Peaceful Stage

I stood behind a crowd of performers while the director fervently tried to get everyone's attention for the 25th time or so. It was amazing how the children in the cast were able to sit quietly and listen, while the adults were gripped with an unending compulsion to giggle and sidetrack for the better part of two hours despite the director's repeated pleas for silence. I was almost painfully embarrassed to be part of it, while impressed with the director's ability to remain calm. I felt my nerves rising, but in the end I was but a role player, in control only of myself, realizing that the best I could do was to model respect and hope that it would catch on. Knowing my limits helped restore inner peace.