Occasionally, someone’s professionalism sets a lifelong example.
When I was a teenager passionate about the theater, the La Crosse (Wisconsin) Community Theater staged “Fiddler on the Roof.” I was its stage manager while barrel-shaped, middle-aged Timmy Kramer played Tevye, the poor Jewish milkman.
The musical, set in a small Russian town in the late 1800s, contains an early tavern scene during which Tevye downs shot after shot of vodka. Of course, Timmy’s mug was always filled with water.
During one performance, some foolish men in the chorus replaced the mug’s water with vodka. After the first toast, Timmy glanced at me with eyebrows raised. I couldn’t understand, so, without missing a beat, he took his usual gulps and remained in character for the rest of the scene.
With better than half a performance left, Timmy displayed a professionalism I’ll always remember. Sticking fingers down his throat, he deliberately vomited. I gave him a wet cloth to wipe his mouth and touched up his makeup, and he lumbered back onstage.
To Timmy and those like him, the show must go on.
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