In As You Like It, The Bard must surely have been seeing stripes as he penned the words:
- All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts....
When the whistle sounds, the scene shifts suddenly; the spotlight, however briefly, is ours. How will you tread the boards? An expectant audience eagerly awaits the entrance of a transitional, yet pivotal character to narrate the drama unfolding before their eyes.
How you embark upon and exit the spotlight forms a powerful and permanent impression in your audience's mind.
But how you play your part while occupying center stage will enhance or diminish the entire play. If you prosecute your role with skill, you set the stage for the next act; and the anticipation mounts. If you rush and slur your lines, you leave your audience confused, with unresolved questions. You may even need to return for a second, embarrassing take.
It's live theater and you are the star.