“Silenzio!”
Okay, so you’re an actor. Which means, to some degree, you crave a spotlight. You chose the stage and screen over decades of indulgent therapy, or worse, you’re doing both, in which case you probably can’t be saved. (If that’s the case, I feel a bit sorry for those around you.)
I witnessed a stunning display of acting douchebaggery that made Narcissus seem like Christ on the cross. While getting high praise on a scene, it was indeed very good, mind you, an actor was disturbed that there was noise going on behind him and that he wasn’t getting total silence for his grand review. The noise, it should be noted, was other actors setting up for the next scene. That’s how these things go. We share time and space.
But the noise was interfering with the glorious cascade of compliments, so this man turned around and yelled, “Silenzio!” (For the record, I don’t think he’s Italian.)
Now, the calling for silence, in a foreign language, would be enough to qualify for the Arrogance Hall of Fame, but wait, there’s more. Some time later, said actor was setting up for a second scene of the day, which raises some questions in itself, but that’s for another time. Well, it turns out that moving furniture makes noise, whaddaya know, and was now interfering with others getting their notes. When this was pointed out to Signor Silenzio, he responded plaintively, “Well, we have to set up the stage.”
Alas, when somebody is so incapable of thinking of anyone but themselves, it is a steep climb out of the rabbit hole. It can be done, but it requires a desire. That would be desiderio. And because I’m feeling generous, I’m going to toss in cortesia and considerazione for free.
Please. Be nice. Think of others. Even if you’re an actor. Your life will improve immensely.
For the Mineralava Musings, this is Edoardo Ballerini.