The Sunday Sermonette – Masks and Makeup.

Performing on Coastal Stages over the past fifty years, I’ve worn my share of theatrical masks and makeup. Portraying Camelot’s Merlin required a long white beard, a mane of white hair, and over-the-top eye makeup. Cabaret’s Emcee called for jet-black hair slicked back with hair oil, long fake eyelashes, ghostly white skin, a dash of rouge, and red, bee-stung lips. Makeup for both Fagin and Scrooge required long hair switches, a fake nose, and a scraggly beard.

Due to their differences, each of these characters was challenging. Learning to resonate with them took time and effort to make them come alive, to be honest and compelling. Some of the characters I depicted in my late twenties and early thirties changed when I played them later—age and life had enhanced my perspectives, which helped me add an extra layer of humanity to my portrayals.

Stage makeup is generally easy to apply. However, a full face mask is not. In the early 90s, I was offered the role of Koko in the Gulf Coast Opera’s production of The Mikado. I was thrilled and honored. A fellow cast member, a young airman stationed at Kessler Air Force Base, was a professional makeup artist and mask maker. To age me, he created a mask out of gauze, tissue paper, and glue…lots of glue. As it dried, I felt my face tighten. The transformation was amazing. I had jowls, a “chicken” neck, deep wrinkles, and big bags under my eyes. If I were to recreate the role today, no mask would be required. ()

Donning makeup or a mask is integral to creating the character you want to become. When the curtain comes down, though, it’s a liberating experience to remove it, returning to the person you really are. An interesting side note: Our word hypocrite comes from a Greek word that literally means “one who wears a mask.” In other words, someone who pretends to be what he is not.

In life, hypocrites are actors. They can appear loving, godly, sincere, good, and upright—but they’re not. They enjoy lecturing others about morality but are not moral themselves. Hypocrites proclaim their “righteousness” but are not the best examples of what it means to be righteous. The Good Book calls hypocrisy a sin. It can take two forms: “Professing belief in something and then acting contrary to that belief or looking down on others when we ourselves are flawed.”

In the Book of Romans, Paul addressed Jewish hypocrites who condemned Gentiles: “You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?” He told the Jewish hypocrites to take off their masks and admit they were wrong to condemn the Gentiles when they were no better. He stated that those who take the moral high ground must first look deep into their hearts, ensuring they are pure and above reproach.

Closer to home, lest we forget: Condemning other people’s failings and sins is much easier than confessing our own. Sincere followers of Father God and Jesus are not those who resonate best with their masks on, but those who do so by taking their masks off. This validates their authentic faith. Let us reflect on our own actions and strive for authenticity in ours.

Ponder this and go forth.