By Stuart Adelberg
I was supposed to be an actor. Not many people know this, but it’s true. I went to school to study theatre – and yes, my parents approved! College was supplemented by a life-changing experience at a professional training program – at the time referred to as a seven day a week “theatrical boot camp.” I studied acting, directing, music, dance, lighting, costume and set design. I was passionate about the theater and prepared to devote my life to the stage. My teachers, classmates and colleagues were not looking for celebrity, we worked hard and considered ourselves artists. When I completed my training, I was fortunate to be among the few who found work relatively soon. But then, a year or two later, circumstances led me to change the direction of my life.
I have absolutely no regrets about the decisions I made, the places they took me, and the life that I’ve led. But I admit that all that training and experience turned me into a lifelong theater snob. I truly believe that acting is a craft. Skilled actors and directors spend time discussing the writer’s intention, a character’s motivation, and the story beyond what we see on the stage. A singer doesn’t merely strive for the perfect high note, but interprets the music and lyrics, and gives life and meaning to a song. I confess that I find it more than disappointing when a celebrity with no theatrical credentials takes a leading role in a production, selling tickets due to name recognition, as opposed to talent or skill. I think of the highly trained artist who could give the performance of a lifetime if given the opportunity to play a role that is now sadly just a star vehicle for someone who made a name for themselves often in another completely unrelated field.
So it is that I find it equally ridiculous to see actors who have achieved fame on the stage or screen, who have now apparently become great chefs, health gurus, travel experts, clothing designers, furniture makers, home builders, politicians, insurance agents, you name it!! If you go back and look at the list of classes I took and the crafts I studied, not one of them involved a cookbook or an atlas. I don’t remember my stage design class including a section on architecture, we weren’t designing costumes for Saks Fifth Avenue, and I certainly didn’t study human anatomy, actuarial statistics, or constitutional law. In fact, not one of my teachers discussed how to be a celebrity with the evidently required expertise in every pursuit known to man!
In my humble opinion, it is one of the absurdities of modern society that the endorsements and recommendations of people we favor on the stage, the screen, or a sports field are enough to convince some of us to purchase a particular brand of shoes, clothing, cookware, etc. Apparently, some people select political candidates and travel the world based on the recommendations of a celebrity and though I wouldn’t suggest telling her, it is evident from watching the cooking shows on cable TV that actors are all much more adept in the kitchen than your grandmother!
Some people think that being a doctor or a lawyer requires a lot of schooling. But just think of all the things a celebrity is expected to know! I said above that I have no regrets about giving up the dream of a life on the stage. It would have required me to have way too much knowledge, and to be perfectly honest, I don’t think I could have handled all that pressure!
Stuart Adelberg has been an active participant and leader in the region’s nonprofit world for many years. He appreciates the opportunity Greenwich Sentinel provides to share his thoughts and observations.
