Magic: stories, imagination, human connection

I remember reading something by the great director, Peter Brook, warning that adding anything literal to a stage set, like running water or a gas stove, creates an expectation of reality that is fundamentally at odds with the magic of theater. Theatre demands a leap of faith. He said that when we have running water on stage, a pencil can no longer become a rocket. It can only be a pencil. This photo shows the set from Peter Brook’s production of Battlefield at ACT. Notice that the people, the actors, create the meaning of the abstract space; their actions make the space a place. It can be a battlefield, a temple, or a kitchen.

The same is true for any human interaction. When people connect, no matter if it’s on a stage, in a boardroom, or over dinner, we have the potential for magic—for imagination, creativity, for emotional connection. If we begin with the literal, then we by-pass that potential. That’s why I prefer stories over slides and examples to facts.

What magic can we bring to our human interactions? Anything that engages the psyche and imagination by invoking images, sensations, and feelings.

• Memories

• Srories

• Images

• Emotions

• Playfulness

This week, we invite magic into our conversations, presentations, and all human interactions, including virtual connections.