ON ACTING: Random Thoughts from "The New Yorker"

On the airplane day, reading "The New Yorker" magazine, I came across three statements that I thought might be of interest to actors and acting. The first comment was by John Lahr, theater critic, reviewing (not over-favorably) a new comedy that opened in Boston called "Persephone" by Noah Haidle; the second two comments were by Anthony Lane, (film critic) negatively assessing "Spiderman III", and relatively favorably reviewing "The Treatment", a new movie starring the great actor Ian Holm:

"Next time out, Haidle needs to be more ruthless, both with his characters and with himself. Comedy may be a banquet, but, as the philosopher said, without a killing there is no feast." (Boldness and italics mine.)

"The fact is that if the fantastical is to flourish it must lay down the conditions of its magic and abide by them; otherwise, we feel cheated. (Tolkien knew this better than anyone.)"

(Finally, quoting a line spoken in "The Treatment: '"Constructing passive sentences is a way of concealing your own testicles, lest someone cut them off."' (Actors who offer passive performances, take note!)