“STRINGS ATTACHED”
“STRINGS ATTACHED” the Quadriplegic theatre
I have been inspired. Brought by random thoughts to a distant land where my hopes and dreams have been rekindled, renewed and possibly realized. When I think, I sometimes think of others, and when I think of others I think of making dreams come true. I think of being a dream-maker-come-truer. Some of these dreams that come to my mind I realize that there may be a need for a “come trueance”, and I think these thoughts are the type that most others don’t think of. For instance, I think people without arms really want to play the classic playground game of Red Rover. I think that if I could properly design some fake arms to attach to the amputees that I could then attach them at the hands and then those people, who otherwise would be unable to play this wonderful game of strength and endurance would be able to be included. They would no longer only be relegated to playing hacky-sack.
The dream I am currently thinking of involves the theatre. Acting and possibly some over-acting. I remember watching the television show Facts of Life and there was one character on there that had cerebral palsy, and then there was another show called something else that had a kid on there that was mentally handicapped (you know that show with Corky). These producers were going out there with the same vision as me; they wanted to be dream-maker-come-truers too. Yet, there is another untapped resource of actors dying to act . . . I’m sure of it. What about the plegics?! Bi and quadriplegics.
Here are people who, much like the late Superman, want to act, and not just act on those new computer generated “claymation” creations. I think they want their bodies to be on film as well. That way they can show their facial expressions also. Really, you want that on film anyway. That is just some choice acting that is being lost . . . daily.
I can’t tell you exactly how my brain works, but I’m remembering a conversation with someone who mentioned cabbage and then as they were talking about something else, such as space travel or the hanging of Saddam I’m not sure, I began to imagine that there were a colony of marionette puppets running along side the truck we were traveling in. Then that thought immediately went to the stage and I thought . . . hey, we can just attach some strings to their limbs. And, presto the dream was created. These people who desire to act but have lost the ability to use their legs or both arms and legs can now be used on the stage and possibly on the big screen.
These marionette puppeteers can’t be making too much money and they can’t possibly be that busy to make it a full-time job, besides how many children’s birthdays can you do and make a living of it? Therefore, I will be fulfilling two dreams. Now that is a rare occurrence. When you not only are a dream-maker-come-truer but you are able to kill two birds with one stone. (Not that I have ever killed a bird with a stone, nor known anyone who has. A stick now that is possible, but I’ve never seen a stone). Here we have a double need. Marionette puppeteers desire to be puppeteers and they have a limited ability to do this and not eat most of their meals with the homeless in soup kitchens, and there is also the ever present need for these handicapped soon-to-be actors.
I’m thinking that we could get some heavy duty fishing line and with a few simple knots tied by some boyscouts who aren’t doing anything with all that knot knowledge and bam dreams are coming true. What used to lay limp and lifeless would now display all the life of real people with limbs that are able to move with less assistance. It is really like a resurrection of sorts and I’m sure people more adept at symbology could find more symbolism than I in this simple use of resources.
After all, marionette puppets are fun to watch, but they lack expression. This new and improved theatre would merge the excitement and allure of the puppets with real human expression and life. Not to mention the fact of the acting talent that has as of yet been untapped. I mean when we saw the television show “Bosom Buddies” did we really think that Tom Hanks would be as highly regarded on the big screen as he apparently is? Who knew that guys in wheel chairs wanted to play, and apparently were playing, rugby? They made a movie of it to show their desire to the movie-watching world. I don’t remember the name of the movie but if you are reading this then I’m sure you can do some sort of google search for it. Even if you think this is a dumb idea and you think that, “Shirley these people don’t want to act”, ask yourself, if you were in the 1960’s would you have thought that African-American’s really wanted to ride in the front of the bus? I think that answer is easy and if the former is easy than the later should be as well.
If you agree with this then run with it. I am just a planter and not a harvester, or even a waterer for that matter. Although, I could be a really poor waterer if one would let me near the faucet. Therefore, make it happen and I will pat you on the back and say with a large grin and a unique twinkle in my eye, “Man you did it and I didn’t even have to get you wet.”
