ABSTRACT
The theatrical performance is a climactic event, bringing forth a tremendous sense of release, exhilaration, and fulfillment. But treading on the heels of this intense rush of excitement is a feeling of emptiness. The months of exhaustive preparation preceding the culmination have filled, if not taken over, the actors' lives. In some ways similar to postpartum depression, the letdown following the completion of a work of art is familiar to artists of all disciplines. Once the finished art product is set free, the artist is left depleted and must again face the "blank slate," without knowing when or whether the creative impulse or oppor-- tunity will reappear. The transitory nature of performance accentuates the feel-- ing of emptiness; when a performance ends, the product ceases to exist, ethe-- realizing the actor's sense of accomplishment. Moreover, the collaborative pro-- cess inherent in theatre, fostering intimacy and emotional bonding with one's fellow actors, makes the loss at the conclusion of the performance all the more formidable.
