Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda!

I can't take credit for coming up with Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda. It's an expression a friend coined years ago to describe opportunities that slip by or the things we never manage to accomplish.  The inspired idea to have a group of aspiring actors write a letter never sent wasn't mine either—I feel privledged to have been part of it though.

 On Saturday nineteen young women, participating in Leading Ladies with Soul Pepper Theatre visited Voices at Hand.  It was a large group for SOHO, so we  took advantage of the warmish weather and gathered outside. Over forty-five minutes, I  invited smaller groups of four or five into my tight quarters to tell them about the project and give them each a letter from the category of their choice to read to one another. In return, all nineteen of them, left me a note they should have or could have or would have written and sent but never had.


I can understand the value of this exercise for young thespians—if one can clearly express their own humour, joy and sorrow, they have a better chance of convincingly articulating another's on stage. 


For me it has been an emotional few days, spending time with  these letters. Some are warm and loving, others lonely, withdrawn and raw—all of them beautiful in their honesty. I admire the courage and maturity of these young women. Who knows whether they will become leading ladies in the world of theatre, but from where I sit they all seem well on their way.  

Bravo Ladies!!!