ciphers

A friend of mine tells me about a play he acted in a few years ago. He says he didn’t enjoy it. He didn’t have much of a part in it, and, more to the point, it felt as though he didn’t have much of a part. He says that of course, he knows, just like I know, that actors are only ciphers, there to serve the play, bring the flame of life to the thing. But it’s no good, as an actor, if you feel like that’s all you’re there for. You need to feel like you’ve got something to offer. No matter how marginal. If you feel like a cipher you’re going to lose heart. You’re not going to enjoy it.