Mixing mysticism with acting tips, actor Raul Julia spoke yesterday at a Currier House reception.

Julia, who came to the United States from Puerto Rico in 1964, has starred in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), The Addams Family (1991) and New York Shakespeare Festival productions.

The actor, who works with The Hunger Project and other causes, stressed the dual importance of performance and public service in his life.

"I'll still be working on my acting on my death bed, practicing my last words," he told the audience at a luncheon before the reception. Julia mimicked an earnest invalid: "How do I look, do I look too pale?"

"The art of acting never ends," he said. "Alsothe art of being a human being never ends. I'llstill be working on that on my deathbed too."

Political and social reforms happen when enoughpeople mobilize for change, said Julia.

"The Berlin Wall came down because peopledemanded that it come down until there was noforce on the planet that could stop it," heexplained. "No force in the world can standagainst a critical mass of people."

And the arts play a critical role in makingpeople aware of issues, he said.

"The universe grows, molecules grow, cellsgrow--everything is growing," Julia said,gesturing expansively. "But we humans seem to getstuck. The arts are about breaking through thosebarriers...They bring consciousness to life."

Julia's fascination with the arts and theaterbegan at his Jesuit high school in Puerto Rico, hesaid, when his English class studied Shakespeare.

"I would get up in class and read Shakespeareout loud," Julia recalled. "I took to the sound ofthe language and the rhythm, the iambicpentameter. I liked it and the teacher liked it."

Soon he was playing command performances forthe other students. "The whole class would say'Get up Raul,' and with an even thicker accentthan I have now, I would say 'Out, out, briefcandle," said Julia, smiling.

Hit Like a Storm

When Julia first arrived in the U.S., herecalled, he was ready to meet and adoring public.

"I came to New York first of all in asnowstorm--it was fantastic!" he said. "Now I wason my own, to be an actor, and I was sure thewhole city was waiting for me: 'Hello, Raul!'"

Julia shared an apartment with another aspiringactor and scraped together enough money for dramaclasses and food.