The Show Must Go On...

I was recently watching one of my favorite films, The Moulin Rouge; and something really struck me. In the end of the movie, Nicole Kidman's character, "Satine," is faced with the decision to leave with the man she loves, or to stay in the Moulin Rouge so he won't be killed by an assassin. Her character is torn between the hopes she had in regards to a dream life, and the actual reality which she was living. Satine began to sing...

"...inside my heart is breaking, my make-up may be flaking, but my smile, still, stays on!"

How beautiful, and of course the original lyrics were written by the music greats-Queen! I began to think of how relative those lyrics are today; in any situation where you have to protect the reputation of yourself, the reputation of others, even that of people you don't care that much about. And although it may seem horrible to not show the cracks beneath the surface, I often think of Emily Dickinson's poem, "'Tis so much joy! 'Tis so much joy!" She writes...

"Life is but Life! And Death, but Death!Bliss is, but Bliss, and Breath but Breath!And if indeed I fail,At least, to know the worst, is sweet!Defeat means nothing but Defeat,No drearier, can prevail!"

The words of a true poet. Life, death, bliss and breath; all actions easily played by actors. But I myself have played those roles. So I ask you...is it so bad to live life the best you can, even if the smile which you may be showing isn't always genuine? Even if it's a smile which says nothing but, "the show must go on."

I think William Shakespeare said it best in the play, "As You Like It," when he writes,

"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."

Even if it's merely acting, sometimes it's easier just to say, "the show must go on..."