Shakespeare’s words long ago still ring true today.
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This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night follows the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
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You originally agreed to do this role with the understanding that the play would be on a Monday night, right?
It was the director’s decision to significantly change that, right?How is that your fault?
It isn’t.
It was also the director’s lack of foresight in not assigning an understudy, right?
How is that your fault?
It isn’t.
If you wish to extend yourself to help out the person replacing you, that’s certainly a very nice gesture but not, strictly speaking, your responsibility.
Anyone trying to guilt you out by speaking of hard feelings from your fellow cast members is being manipulative, plain and simple. You are not required to feel guilty for changes to the terms of the original agreement.
You can feel perfectly free to let your castmates know this. Those are the facts.
FYI: Your religious group is not the only one with Sabbath restrictions. Orthodox Jews have far more restrictions for the exact same time frame.
This is New York, not Kansas so there is a large population of Orthodox Jews. It certainly is not unreasonable to expect your director to be aware of this. He’s the one being the idiot with the last minute switch-up.
Naturally you feel disappointed that you can’t be in the play. That’s to be expected. But don’t lay false guilt on top of that. You director had other choices.
I know it’s a bit cliched, but the Serenity Prayer has much truth in this situation.
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.