---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the beginning of a long-running play…"
description: "\"At the beginning of a long-running play, everyone's nervous and paces around in a panic and reapplies lipstick. After a while, you'll get long-running ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/elizabeth-mcgovern-15709_lipstick_at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play_1388352.jpg"
---

#  At the beginning of a long-running play, everyone's…

![“At the beginning of a long-running play, everyone's nervous and paces around in a panic and reapplies lipstick. After a while, you'll get long-running card games or word games like Boggle.” quote by Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/elizabeth-mcgovern-15709_lipstick_at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play_1388352.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/elizabeth-mcgovern-15709_lipstick_at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play_1388352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/elizabeth-mcgovern-15709_lipstick_at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play_1388352.jpg)

> “At the beginning of a long-running play, everyone's nervous and paces around in a panic and reapplies lipstick. After a while, you'll get long-running card games or word games like Boggle.”

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Anxiety at a performance’s start evolves into playful distraction.

**In simple terms:** Nervousness leads to games.

Key Takeaway

Channel nervous energy into creative outlets.

Themes

theatre anxiety playfulness

Mood

lighthearted energetic

Type

practical inspirational

When to use this quote

- rehearsal techniques
- stress management
- team building
- creative breaks

Key Concepts

stagecraft psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance tension and fun?
- What games suit a backstage setting?

A Different Perspective

Not all audiences enjoy game interruptions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/)

## Related quotes

> [My mother is very good in Scrabble. In Boggle, my father is probably better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/my-mother-is-very-good-in-scrabble-in-boggle-my-father-is-probably/)

[Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/)

> [I have to learn from Sehwag how to play in the nervous 90's](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/i-have-to-learn-from-sehwag-how-to-play-in-the-nervous-90-s/)

[Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/)

> [It used to be that Denver was one of the most stressful cities to play because I was very nervous at coming home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/it-used-to-be-that-denver-was-one-of-the-most-stressful-cities-to/)

[Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/)

> [“The power of the rumor mill, if you could feel it as I do, would boggle your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/the-power-of-the-rumor-mill-if-you-could-feel-it-as-i-do-would-boggle/)

[Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/)

> [Play not only keeps us young but also maintains our perspective about the relative seriousness of things. Running is play, for even if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-fixx/play-not-only-keeps-us-young-but-also-maintains-our-perspective-about/)

[Jim Fixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-fixx/)

> [I want to be an athlete. I'm not just a running back. I play the running back position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saquon-barkley/i-want-to-be-an-athlete-i-m-not-just-a-running-back-i-play-the/)

[Saquon Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saquon-barkley/)

> [Encourage kids to enjoy running and play in athletics. Don't force them to run too much competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/encourage-kids-to-enjoy-running-and-play-in-athletics-don-t-force/)

[Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/)

> [Professional football's a tough game. It's a lot of contact. It's a lot of wear and tear on your body. You've got elite athletes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-urschel/professional-football-s-a-tough-game-it-s-a-lot-of-contact-it-s-a-lot/)

John Urschel

> [One of the major complaints for long-running shows is that they become mundane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/one-of-the-major-complaints-for-long-running-shows-is-that-they/)

[Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/)

> [Because of the experience of a long-running series like 'Offspring,' the beauty of that was that I was working on that so rigorously for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-keddie/because-of-the-experience-of-a-long-running-series-like-offspring-the/)

[Asher Keddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-keddie/)

> [Being in a long-running series is great because it gives you so many opportunities - but at the same time it's a bit desk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great-because-it-gives-you-so-many/)

[Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/)

> [I was lucky because I was in a long-running series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-redman/i-was-lucky-because-i-was-in-a-long-running-series/)

[Amanda Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-redman/)

> [In Britain, we haven't got enough money to make these long-running shows. We always do little mini ones. You have more control as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/in-britain-we-haven-t-got-enough-money-to-make-these-long-running/)

[Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/)

> [As long as you're running away from a part of yourself, you can't see immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/as-long-as-you-re-running-away-from-a-part-of-yourself-you-can-t-see/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I feel fine as long I'm not running around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/i-feel-fine-as-long-i-m-not-running-around/)

[Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/)

## More by Elizabeth McGovern

> [So the English approach to show business and their work is more - and this is a big generalization, I hasten to say -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/so-the-english-approach-to-show-business-and-their-work-is-more-and/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [I've been in things that have impressed people and they've come up to congratulate you but in a kind of, you-must-think-you're-really-special way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/i-ve-been-in-things-that-have-impressed-people-and-they-ve-come-up-to/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [Now we have to contend with overstimulation and too many opportunities all the time, and too many decisions all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/now-we-have-to-contend-with-overstimulation-and-too-many/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [I have a terrible sense of direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/i-have-a-terrible-sense-of-direction/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [I like writing letters and receiving letters. It's a shame that we've lost the art of letter-writing and saving correspondence. I mourn that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/i-like-writing-letters-and-receiving-letters-it-s-a-shame-that-we-ve/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [I had reconciled myself to being happily out to pasture, a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/i-had-reconciled-myself-to-being-happily-out-to-pasture-a-bit/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [If I feel I can play a part I do everything in my power to try to play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/if-i-feel-i-can-play-a-part-i-do-everything-in-my-power-to-try-to/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [We lack rituals in this modern world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/we-lack-rituals-in-this-modern-world/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [My family were all into classical music, and I found that very intimidating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/my-family-were-all-into-classical-music-and-i-found-that-very/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [North Hollywood isn't actually Hollywood, it's in the San Fernando Valley... it's not the most glamorous part of L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/north-hollywood-isn-t-actually-hollywood-it-s-in-the-san-fernando/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [I'm someone who's done the opposite of whatever the received wisdom is, to keep your career going into your 50s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/i-m-someone-who-s-done-the-opposite-of-whatever-the-received-wisdom/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [To me, the lyrics of the song define the kind of style it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/to-me-the-lyrics-of-the-song-define-the-kind-of-style-it-is/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [In London, I take the Tube everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/in-london-i-take-the-tube-everywhere/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [I love having the opportunity to explore a part for a great length of time, really get deeper and deeper into it, because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/i-love-having-the-opportunity-to-explore-a-part-for-a-great-length-of/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

> [Most people grow up dreaming of going to Hollywood and some of them work and work and work and finally end up in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/most-people-grow-up-dreaming-of-going-to-hollywood-and-some-of-them/)

[Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

[Explore all 42 Elizabeth McGovern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/)

## More Football quotes

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/)

[Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/)

> [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/)

Brendan Mundorf

> [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/)

[Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/)

> [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/)

[Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/)

> [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/)

[Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/)

[Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/)

> [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/)

[Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/)

> [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/)

[Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/)

> [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/)

[Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/)

> [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/)

[Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/)

> [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

[Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "At the beginning of a long-running play, everyone's nervous and paces around in a panic and reapplies lipstick. After a while, you'll get long-running card games or word games like Boggle.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth McGovern"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play-everyone-s-nervous-and-paces/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Football"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play-everyone-s-nervous-and-paces/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/elizabeth-mcgovern-15709_lipstick_at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play_1388352.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/elizabeth-mcgovern-15709_lipstick_at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play_1388352.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/elizabeth-mcgovern-15709_lipstick_at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play_1388352.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“At the beginning of a long-running play, everyone's nervous and paces around in a panic and reapplies…” — Elizabeth McGovern",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Elizabeth McGovern",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "At the beginning of a long-running...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play-everyone-s-nervous-and-paces/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/at-the-beginning-of-a-long-running-play-everyone-s-nervous-and-paces/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
