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Tuesday Teaching with Mentor Morrie
By Paula Xiberras
The origin of the name Tuesday is from the old Roman name for Mars, the god of
war. Tuesday afternoons with Morrie is not about war but it is about fighting on a
couple of levels, it is about fighting a debilitating disease called Motor Neurone
Disease (MND) and fighting for the things that should be really held valuable, not
success and fleeting fame or the gathering of riches but the giving of oneself,
appreciating the simple pleasures and without avoiding the cliché, to make the world
a better place.
Tuesdays with Morrie is the world's best selling memoir so it is no surprise it has
been adapted as a play. This week sees the play arrive in Hobart and I had the
pleasure in sitting down with one of the two protagonists, actor Glenn Hazeldine
(who plays Mitch, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie) for a chat.
We chatted on what gives this book its enduring status as the world's favourite
memoir. One of the reasons is that it is an accessible story. Everyone has or has had
an inspirational mentor or teacher in their life and so, the story is instantly
identifiable. When one cries or smiles for Morrie and Mitch they are vicariously
remembering a relationship with a mentor of their own.
In Glenn's case he recalls two mentors, his drama teacher at school and later, one of
his professors at NIDA. As a young drama student at school in Newcastle the extent
of knowledge about NIDA was its association with Mel Gibson, one of its early star
pupils.
Glenn recalls his drama teacher taking him to a NIDA open day and telling him 'you
can do this'. Actions like this from a mentor encouraged and shaped the direction of
his career.
We agreed that the book reminded us of those volumes of inspirational quotes that
are marketed for birthdays and other celebrations, the only difference being,
Tuesdays with Morrie is considerably fleshed out.
Glenn mentions that Mitch is surprised in the book that out of all of Morrie's
students, (some more deserving than he), he was chosen. Glenn says that Morrie
recognised an absence of something in Mitch's life and Morrie wanted to fix that.
Morrie carried his interest in sociology into real life situations and as Glenn says he
does more than just teach, but applied his teaching and encouraged others to do so
in their day to day lives. Morrie’s passing and the number of people he has inspired
came and paid their respects. A comparison was drawn by Glenn to Australia's own
great playwright, actor and teacher Nick Enright, tragically passing away at a young
age. Glenn recalls the great number of people that came to pay their respects to
Nick when he was in hospital. A fact that made the hospital staff ask who is this man
that he inspires such devotion. Similarly, Morrie is adored by those he comes in
contact with.
It is important for Morrie to inform people that the truly fulfilled life is one lived for
others. The latest car or biggest house or even fame are fleeting insubstantial
things. Morrie calls it the tension of opposites, the constant battle between what
you think you should do and what you want to do. In Mitch's case what he wanted
to do was play in a band but instead became a great sports reporter. Glenn
mentioned that Mitch has heeded Morrie's words and has done some touring so as
to realise his dream of being a musician.
Glenn chatted about one of the most profound scenes in the book that is reminiscent
of changing-literally and metaphorically. As Morrie continues to feel the effects of
the debilitating disease, his movements restricted to sitting in a chair and watching
the hibiscus plant outside the window. He watches the leaves change incrementally
through the seasons which corresponds to his own change. Sometimes, Glenn says
watching the changing of a flower with the one you love is the most profound thing.
The deeply philosophical changed course, as we spoke on drama in general and
Glenn's experiences. It was time for Glenn to impart some of his own theatrical
wisdom! He mentioned how it usually the case that the audience sets the rhythm of
the play. He found this particularly so in David Williamson plays. If a particular piece
of humour/laugh was not in the place the audience deemed it to be, they would
voice their disapproval. That instant reciprocation from an audience is one of the
reasons Glenn has spent so much time in theatre. Not that he is averse to doing TV
and movie roles. It was interesting that he is very much attuned to acting in theatre
that he found TV acting a little strange as it did not require the full body acting that
theatre demands.
The last topic we covered as we descended the stairs from the dress circle was the
theatre itself. Glenn enjoys working at the Theatre Royal and sees it as unique at a
time where theatres like it around Australia are diminishing. He praises its excellent
acoustics and the intimacy with the audience it allows. If you are looking for an
intimate, life questioning, and possibly even life changing experience you could do
no better than to spend 'Tuesdays with Morrie'. The play is showing at the Theatre
Royal tonight Wednesday 13th April and tomorrow, Thursday 14th April.