I am not, and have never been, in favor of boycotting Israel. Theodore Bikel More Quotes by Theodore Bikel More Quotes From Theodore Bikel It's a sad thing to contemplate, but I'm the last surviving cast member of 'The African Queen.' Theodore Bikel members lasts queens You cannot please all of the people all of the time, and that is truer in the arts than anywhere else. Theodore Bikel please people art 'Visiting Mr. Green' is a good play. I enjoy being in it, and I have a wonderful colleague, Aidan deSalaiz, to work with. Audiences like it a lot. What's not to like? Theodore Bikel green play wonderful John Huston was the kind of director that totally left you alone. Not every actor always does it right, every time, but most of the time he was re-directing someone. He was making tight adjustments, and not even in terms of interpretation because he knew that by the time that the character had been filmed... well, he got it right when he cast you. Theodore Bikel doe character directors I refuse to do shows that are narrowly constructed, that appeal to only one sentiment. I do a lot of Jewish material in front of non-Jews and a lot of non-Jewish material in front of Jews on the simple theory that the non-Jews are entitled to a glimpse of a Jewish world and the Jews are entitled to a glimpse of the world. Theodore Bikel glimpse simple world I glory in the fact that a human being has multiple talents and exercises them all with a degree of integrity and artistic proficiency. That's what I do. Theodore Bikel exercise integrity facts I don't speak out because I am an actor nor will I keep silent because I am an actor. I respect my profession, but it endows me with no special privileges; but it also does not limit me or muzzle me. I am a person and a citizen with the attendant responsibilities of voice and vote. Theodore Bikel speaks-out voice responsibility I am first, and foremost, an actor. That's what I am. To me, a song is a mini-drama. My musical ability informs the actor as well because it gives me a sense of timing that non-musicians don't have. So, one hand washes the other. Theodore Bikel musical-ability song drama An actor is supposed to emulate life. Instead, alas, many are imitating other actors. You don't fashion your knowledge of theatre or your approach to a role on the basis of what other actors have done. This kind of thinking is a great danger, especially in dealing with TV producers who frequently say things like, 'This is a Sean Connery type.' Theodore Bikel fashion theatre thinking When something is moving you get that intake of breath and that stillness from the audience. Theodore Bikel breaths audience moving Retiring' - within that word is 'tiring,' and I'm not tired. I don't believe in retirement, really. Theodore Bikel tired retirement believe You always draw on your experiences with live audiences to know how to do comedy on films. You're working for a laugh that may or may not come six months later, but you're working in a vacuum at the time you are doing it. Theodore Bikel six-months vacuums laughing While we all could agree that the Zionist ideal is alive and well, there is serious doubt whether the Zionist movement can be said to be an ongoing proposition, fragmented as its components are in ideology and in practice. Theodore Bikel ongoing practice doubt Throughout my life I have cared as deeply about the songs of all peoples as I have about the rights of all peoples. Theodore Bikel rights song I do prefer the stage. It's really the granddaddy of them all. Theodore Bikel granddaddy stage On the stage you're there, it's live. There's a beginning, a middle, an end. When something is funny you hear it right away. Theodore Bikel middle ends funny In my world, history comes down to language and art. No one cares much about what battles were fought, who won them and who lost them - unless there is a painting, a play, a song or a poem that speaks of the event. Theodore Bikel play song art Having come to live in this age is as though one were to have entered another country. Learn its language or risk being left out. Theodore Bikel risk age country For I firmly believe that Jewish life, indeed any communal life, can only be organized according to democratic principles. Theodore Bikel jewish-life principles believe Every actor wants to direct and produce, but I made a conscious decision when I was in college to understand the 'business' of 'show business.' Theodore Bikel direct actors want
