Mike Phillips

Being an actor, singer and songwriter, and a writer of sorts, I thought I would kick off this blog sharing a bit of an excerpt from a report I wrote for a stage directing class. Below is the intro and a little beyond that. If you are interested in the whole thing, email me at Mike@MichaelJPhillips.com and I’ll send it to you. Enjoy.

All the World’s a Stage (Excerpt)

© 2009 Mike Phillips

The Immortality of Story

In the inky black of an ancient summer night, rows of orange-hued faces flicker in and out of view as a bonfire randomly illuminates them, briefly, into existence, only to wink out again at the next gust of wind. All eyes train silently upon a painted warrior sitting proudly at one end of the circle, and as he imparts story after story of fights, arguments, romantic involvements, and other intrigues, the group itself becomes one organism, living, dying, and breathing upon his every word. They are, in a word, entranced in the magic of his story, and this ritual helps forge a core bond of strength and unity amongst the people he proudly leads. Through these stories, the chief imparts strength, wisdom, customs, history, warnings, and above all, a sense of community and purpose which gives the group its solidarity and strength.

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