On the Wearing of Skins

A couple of weeks ago, I was having a conversation with my roommate, Tony, about theater. We were doing a show and I had just gotten my costume together. I was playing con-artist in 1941 and I had bought a nice coat and a beautiful black fedora. I was talking about how when I put that suit and hat on I felt transformed. Tony is a big ole’ Pagan and he started talking about “Sympathetic Magic”. That sounded right to me, then I made the statement:

“Theater didn’t start in ancient Greece. It started when the first caveman threw a pelt on his back and said to his buddy “Look Frank, I’m a Tiger!””

Tony was most amused (especially by Caveman Frank).

But, I’ve been thinking about that concept more & more. The Wearing of Skins. Sympathetic Magic. Transformation. When I am on stage and I’m feelin’ it, I am another person.

Recently, I have been going to the Maverick Theater for “Mr. Karaoke”. I’ve been singing on stage since I was 15. I’m damn good at it. But, I suck at Karaoke. There is some huge disconnect going on, and I think I’ve figured it out. When I do Karaoke, I’m me. When I’m in a Musical, I’m the character. I have a skin to hide in, that is not my own.

One could come to 2 different conclusions. I should learn to be comfortable in my own skin, or I should learn to adopt a skin for Karaoke.

I’m not sure which way I will go with that.

In the meantime, I have to go buy some Costume Pieces for “Madame Guignol’s Macabre Theater: Guignol X” at the Hunger Artists Theater Company. I need to find some skins that blood will wash out of…