I have been inspired. Brought by random thoughts to a distant land where my hopes and dreams have been rekindled, renewed and possibly realized. When I think, I sometimes think of others, and when I think of others I think of making dreams come true. I think of being a dream-maker-come-truer. Some of these dreams that come to my mind I realize that there may be a need for a “come trueance”, and I think these thoughts are the type that most others don’t think of. For instance, I think people without arms really want to play the classic playground game of Red Rover. I think that if I could properly design some fake arms to attach to the amputees that I could then attach them at the hands and then those people, who otherwise would be unable to play this wonderful game of strength and endurance would be able to be included. They would no longer only be relegated to playing hacky-sack.
The dream I am currently thinking of involves the theatre. Acting and possibly some over-acting. I remember watching the television show Facts of Life and there was one character on there that had cerebral palsy, and then there was another show called something else that had a kid on there that was mentally handicapped (you know that show with Corky). These producers were going out there with the same vision as me; they wanted to be dream-maker-come-truers too. Yet, there is another untapped resource of actors dying to act . . . I’m sure of it. What about the plegics?! Bi and quadriplegics.
Here are people who, much like the late Superman, want to act, and not just act on those new computer generated “claymation” creations. I think they want their bodies to be on film as well. That way they can show their facial expressions also. Really, you want that on film anyway. That is just some choice acting that is being lost . . . daily.
I can’t tell you exactly how my brain works, but I’m remembering a conversation with someone who mentioned cabbage and then as they were talking about something else, such as space travel or the hanging of Saddam I’m not sure, I began to imagine that there were a colony of marionette puppets running along side the truck we were traveling in. Then that thought immediately went to the stage and I thought . . . hey, we can just attach some strings to their limbs. And, presto the dream was created. These people who desire to act but have lost the ability to use their legs or both arms and legs can now be used on the stage and possibly on the big screen.
These marionette puppeteers can’t be making too much money and they can’t possibly be that busy to make it a full-time job, besides how many children’s birthdays can you do and make a living of it? Therefore, I will be fulfilling two dreams. Now that is a rare occurrence. When you not only are a dream-maker-come-truer but you are able to kill two birds with one stone. (Not that I have ever killed a bird with a stone, nor known anyone who has. A stick now that is possible, but I’ve never seen a stone). Here we have a double need. Marionette puppeteers desire to be puppeteers and they have a limited ability to do this and not eat most of their meals with the homeless in soup kitchens, and there is also the ever present need for these handicapped soon-to-be actors.
I’m thinking that we could get some heavy duty fishing line and with a few simple knots tied by some boyscouts who aren’t doing anything with all that knot knowledge and bam dreams are coming true. What used to lay limp and lifeless would now display all the life of real people with limbs that are able to move with less assistance. It is really like a resurrection of sorts and I’m sure people more adept at symbology could find more symbolism than I in this simple use of resources.
After all, marionette puppets are fun to watch, but they lack expression. This new and improved theatre would merge the excitement and allure of the puppets with real human expression and life. Not to mention the fact of the acting talent that has as of yet been untapped. I mean when we saw the television show “Bosom Buddies” did we really think that Tom Hanks would be as highly regarded on the big screen as he apparently is? Who knew that guys in wheel chairs wanted to play, and apparently were playing, rugby? They made a movie of it to show their desire to the movie-watching world. I don’t remember the name of the movie but if you are reading this then I’m sure you can do some sort of google search for it. Even if you think this is a dumb idea and you think that, “Shirley these people don’t want to act”, ask yourself, if you were in the 1960’s would you have thought that African-American’s really wanted to ride in the front of the bus? I think that answer is easy and if the former is easy than the later should be as well.
If you agree with this then run with it. I am just a planter and not a harvester, or even a waterer for that matter. Although, I could be a really poor waterer if one would let me near the faucet. Therefore, make it happen and I will pat you on the back and say with a large grin and a unique twinkle in my eye, “Man you did it and I didn’t even have to get you wet.”
posted by T A Lucas | 1/02/2007
1 Comments:
Not inappropriate. Somebody needs to say something about it, especially to women with the "deficiency disease" in the church who need to get healed of it.
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