I remain convinced that I can be a true universalist only when I am a better Jew. Theodore Bikel More Quotes by Theodore Bikel More Quotes From Theodore Bikel I am not a specialist but a general practitioner in the world of the arts. Theodore Bikel specialistsworldart It's a sad thing to contemplate, but I'm the last surviving cast member of 'The African Queen.' Theodore Bikel memberslastsqueens You cannot please all of the people all of the time, and that is truer in the arts than anywhere else. Theodore Bikel pleasepeopleart '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 greenplaywonderful 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 doecharacterdirectors 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 glimpsesimpleworld 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 exerciseintegrityfacts 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-outvoiceresponsibility 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-abilitysongdrama 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 fashiontheatrethinking When something is moving you get that intake of breath and that stillness from the audience. Theodore Bikel breathsaudiencemoving Retiring' - within that word is 'tiring,' and I'm not tired. I don't believe in retirement, really. Theodore Bikel tiredretirementbelieve 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-monthsvacuumslaughing 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 ongoingpracticedoubt 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 rightssong I do prefer the stage. It's really the granddaddy of them all. Theodore Bikel granddaddystage 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 middleendsfunny 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 playsongart 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 riskagecountry For I firmly believe that Jewish life, indeed any communal life, can only be organized according to democratic principles. Theodore Bikel jewish-lifeprinciplesbelieve
