Serendipity is a word that has fallen into disuse, but there are few words in the English language that so graphically characterize the combination of fortuitous and random circumstances that make up the behind-the-scenes history of almost every play. Moss Hart, Act One
There it is - one of my all time favorite words -serendipity. I like the sound of it. It rolls off the tongue.
I like its referenced origin: The Three Serendip Princes, who make surprising discoveries along their great adventures away from their homeland, now called Sri Lanka.
I like the tale of its entrance into the English language. In 1754, British author Horace Walpole, while researching a coat of arms, stumbled upon a tangent of information. In a letter to his friend Horace Mann, Walpole writes, “This discovery indeed is almost of that kind which I call Serendipity, a very expressive word.” His definition of serendipity is the one which appears in dictionaries today: “The phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.” Merriam Webster.
I like the fact that we all experience serendipity. We start out looking for something in our file or kitchen cabinet or little used closet. While we search for the item we set out to find, we come across a long lost letter that one our now adult children wrote in first grade or we discover the misplaced brooch Aunt Sally gave us or we find the gift we once hid for a loved one, but let slip from our memory where we hid it. We forget our present chore in the grand discovery, usually of something materially insignificant, but of great importance to us.
When we travel, we plan in detail before we leave, but some of our most memorable moments have come serendipitously. I remember once we pulled into a Louisiana rest stop. We were surprised by a Cajun Festival, hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce, at this site. We had planned a 15-minute stop, but ended up staying well over an hour for a free lunch and entertainment. We ate jambalaya and drank Louisiana chicory coffee on the porch while we listened to fiddlers play and watched tourists dance. We were well refreshed when we left - serendipity at its finest.
Often, these unplanned stops occur on our way home. Heading Southeast along the backroads in Montana, we came upon the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. We spent several hours here touring the museum, listening to the ranger’s talk, observing the national cemetery, contemplating the countless tragedies within the westward movement. Last year, our nephew, likewise, stumbled upon this out of the way place, a true testimony to history. He called, wanting to share his discovery. Had we been there?”
And, stumbling upon this word in Act One is serendipitous in itself.
Years ago, I recommend this Moss Hart’s memoir to a student in Texas. He didn’t get around to reading it until almost a half century later. Nearing retirement, this former student turned journalist, photo journalist, musician, who always says, “the right book at the right time,” wrote, “Had I read Act One in 1960, it might have changed the course of my life.”
When I asked “how,” he said that he might have pursued acting like his brother. I hate to admit it, but I was a tad disappointed. I had hoped that this person, who had shown such potential as a writer when a teen, might have considered becoming a playwright.
But our exchange led me to reread Act One more than 50 years later. I was as intrigued with this memoir as I had been as a beginning teacher. Once again, I was reminded of the value in reading really good books more than one time.
Born into an impoverished immigrant family in the Bronx, Hart dreams of escaping his hard knocks life. Dropping out of school to help support his family, he clings to his dream and eventually rises to the ranks of “Broadway legend,” inspiring other hopefuls.
In researching this book, I made serendipitous discoveries. Award-winning writer/director James Lapine, in 2014, turned this memoir into a stage play, performed on the Lincoln Center Theater stage. Tony Shalhoub, the star of the old “Monk” TV series, one of my favorites, played the older Hart.
The Birmingham Village Players held open auditions for this play in January in Birmingham, MI. Performances were in March.
Serendipity happens.
2018
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