I’ve been thinking a lot about love.
It may be an age thing. I’m in my mid-60s and loving it, my husband Roger and I just celebrated our 43rd anniversary, and our love for each other and our work has grown exponentially over the decades. When we were blessed with grandchildren 3 and 5 years ago, I thought the level of love in our family might actually burst. It didn’t, of course. In fact, it has expanded into a three-generation-love-fest.
And everywhere I look these days, I see love.
Can it be that love really belongs in this theatrical quotations series? Absolutely. Why? Because for those of us who spend our lives in the theatre, a passionate love of what we do is the common denominator within the Six Principles of Theatrical Intelligence.
Let’s take a moment to review those principles, based on the theatrical production model (as is the whole concept of Theatrical Intelligence).
1. Collaborating on a project to make it work for everyone, is number one: EVERYONE SHARES THE SAME GOAL.
2. If the show is a bust, if tickets don’t sell, no one gets paid. That’s the reality: EVERYONE SHARES AN EQUIVALENT RISK.
3. If a play is sustainable, its next steps are defined within the 3rd principle: COLLABORATION RULES.
4. Given: throughout every phase of every project, THE WORK MATTERS.
5. If part of a production’s infrastructure isn’t working (often the case) everyone understands that FAILURE IS YOUR FRIEND AND THE QUICKEST WAY TO LEARN.
6. And finally, a reflection of the commitment to innovation and acceptance of high risk: SUCCESS COMES WITH THE COURAGE TO STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN.
Those who work consistently in the professional theatre simply love what they do; if they didn’t, the ever-changing conditions of the creation, development, rehearsal and run of a show, would be intolerable.
I’ve chosen my favorite quotes on love from my collection. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Zelda Fitzgerald (1900 – 1948)
“Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.”
Zora Neale Hurston (1891 – 1960)
“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”
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Pablo Neruda (1904 – 1973) née Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto
“I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.”
(From TWENTY LOVE POEMS AND A SONG OF DESPAIR)
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Shel Silverstein (1930 – 1999)
How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ’em.
How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give ’em.
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George Eliot (1819 – 1880) Née Mary Ann (Marian) Evans
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Harper Lee (Born 1926)
“With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.”
(From TO KILL MOCKINGBIRD, Chapter 12)
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Jarod Kintz (Born 1982)
“With my last breath, I’ll exhale my love for you. I hope it’s a cold day, so you can see what you meant to me.
”
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Dorothy Parker (1893 – 1967)
“By the time you swear you’re his,
Shivering and sighing.
And he vows his passion is,
Infinite, undying.
Lady make a note of this –
One of you is lying.”
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Ingrid Bergman (1915 – 1982)
“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.”
If you’d like to share your favorites, please do. This love thing is positively contagious. Let’s keep it going.
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Picture Credits Fitzgerald: F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum Hurston: The Estate of Zora Neale Hurston Neruda: Pablo Neruda – Poemas Originais Traduzidos Silverstein: Larry Moyer/Evil Eye LLC Eliot: London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images Lee: The Birmingham News Kintz: Jarod Kintz.com Parker: DorothyParker.com Bergman: LIFE Magazine ******************************
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