What's the Big Deal?

I recently saw a show at the Winspear theatre in downtown dallas. The name of this show is spring awakening and it was my second time seeing it, but its a really good show. The cast had been touring for a year and the music brings full audiences every time. The show is however a pretty crude show with a lot of cussing and sex of stage. The show, which was on broadway 2 years ago is a story about kids who are sheltered but still feel the teenage desires that teens are supposed to feel. Because they are sheltered and do not understand where these desires come from they explore their desires and end up getting into trouble. The show has awesome rock music and songs that are crude but great pieces of art. The main character, a young girl, is always asking her mother how babies are made, but her mother lies to her and she never finds out the truth. Since she does not know, she has sex with a boy in her class and gets pregnant without knowing. The mother ends up tricking her child into getting an abortion, but the girl ends up dying from the surgery. There is also suicide and masturbating on stage (not actual) and the songs are full of cuss words. I was well aware of how crude the show was before going and had seen the show before, but at the end of the show a man came up to my friend and I and joked saying, "They should check IDs on the next show." It somewhat offended me and although I laughed it off I thought, "you're ridiculous." There is clearly a gap between what the older generation and younger generation feel is appropriate, but come on the girl playing one of those roles just graduated from high school and she has been watching this show for a straight year! Not to mention the music from the show is available to any age. It was somewhat of a compliment, and yet a rude remark at the same time. Art is something that should be shared with anyone and everyone, and although the man was kidding it made me think of how his comment related to the show we just saw. Society shelters kids from certain things thinking kids are not mature enough, but the truth is that some kids are mature enough and knowledge is not a sin.

Doubt

What can someone do with doubt? Doubt could be considered weak. But everyone doubts. Someone recently said to me: "Never introduce doubt into a directors mind". Although he was referring to an audition, saying that during an audition you should never allow a director to think you have a weakness. I think this applies to a lot of things. Doubt is dangerous, its something that can alter a performance, alter your attitude, and simply just make you mess up for no reason. No matter if you are going into an interview for a job, writing a paper, playing in a state football game, or performing at the Met in New York City, doubt can ruin your potential. With a simple "I can't do this" thought, you really won't be able to. Doubt is more dangerous than people realize. It is negative and can distract a professional from doing their best. It's amazing how much our little mind game can affect our actions and overall performance.