"Building a Statue of Snow"

Peter O’Toole passed away over the weekend.  I’ve read several news articles and blog posts about O’Toole – many remembering him for his personal style and ability to hold his liquor.  The Trad (a favorite blog of mine) linked to this article from Esquire (1963) by Gal Talese.  Given our family’s interest in theater, as actors, behind-the-scenes workers, and volunteers, I thought this was a great quote to share.  O’Toole is comparing his experience on film against live theater:

"Oh, it's painful seeing it all there on the screen, solidified, embalmed," he said, staring straight ahead toward the rows of bottles. "Once a thing is solidified it stops being a living thing. That's why I love the theatre. It's the Art of the Moment. I'm in love with ephemera and I hate permanence. Acting is making words into flesh, and I love classical acting because...because you need the vocal range of an opera singer...the movement of a ballet dancer...you have to be able to act...it's turning your whole body into a musical instrument on which you yourself play...It's more than behaviorism, which is what you get in the movies...Chrissake, what are movies anyway? Just fucking moving photographs, that's all. But the theatre! Ah, there you have the impermanence that I love. It's a reflection of life somehow. It's...it's...like building a statue of snow...."

Hat Tip, the Trad.