In an earlier article entitled, On Not Going Off the Boil, I wrote about the value of repetition in communication, so long as your talk is ‘born again’.In this anecdote from the field of acting, the other side of the coin is presented, when renowned author and screenwriter William Goldman comments on the difficulty of performing on Broadway:
“It is always wisest to try and see a show as soon as possible after it opens (because) most shows go to hell, sometimes quickly.”
“You can't blame the actors for the deterioration. Doing the same precise thing eight times a week, 416 times a year, becomes numbing to the soul.”
Barry Nelson says, 'The longer you play the performance, the more your mind resents it. You're in the middle of a scene, and suddenly all you're thinking about is whether you should have Chinese food after the show.'
‘I don't think any actor really likes long runs. I don't think humans were meant to do them.’
William Goldman, The Season, Limelight, 1969, pp. 19-20
Source: Delanceyplace.com, 11 April 2007. This is a great source of stories and I recommend professional speakers and writers to sign up for the free daily excerpt.
Image: William Goldman being mobbed by his fans.