2016-05-07T01:10:13Z http://www.theatreface.com/forum/topics/dangerous-theater?feed=yes&xn_auth=no tag:www.theatreface.com,2016-05-03:2529492:Comment:194237 2016-05-03T17:13:01.887Z Jacob Coakley http://www.theatreface.com/profile/JacobCoakley

<p>Thanks for writing, Thomas! </p> <p>I agree, there's lots more talk for specifics in the comments on the piece -- and I could give examples of my own for that matter, too. In fact there were two whole paragraphs I deleted that were just that -- but I didn't want to go around slinging mud. Funnily enough, my examples did include a punch in a Shakespeare play that landed. Didn't result in a broken jaw, but almost. Actor was visibly, definitely hurt and could barely talk. Director lauded the…</p>

<p>Thanks for writing, Thomas! </p> <p>I agree, there's lots more talk for specifics in the comments on the piece -- and I could give examples of my own for that matter, too. In fact there were two whole paragraphs I deleted that were just that -- but I didn't want to go around slinging mud. Funnily enough, my examples did include a punch in a Shakespeare play that landed. Didn't result in a broken jaw, but almost. Actor was visibly, definitely hurt and could barely talk. Director lauded the performance, and the violence on social media... </p> <p>But since you mention the questions, I return to mine... How have you dealt with an unsafe situation on stage? How would you push back against an unsafe rehearsal or performance environment? </p> tag:www.theatreface.com,2016-05-03:2529492:Comment:194484 2016-05-03T13:25:38.828Z A. Thomas Cavano http://www.theatreface.com/profile/AThomasCavano

<p>Jacob</p> <p></p> <p>Thank you for reflecting on this article. I found it interesting for a few reasons.</p> <p></p> <p>While the article is talking about "Bro Theatre" as if it were a thing (and maybe it is . . . but I have never heard of it - is she trying to coin the phrase or did I just miss the first two chapters of this phenomenon? or maybe it has always been "Bro Theatre" until feminists conceived of something else?), the issues are all very old hat. The safety of actors…</p>

<p>Jacob</p> <p></p> <p>Thank you for reflecting on this article. I found it interesting for a few reasons.</p> <p></p> <p>While the article is talking about "Bro Theatre" as if it were a thing (and maybe it is . . . but I have never heard of it - is she trying to coin the phrase or did I just miss the first two chapters of this phenomenon? or maybe it has always been "Bro Theatre" until feminists conceived of something else?), the issues are all very old hat. The safety of actors (psychologically and physically), the attention - or inattention - to the playwrights' work - directors who abuse their power - have been around for centuries.</p> <p></p> <p>Which does not mean that we shouldn't be talking about it, nor does it mean that we shouldn't find a new label for a shopping list of old problems. I found it instructive to read the comments after the "Bro Theatre" article to give dimension to the assertions. What I did not find in the article were specific examples - evidence - of the problems. "In our Funky Playhouse 2003 deconstruction of Taming of the Shrew, So-and-so was told not to do a stage slap but to use real violence. The resulting broken jaw meant that Kate had to say her lines through gritted teeth." But I could certainly provide several such examples from my own experience which predate any recent emergence of "Bro Theatre" by decades. Or, maybe, as I said, it's been "Bro Theatre" with a few exceptions since 2500 BC . . .</p>