"The Lottery of Life"
One’s good luck is another’s misfortune.
— Yiddish proverb
It is fair to say, that life is a lottery, with our birth being the first drawing. Rendering us no choice of our looks, intelligence, social status, and health. These are only the visible side of our life lottery, and not easy to disguise. In essence, we most grow into our likeness. Also, this drawing picks our psychological and mental wellbeing that are easier to disguise and deny to a degree, since most of our thoughts and emotions are not transparent and well-guarded.
Luck must be dealt with like health: enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad.
— La Rochefoucauld, 1613-1680, French writer
Although, science has advanced healthcare to the point of reducing morbidity, extending life spans, and offering many cosmetic procedures to help minimize some of the results of a bad draw. Mental health still lags behind in advances, and from the denial of the illness itself.
He who is prepared for the future and he who deals cleverly with any situation that may arise are both happy; but the fatalistic man who wholly depends on luck is ruined.
— Chanakya, 370-280 π.X., Indian teacher & philosopher
There is a school of thought, that supports the view philosophy is one of the medicines of the soul, along with psychology and psychoanalysis. As a writer, all my works center around placing my audience into the head and soul of my characters who are looking out at life from the dark abyss from within their souls. Our works are intended to be a medicine for the soul. To help assist those who are seeking an existential epiphany in life to use our performances as a tool to turn their existence in an essence of life. In simple terms, we must learn to love our fate-Amore Faté
In my most recent play, “Thoughts for a Lost Friend,” the story takes place during the height of the Vietnam War, that centers on Johnathan, in the present, who is having an emotional breakdown as he reads his journal from his teens. Where he recorded having reached his eighteenth birthday and faces the coming draft lottery- one that will seal his fate. This play was performed
at the Whippoorwill theater in Armonk, and also includes commentaries by the viewers and members of the troupe. This play is dedicated to all Vietnam veterans.
I will now direct you to my play, “Thoughts for a Lost Friend,” complete with interviews with the audience and director Susan Bond. I will also refer you to our website www.demitasseplayers.com to view the diversity of our body of work and talents. Be well. Be safe. Be happy. Be nice!
Existentially,
Rich
Copyright of articles and artistic contents reserved by Richard Cirulli
