Confessions Of A Closet Thespian
- By Indu Shanmugam
- Published 04/4/2008
Indu Shanmugam
Indu Shanmugam is a 20-something, college student from Oregon, USA. She is majoring in English literature and language. She also studied Theology for a short period. She wants to be a teacher. As a literature enthusiast, she enjoys literature of all types and from writers of various backgrounds from the classics, French realists, Christian writings like C.S Lewis and South Asian literature. As for her own writings, "I am still trying to find and develop my own voice." She sees the art of the written word as a way to speak about Christ and explore truth. Before she met Jesus Christ, she has been searching for the meaning of life through experimentation of other religions, philosophies and ideas. At the age of 17, she accepted Christ after a powerful encounter with God through a miracle. God's presence and deep truths in the Bible fuel her creativity. She is involved in church activities and has a love for the church and would like to see every believer grow, become closer to God and live fruitfully. She loves traveling, sipping bubble teas, theatre, music, films and hanging out with friends and has a weakness for cheesecake.
Not to be confused with the similar sounding rhyme. I mean thespian as in being an actor on stage. I got a small part in a school play, Shel's Shorts. I'm playing the part of Benny. I'm playing a male part and I get to cross-dress. hehe. There weren't that many guys that audioned so we have reverse Shakespeare of having some girls play male roles.
I enjoy theatre as a hobby. I like watching plays, taking drama classes and acting in college plays. It's an escape. I don't intend to make it on the big screen or pursue professional theatre. The most I'll ever do is take some more drama classes and more college plays. Maybe later, I might want to teach theatre at the high school level but nothing more.
All right, maybe fantacizing is okay...
If I ever do get a chance, my dream role is a strong woman character such as Nora of Ibsen's "A Doll's House" or Natasha of Chekov's "Three Sisters." I love classics. I find myself drawn to these kind of characters. As a child, I loved Nancy Drew books because she was a classy girl that had girlpower. She solved cases and used her wits. In my 5th grade English class I remember reading a summary or short story form of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Back then I remember liking Portia because she was the woman of wits that saved someone from death with her intelligence. However, I have mixed feelings of Anti-Semitism portrayed in the play. I realize it was common back then but I want to be sensitive to others.
Rehearsing and performing is fun. I'm not that outwardly charismatic. In high school, I was going through major apathy and didn't care much about life. Some of my high school peers pursued drama to the professional level. I heard that a couple of my high school classmates are now in professional theatre. In a drama class, I can't help but feel a bit intimidated by the more experienced ones with admirable talent and take acting very seriously.
Theatre will continue to be a good escape and hobby. And nothing more.
