A fellow traveler
I was given tickets to a play. There is a local theater called the Aurora Theater that has grown a great deal over the last few years. I can see why. The play was A Christmas Carol and the star in the play was Anthony Rodriguez.
I did not know what the expect other than some past experience with A Christmas Carol. I have been to a couple of other plays this year and enjoyed the experience but this was phenomenal. Anthony was the only one on stage. He was wonderful from the start and captivating as the play began.
The start was him, walking out on the stage to have a little chat. To explain this might be a bit different since he was the only ‘actor’ we would see. There were some other folks involved to be sure like the stage manager and the parts that were recorded about Marley but it was just Anthony on stage playing the parts and play them he did.
Part of the opening segment was an exchange between Scrooge and his nephew Fred. I found a reference to it on the web and here is the excerpt that set the mood.
“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,” returned the nephew; “Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas-time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
Where it was presented here as fellow passenger to the grave, the play last night presented it as fellow traveler. At least that is what I heard. I guess I could go back and listen again (and I might) but as I reflect on that I see something.
Passenger is passive and Traveler is not. I think of a passenger on the train and a hobo riding the rails. Same vehicle, same destination, different experience.
I choose to be a traveler and I have to say that Anthony made the journey infinitely more enjoyable last night and he certainly is a traveler in my mind. If you get the chance to see him I would recommend it to you without reservation.
Thanks for listening,
Jerry Robertson
678-231-1578 Cell