"ad majorem dei gloriam"....to the glory of God. The phrase rings sweet in the ears of the legions of alumnae of Jesuit run institutions. It is a rare accolade meanly rationed to the little boy's by the gemtleman of the Jesuit order in any number of similar college prep.s anywhere in the world. I could approach any performer who were formed in youth by the members of said order and ask what that meant to them in their work and a interesting interview would result.
Performers as different as the brilliant Raul Esparza and Matthew Martin have as an essence in the finely crafted quality of very different performace, an element of for the greater glory, if not any real belief in a diety. I know Matthew is a very sincere Roman Catholic and has served the needs of individual members of the Jesuit order, he remains, truly and sweet in his belief's. I think that Maddie does vamp and drag like only Baby Jane? can vamp and drag with a silent prayer said. It is sincere and because of its sincerity is not mocked in a performance world that Sulla would have found poisonous. The RAUL, he of easy charm, master of effortless sublime notes that wiggle into your heart, a sensuality that smokes and is innocent at the same time, crafts a completely different spell as conjuer and each work of The RAUL is a note played so like my best boy Mozart's works. The are only too many notes if you can't keep up! The nuance is the thing.
I reflect on the boy's Raul and Matt. Each the one and the many, A Jesuit education, Mothers both loving and embracing, read "EMBRACING". Each lady had family experiences of life under Communism, one in Cuba, the other in Serbia, large families, one in Florida, one in California, what was a boy to do? For the glory of God? My guess is they just wanted to be cool, blow a little dope and try to get laid. Thankfully both fround the answer to the demand presented to them at 14 in performance. ADMG! Clearly the essence of each star's performance is spiritual. The complete use of technique, skill, is enlivened and given unique voice by the individual spirit. We are all of us saints and sin is only the lack of taste. The blessed amongst us are the Matts's and Raul. The artistry of each performer in each and every performance is a precious thing that evaporates like a gorgeous bubble never to be experienced again.
Is it spiritual for all? I've had the life changing honor to perform with any number of brilliant atheists from the former U.S.S.R. All of whom, godless to a man and only like a man raised in a collecive can be, will cross themselves in the Orthodox manner as the overture play's. I, truly as an Episcopalian, quickly and silently request Nell Gwinn's tap or toi-toi during said period when the footlights come up, sans crossing. Is it spritual for me? Yes. Is it for the gentelman from Moscow? It is communion of sorts for them, perhaps more cultural than spiritual, less profane than the required bottles of Vodka generously shared in egalitarian echo of the glorious November Revolution with every passing member of the company. It sets the tone, literally infusing the opening note with a spiritual bravado. More Internationale but equal to the other world order.
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