Remarkable Evening @ ACT

Tonight's prized engagement found me at ACT - A Contemporary Theatre, a guest of my good friend John who is the new PR manager for a large travel industry company. As a prospective sponsor, ACT really rolled out the red carpet for John. We were part of a small group of eight individuals who were graciously received at a privately decadent pre-show reception in a gorgeous marble-walled hall. They had set out enough food and beverage to feed an army of glitterati.

ACT Artistic Director Kurt Beattie sat down beside me and before we knew it we were engaged in a fascinating conversation about the struggles involved with leading an altruistic life.

In speaking with Kurt I opined that unfortunately the two things people in our society don't pay enough for are art and content. What a gift art is to our culture, more so to our society and utmost so on an individual level. Nothing has had a bigger impact on changing hearts, minds and legislation than art and news content is critical for responsibly turning the gears of our republic. He sat back in his chair and then turned his body to a more open, conversational position. It was a sure sign he knew I was someone who really had something to say. I felt an immediate sense of respect and admiration. He certainly has mine.

Kurt continued to discuss the importance of showcasing art from other cultures, hence tonight's production of White White Black Stork, performed by a Russian theatre group out of Tashkent, Uzbekistan as part of The Ilkhom Theatre Festival. He said it's important to be immersed in art from abroad because we Seattleites and Americans in general are so very insular. There is so much happening in our world far beyond our front doorsteps that can enrich our lives intellectually and spiritually. Very true, and very visionary.

We discussed how much technology is distancing us humans, keeping us at arm's length from one another. Also anymore these days we are quite challenged to feel any real sense of true community. These very ideologies I talk and blog about fairly frequently. Great minds think alike ...

We then digressed into a conversation around real estate and homeowners associations. Apparently both John and Kurt served on their HOA boards to much discontent. In fact, Kurt had such an interesting experience he's in the middle of writing a comedic novel about it and has thought about turning his book into a production when it's complete. He opined that the human mind is so fascinating, that the cerebral cortex is such an amazing processor of thoughts and problem solving measures yet the endocrine system dumbs us down to the very basic, primal survival "skills" of fight or flight. Funny, I had such a devolved experience just this morning ...

They sat John and I front row center. The show was intimately spectacular. Our feet literally rested upon the stage, which was at the same level as our seats. Toward the very end a fight scene nearly took place in our laps. Quite exciting.

White White Black Stork was a tragedy of young dreamers who fell victim to a set of underlying cultural circumstances and misunderstandings. The ideologies of most of the characters were not too far off from our modern day Christian fundamental-extremists, who make very literal interpretations and are completely rigid about breaking with tradition or much less allowing others to think and feel for themselves. Such attitudes are very archaic, unloving and hypocritical.

A familiar theme from the show was the concept of basic, human happiness, which under strict Muslim doctrine, culture and laws did not allow individuals to pursue such personal fulfillment. While tragic, this wonderfully moving piece of art inspired me to realize we are so very lucky to have the opportunities we do to discover happiness and personal fulfillment for ourselves. Freedom is a wonderfully precious gift most of us take for granted each and everyday of our natural born lives as modern Americans.

Live free, love free, be free ...