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ENLARGE
“It’s hard to find your way in life ... we need teachers,” says professor Morrie Schwartz.
And so begins Mitch Albom’s heart-centered education — on life.
Before life coaches became all the rage, Mitch found his, in the form of a university sociology professor named Morrie. Morrie, 41 years Mitch’s senior, was a warm, genuine teacher — one people automatically want to hug. He yearned to truly connect with his students and found immense pleasure in the nickname Mitch gave him: “Coach.” Mitch took every class he could from Morrie before graduating in the spring of 1979. When he left school, he promised to stay in touch. Then life happened.
Fast forward 16 years: Mitch is a wildly successful sports reporter, with a fiancée he just hasn’t had time to stop and marry. He has completely forgotten about his favorite teacher — until he spots him on “Nightline.” It seems Morrie is dying, and “Nightline” is featuring him as a sage who has decided to “observe his own decay.”
The segment spurs Mitch to call Morrie, and they set a time to meet. Only, once Mitch arrives at Morrie’s house, he is so shocked by the sight of a shriveled old man that his first impulse is to hide. But Morrie hasn’t changed inside. He greets his former student with warm welcome and laughter.
Mitch remains uncomfortable relating to a diseased man throughout the visit, but Morrie insists on teaching whomever he can — especially Mitch — until his dying day. And, so, he confronts Mitch with hard-hitting questions like: “Are you at peace with yourself?” and “Are you trying to be as human as you can be?” Mitch doesn’t answer — can’t answer — but he admits it’s hard to enjoy life with his fast-paced fame and fortune. Morrie responds: “Dying is only one thing to be sad over. Living unhappily is something else.”
Despite Morrie’s disarming nature, Mitch leaves untouched. He has done his duty, paid his respects. Except days later, Mitch still hears Morrie’s questions ringing in his ears. At age 37, he is not at peace with himself. And so he returns to talk to Morrie, who, as a great coach, urges him to do more — namely, meet every Tuesday. The two commence weekly meetings, in which Mitch records Morrie’s thoughts on love, work, aging, family, community, forgiveness and death.
Morrie challenges Mitch emotionally and mentally, and the performance does the same for audience members. Touching interactions lead to intense moments, which morph into humorous or heartfelt lines. The show journeys through scenes that elicit laughter, tears, joy and profound thoughts.
Former Summit High School graduate Jon Whitfield traveled from his home in Austin, Texas, to Breckenridge to do the show. He delivers a convincing performance as a keyed-up Mitch, who eventually relaxes into his search for the meaning of life.
“When I read the play, all I can say is, the only voice I could hear was Jon,” said Wendy Moore, former Backstage Theatre artistic director and director of the current show. “There’s something about the syntax of a character. When you know a lot of actors, people just come to your mind. He is Mitch.”
Wendy Moore’s husband, Bob Moore, embodies Morrie, with all of his passion; the joy of Morrie truly shines through Bob’s face, and Morrie’s pain twitches through Bob’s body.
Together, actors Whitfield and Bob Moore create a compelling dynamic on stage.
“The two have done a number of shows together —they have the kind of relationship between the two of them that Mitch and Morrie had,” Wendy Moore said.
Indeed, the Backstage’s performance of “Tuesdays with Morrie” unfolds as if the audience is sitting in Morrie’s living room, listening to him say, “You have to go after life and embrace it, and sometimes it will embrace you back in ways you never imagined.”
And so begins Mitch Albom’s heart-centered education — on life.
Before life coaches became all the rage, Mitch found his, in the form of a university sociology professor named Morrie. Morrie, 41 years Mitch’s senior, was a warm, genuine teacher — one people automatically want to hug. He yearned to truly connect with his students and found immense pleasure in the nickname Mitch gave him: “Coach.” Mitch took every class he could from Morrie before graduating in the spring of 1979. When he left school, he promised to stay in touch. Then life happened.
Fast forward 16 years: Mitch is a wildly successful sports reporter, with a fiancée he just hasn’t had time to stop and marry. He has completely forgotten about his favorite teacher — until he spots him on “Nightline.” It seems Morrie is dying, and “Nightline” is featuring him as a sage who has decided to “observe his own decay.”
The segment spurs Mitch to call Morrie, and they set a time to meet. Only, once Mitch arrives at Morrie’s house, he is so shocked by the sight of a shriveled old man that his first impulse is to hide. But Morrie hasn’t changed inside. He greets his former student with warm welcome and laughter.
Mitch remains uncomfortable relating to a diseased man throughout the visit, but Morrie insists on teaching whomever he can — especially Mitch — until his dying day. And, so, he confronts Mitch with hard-hitting questions like: “Are you at peace with yourself?” and “Are you trying to be as human as you can be?” Mitch doesn’t answer — can’t answer — but he admits it’s hard to enjoy life with his fast-paced fame and fortune. Morrie responds: “Dying is only one thing to be sad over. Living unhappily is something else.”
Despite Morrie’s disarming nature, Mitch leaves untouched. He has done his duty, paid his respects. Except days later, Mitch still hears Morrie’s questions ringing in his ears. At age 37, he is not at peace with himself. And so he returns to talk to Morrie, who, as a great coach, urges him to do more — namely, meet every Tuesday. The two commence weekly meetings, in which Mitch records Morrie’s thoughts on love, work, aging, family, community, forgiveness and death.
Morrie challenges Mitch emotionally and mentally, and the performance does the same for audience members. Touching interactions lead to intense moments, which morph into humorous or heartfelt lines. The show journeys through scenes that elicit laughter, tears, joy and profound thoughts.
Former Summit High School graduate Jon Whitfield traveled from his home in Austin, Texas, to Breckenridge to do the show. He delivers a convincing performance as a keyed-up Mitch, who eventually relaxes into his search for the meaning of life.
“When I read the play, all I can say is, the only voice I could hear was Jon,” said Wendy Moore, former Backstage Theatre artistic director and director of the current show. “There’s something about the syntax of a character. When you know a lot of actors, people just come to your mind. He is Mitch.”
Wendy Moore’s husband, Bob Moore, embodies Morrie, with all of his passion; the joy of Morrie truly shines through Bob’s face, and Morrie’s pain twitches through Bob’s body.
Together, actors Whitfield and Bob Moore create a compelling dynamic on stage.
“The two have done a number of shows together —they have the kind of relationship between the two of them that Mitch and Morrie had,” Wendy Moore said.
Indeed, the Backstage’s performance of “Tuesdays with Morrie” unfolds as if the audience is sitting in Morrie’s living room, listening to him say, “You have to go after life and embrace it, and sometimes it will embrace you back in ways you never imagined.”
