Out of this World

Last week in theatre class, we had an interesting conversation regarding the end of a performance. While reading a chapter from Peter Brook's book, The Empty Space, called "The Holy Theatre," we stopped to discuss what happens when the curtain goes down and the audience is left to figure out how it feels. Its obvious that when the end of a happy love story comes along, everyone should applaud and have a smile on their face. But what about at the end of a tragedy? The reaction is far more confusing. Usually there is a moment of silence where everyone is completely engulfed in the experience and unable to move. Seconds later, though, the spell is broken and everyone is brought back to reality so that they can applaud the actors who took them to that other place and time.

Yesterday in school this exact situation occurred. During a memorial ceremony for those who died in the events of 9/11/01 and those who continue to protect this nation, the Madrigals choir sang the song Jesus Wept. However, they didn't just sing it from the corner of the auditorium. Instead, they surrounded the entire student body and held candles. The performance caught many people of guard, including myself, and was so full of emotion that I felt tears swelling in my eyes. In that minute, everything was silent except for those few voices that kept us trapped. As the song ended and the Madrigals placed their candles back on the ground the silence remained. No one moved and no one spoke. But an instant later, the confused clapping started. Everyone was surprised by the intensity of the song that no one knew how to react and so we began instinctively applauding.

It is interesting that the audience was not comfortable with remaining in that second of unity for longer. I am still not exactly sure why that is and I don't think I will every really understand it. The only thing I know is that even though that kind of silence is completely natural, it is so often abruptly interrupted by reality and willfully forgotten about. 

~Julie