. They have to obtain the materials, put them together safely, make it look presentable, make adjustments, go to all the rehearsals, move everything, and manage scores of important props, all while doing their best to stay out of peoples' way. Throw in costuming for sixty people. Every single one of them needs a well-fitting outfit, and some need clothes designed specifically for the play. While all this is going on, the tech crew has to figure out the logistics of lighting and sound, often dealing with irritating actors and choreographers. They also have to know the exact cues for lights, mics, and sound effects. The orchestra has to be assembled and must practice over and over again until they know the parts well enough to be able to play at the drop of a hat. And then all of these elements have to come together and adapt to each other.

In a lot of ways, a play is like a giant animal. Every contributor is like some sort of organ. It's easy to only focus on what you do and not see the forest for the trees. It's an amazingly intricate machine, and all of the parts have to be working in order for it to succeed.

Next time I'm at a play, this is all I will be able to think about.