To theater buffs, “Take five!” is a well-known order the director calls out in rehearsal.
It means, “Take a break, relax, and come back ready to work!”
One summer in high school, when I apprenticed at the Tanglewood Theater in North Carolina, the great Swedish actress Signe Hasso gave me a new perspective on “Take five!” Whereas most of us would bolt out of the sweltering rehearsal hall during breaks for some fresh air or a cold drink, Ms. Hasso, who was playing the title role in our production of Anastasia, would simply sit down, close her eyes, put her head back, and rest in her own private thoughts. Then she’d return to rehearsal refreshed and energized.
Inspired by Hasso’s example, I started spending my rehearsal breaks differently. I’d take those minutes to feel God’s love and peace, right there in that hectic summer theater environment. And once I began doing that, the pressure and homesickness I’d been feeling evaporated. I totally enjoyed the rest of the summer!
