Note: if you haven’t yet read last week’s post - about the overwhelming soul-filled reaction I had to watching Tick Tick Boom - I’d suggest having a read of that before continuing on here.
So…
After Jonathan Larson’s profoundly painful realisation that there are absolutely no guarantees in showbiz, no matter how talented or hard-working you are, he finally begins to write in a new way: profoundly personally.
(That he gets some words of encouragement from Stephen Sondheim on the way no doubt helps keep his spirits up!)
Then… he writes “Rent”. A musical which goes on to break all kinds of records at the box office…
…and he dies of a sudden aneurysm the night before it opens.
Yup.
He never even gets to see the impact of his insanely hard work. He dies without even a clue as to the legacy he’s leaving behind. He never hears the gasps or applause of an audience, he never sees the “sold out” signs on the theatre, he never receives the money or financial security or comforts that he’d thus far managed to avoid by sheer commitment to his craft.
He never even gets to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
Does that mean it was all a waste of time?
Of course not.
He did what he always set out to do:
“I make a vow
Right here and now
I'm gonna spend my time this way”
And he succeeded.
And now his legacy - that he never even knew existed - is still moving and inspiring others. Both in the work itself, and in the way he lived his life.
My own mother also died way too young, also of an aneurysm (though hers was a brain one, not aortic like Jonathan).
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