The
run: 9 shows AND a Saturday matinee, every performance sold-out, 1hour and 45
minutes. Cumming’s tour-de-force performances unfailingly ended each evening
between 9:15p and 9:20pm....and received a standing ovation, each and every
night.
One
evening, before entering the theatre to take their seats, a handsome male &
female couple inquired about whether they’d be out in time to catch the 9:30pm Charlie
McBride set at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, which is located in Jazz at Lincoln Center
(you really have to go!). The moment I
uttered the promise that the couple would
have plenty of time to see Charlie McBride, I realized a major attribute of power
or to be powerful....TIME, the ability to be on time.
The
day before I worked the Macbeth finale I had an appointment near 14th Street-Union
Square. As I departed the shuttle train
and walked through the artsy tunnel that leads to the Lexington Avenue line, I suddenly
felt a deep sense of depression, which is truly rare for me but I think all the
shit i went through in the past few months, in particular and in the past year
in general, caught me “off-guard”. Like Macbeth’s
character, this can be insanity if left unchecked! Anyway, although my feet were physically
moving quickly each step seemed as though I was walking through 3 feet of water,
my chest felt squished and i felt my shoulders droop.
So
as I quick-schlepped my way through the tunnel my eyes caught a glimpse of an
ad for Duracell batteries. The ad
featured a tight close-up shot of Jay-Z and the words “Never Be Powerless” were
etched across his beautiful face, with his signature lips. Whatever the time measurement shorter than a
second, it all happened so fast; I didn’t have time to think or process the experience,
all I know is that my body felt about 20 pounds lighter, I felt a smirk sneak across
my lips and the enthusiasm of who I
truly am was back!
Never
be powerless.
The
next evening, the night of the Macbeth finale, I had the pleasure of riding the elevator with Alan
Cumming to the floor where dressing rooms and staff lockers are. As we chatted for the approximately 30-second
ride, he was really cool! You would probably pass right by him on the street - he
wore shorts, sandals, a shirt, cool shades and a cool hat...he was “cool” like
us New Yorkers! Yet as exhausting as his
incredible performances might have been, he never cheated the audience, he
signed autographs, and showed up for all receptions
related to the show.
I
contemplated my experiences and my own attitude about time. What came up for me was that when I am given
the hour to be somewhere or to do something by a certain time, it is the opportunity to experience my own power - the power to show up, the power to be counted on.
By
the way, I was about 11 minutes early
for my appointment.
Thank
you for reading.
~ Quelyn, Author of
Validation Denied Grace Bestowed:somewhere between the ghetto and God was something called foster care...
FOR APPEARANCES, BOOK SIGNINGS & TALKS
CONTACT:
Validation Denied Grace
Bestowed is available at
iUniverse.com,
(812)330-2909 or (800) 288-4677
….and bookstores
everywhere!
Copyright©2012 Quelyn Purdie
