“All the world’s a stage”; William Shakespeare wrote. A “stage” is any scene regarded as a setting for exhibiting or doing something. It also means a large platform on which people can stand and can be seen by an audience (eg as in the usage, ‘He clambered up onto the stage and got the actors to help him into the box’). A specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process is also another meaning of the same word “Stage” (‘At what stage are the social sciences?’). A section or portion of a journey or course is also another meaning of the word stage
A corollary to the quote from William Shakespeare’s is “We are the actors”. An “Actor”, of course, is a theatrical performer, a doer of something, a role player or worker, a person who acts and gets things done (‘He’s a principal actor in this affair.’). “Actor” comes from the word “Act” which again means a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program (‘He did his act three times every evening’), something that people do or cause to happen. A manifestation of insincerity is another meaning of the word. A building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented is the theatre. Theatre is also the art of writing and producing plays. In the world of theatre actors in the stage take different role to bring up the significance of a story or event, the message that is intended or expressed or signified. In short the “Moral”.
Now what is “moral”? The adjective form of “Moral” relates to principles of right and wrong; i.e. to morals or ethics, “moral philosophy”, also concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles. As we say, “moral sense”; “a moral scrutiny”; “a moral lesson”; “a moral quandary”; “moral convictions”; “a moral life”. Adhering to ethical and moral principles, “had the moral courage to stand alone”, arising from the sense of right and wrong “a moral obligation”, psychological rather than physical or tangible in effect “a moral victory”; “moral support”, based on strong likelihood or firm conviction rather than actual evidence “a moral certainty,’ - all this is what moral means.
A good theatre production is the combination of the art of writing and producing plays suited to or characteristic of the stage or theater. Even if the writer writes a good script, without proper direction, or without the director’s choice of actors, meaning no good production, no moral (significance of the story) can be delivered. . There can also be no good production even with good director and actors if there is no good script. Even if there’s a good script with the best director, there can be no good theatre production without good actors. In short, a good play is the product of the well coordinated effort of the stage, theatre, director and actors etc.
Imagine all the actors in the play are doing whatever they want to do without consideration of the character which they are supposed to portray. Now imagine all the people of every section of the society as these actors, and imagine what would be the future of Manipur if somehow all the actors in the play that is life in this state somehow lose their lines, as seems to be happening today. What would happen, for instance, if the current trend of destructive criticizing among us instead of constructive goes on in such a moral-less manner. What happens when everybody does what ever he wants in the name of freedom and democracy? Will it be true freedom if you do whatever you like, you want, without caring for the others? Is it a true meaning of freedom when I exercise my freedom however I like even if it hurts others? Is it moral to demand my rights without knowing what my duties are as a citizen of a democratic state? Citizens enjoy the freedom of expression in a democratic state. But should we not consider whether what we express hurts others? In a democratic state, the majority rule but it doesn’t mean minority has no room at all. If in the name of majority, the minority’s rights are repeatedly abused, and prevented from expressing their objections to the so-called majority’s demands or desires, if these demands or desires are shoved down the minority’s throats, would it be a true democracy?
Source: Leader writer: Thingbaijam Dhamen
