Crocheting on Stage

One of my recent shows required me to crochet on stage (it was one of those things where the actor needed some kind of physical thing to do to help drive the scene). Since I have been crocheting since the 5th grade, this was not a problem for me and didn't distract me from the scene. It was like walking and chewing gum at the same time.

Well, after one of the performances, one of my supporters says to me, "When you were crocheting, I said 'She's not acting! She's really doing it, crocheting! I can tell!' ". I then thought to myself a few hours later: But isn't that what acting is??? On stage, or in front of the camera, you have to really do it.

I can't imagine going on stage and saying to myself "OK Talia, it's time to pretend again." No! I have to say, "OK Talia, let go of yourself and become this person. You are not pretending to be the character; you are the character." This is why an actor chooses to act in the first place; to get out of their head and live in someone else's shoes for a few moments in time. To feel, react, and respond as someone else. Not to pretend or comment on, but to truly become. Even on the crappiest days, when I have to walk into a rehearsal or about to perform, it is rewarding to not think about my problems and let go for a couple of hours. Its nice to forget about things that are bugging me and to live in someone else's shoes, forcing me to forget about myself and my issues. This is what being an actor is. Letting go of yourself completely and "doing you" as someone else.

So the next time you see me crocheting on stage or on a screen, don't think of it as , "Oh, there goes Talia doing the shell stitch as she crochets." Remind yourself that you are not watching Talia perform, but seeing her live through someone else's life for that brief moment in time.