Sometimes I deserve the reputation I get.
I understand why people think I’m loud (I am), lazy (when it doesn’t inconvenience others too much) and obsessed with food and television. I feel happiest while eating on the couch while talking loudly about my favorite sitcoms.
What flummoxes me is how some people develop certain opinions about me. I’m not as cranky as I come off in writing mainly because sarcasm and purposeful exaggeration doesn’t always translate. But that’s not the personality trait I worry most about these days.
I fear people might think I’m homicidal.
Don’t worry – I haven’t really inflicted physical harm on anyone. I just start to wonder after a recent event I attended.
As part of a fundraiser for the Hanover Community Players, I played a role in a murder mystery dinner theatre production. I had an absolutely fantastic time with new and old friends.
The evening required me to stay in character for the entire event, which I found nerve-wracking and exciting. Because of my character’s brash nature, I got to say things I might generally keep under wraps under different circumstances.
At the end of the night, the audience got a chance to vote on who they thought committed the crime. I wasn’t really surprised when a fellow cast member approached me before the big reveal with the agreed-upon signal indicating the crowd had chosen me as the culprit.
The plot had plenty of clues that I had done the deed. I also think I played up the more obnoxious side of my character during the parts of the night where we mingled – without a script – among the crowd. I think some of them may have wanted to see me removed in real handcuffs.
As I exited the hall after my confession, I felt good about putting on a fun show, but part of my mind drifted back to an evening five years or so ago when I took part in a similar event at my previous job.
Friends there recruited me to take part in a murder mystery event. I didn’t have to learn any lines, but had to come up with a twitchy, quirky character. At the end of the night, guess which suspect the audience chose as the murderer?
As I continue to look for more ways to express my newfound desire to perform, I understand I will probably only fit certain kinds of roles. I have no problem getting typecast as the loud guy or the fellow who drinks too much.
But am I setting up a career as a suspected killer? Do I instill fear in people when I perform? Or do I just look like the kind of schlub who couldn’t hide his involvement in a caper if his life depended on it?
I don’t know the real answer. I just know that I hope I don’t accidentally come across a real crime scene because I might elicit suspicion right off the bat. If that happens, I just hope I do a good job at playing dumb. I have lots of experience in that area.