Taking Care of Actors: Treating Every Performer Like a Delicate Instrument

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An actor is supposed to be a sensitive instrument. Isaac Stern takes good care of his violin. What if everybody jumped on his violin?

Marilyn Monroe

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Taking Care of Actors: Treating Every Performer Like a Delicate Instrument Marilyn Monroe’s analogy comparing actors to sensitive instruments emphasizes the importance of treating them with care and understanding. Just as a delicate violin needs to be handled gently to maintain its quality, actors require rest, healthy habits, and support in order to deliver powerful performances. By extending this notion of care to all individuals, we can create a harmonious world where everyone’s stories can shine.

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Meaning of Quote – An actor is supposed to be a sensitive instrument. Isaac Stern takes good care of his violin. What if everybody jumped on his violin?

Well, hello there! Imagine if you had a super-duper fancy violin—one that could make the most beautiful music ever. You’d probably take really good care of it, right? You wouldn’t want anyone to hop on it like it’s a trampoline! When Marilyn Monroe talked about an actor being like a sensitive instrument and mentioned the famous violinist Isaac Stern and his violin, she was making a super interesting point about acting and about how we should treat not just violins, but people who are actors too.

Let’s dive into this idea. Imagine every person is like a unique instrument in the grand orchestra of life. Some folks are upbeat like a trumpet, some are deep and thoughtful like a cello, and others are fun and zany like a bouncy ukulele. Actors, though, well, they’re SPECIAL instruments because they have to be all these things and more, all rolled into one. Their job is to bring stories to life, to make us feel all sorts of emotions, from the highest highs to the lowest lows.

Now, think about an actor like a very sensitive violin, one that can play the saddest, sweetest melodies one minute and joyous, hopping tunes the next. This is where the idea of care comes in. You wouldn’t just toss that violin into the back of a closet or let everyone play it without thinking twice, would you? Of course not! Because every time you were rough with it, it would get a little more out of tune. Every time someone else played it without understanding its quirks, it might pick up a scratch or a ding.

That’s what Marilyn Monroe is saying about actors. They need to be cared for like delicate violins. They need to be listened to and understood, just like how you would listen to the needs of a precious instrument. Actors need to keep their instrument—in this case, their body, voice, heart, and soul—in tip-top condition to be able to tell the stories that make us laugh, cry, and think.

So, what does “taking care” mean for actors? Well, it means a lot of things! It means getting plenty of rest, so they’re always ready to perform their best. It means eating right and staying healthy, so their body and voice are strong. It also means practicing, just like musicians practice their scales, actors practice their lines, their expressions, and their movements to make sure they can hit just the right note in their performance.

   

But it’s not just about what actors can do for themselves. It also means that the people around them—the directors, producers, other actors, and even the audience—need to be kind and understanding. Just like how you wouldn’t want everyone jumping on Isaac Stern’s violin, we need to be careful about how we treat actors and appreciate the effort they put into their craft.

Actors are sensitive instruments in another way too. They have to be open to feeling all kinds of emotions, so they can really understand the characters they’re playing. That can be tough on a person, because it’s like opening your heart right up and letting all the world’s feelings rush in. Imagine having to feel super sad about something happening in a story, even when, in real life, you’re actually having a pretty good day. Or think about trying to act really happy when you’re not feeling it. That’s part of being an actor—being in tune with the emotions of the person you are pretending to be.

Marilyn Monroe was an actress who understood all about being in tune with her emotions and how much care she needed to put into her acting. She worked hard to bring the stories she was telling to life in the most real and touching ways. She knew that the better care she took of herself and the more support she got from others, the better her acting would be, just like how a finely tuned and well-cared-for violin can make the loveliest music.

Now, here’s something cool to think about: This idea doesn’t have to stop at actors. We’re all kind of like sensitive instruments when you get right down to it. We all have feelings and thoughts that need to be cared for, and we all can get a little out of tune if we’re not treated right. So maybe, just maybe, we can learn from actors and how they care for their instrument, and start taking better care of ourselves and each other too.

By treating everyone kindly and with respect, we help keep everyone’s instrument in the best shape possible. And who knows? Maybe when we all look after our own sensitive instruments and play our parts well, we can create the most incredible symphony the world has ever heard, where every person’s story gets the chance to shine.

So, let’s remember Marilyn Monroe’s wise words and think about how we’re all sensitive instruments in this big, wonderful world. Whether we’re acting on a stage or simply playing our part in day-to-day life, we all deserve to be taken care of and given the chance to make beautiful music. Let’s treat each other with care, keep our instruments in tune, and play our hearts out in the grand performance of life.

   

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