Comment

Comment by Richard T. Young on May 4, 2011 at 7:22pm

Gwydion:

Hmmm, I think you are right. I did imply that conservatives might be more likely to do the kind of theatre that inspires. That wasn't my intent. (Although it occurs to me that I've seen Steel Magnolias four times and every one of them was at a conservative Christian College. Hmmmm.) Anyway, yes, it's not a good choice to stereotyp anyone. I think the truth is that the vast majority of theatre practitioners, if specifically asked about it, would say they want to create theatre that brings out the best in people not the worst. And yet we still deal in a lot of the darker side of life. Even me. The first play of any length I wrote was about a guy who tricks his brother in to killing their father . . . now that's uplifting.

I don't know much about Mamet or his work save by reputation. Although I have his book about theatre in my summer-read pile. What little I do know about his work would not lead me to think he was a conservative.

Let me ask you this. Do you think it's harder to write plays that bring out the best in people, than plays that focus on negative things? On a related note, I think most agree that it's harder to write comedy well, than drama?

Thanks for all the great blogging.

Comment by Gwydion Suilebhan on May 3, 2011 at 6:44pm

Laurie -- you know what I think is terrific? That you pay enough attention to the interests of your audiences and program plays that you think they'll want to see. This is, for my money, the most important thing any theater can do: be of service to its patrons.

I also think it's great that you pushed the envelope, as you've suggested, because sometimes being of service means being willing to surprise and challenge people. Not all the time, of course, but sometimes. Not as a way of scolding anyone for what they believe or don't believe, and not just to shock people, but to keep people thinking. So I really applaud you.

What I want to question you on -- and this is really a question -- is whether the "safe" plays you program are all chestnuts: plays that have been produced a thousand times before? Because all-too-often theaters looking for "safe" plays ignore the fact that playwrights living today are actually making NEW plays that might very well fit the "safe" criteria. In any event... I just thought I'd ask!

Comment by Gwydion Suilebhan on May 3, 2011 at 6:38pm

Richard -- thank you. I like my name, too. :)

I do agree that there are valid questions to be asked about why we make theater, or perhaps what effect we want the theater we make to have on our audiences. There are plays (which I find tedious) that seem to be explicitly designed to shock us. There are plays that entertain us, plays that anger us, plays that confuse us, plays that teach us things, plays that make us question things, and plays that (as you've suggested) inspire us. (My favorite recent example of the latter: Martha, Josie, and the Chinese Elvis.) All of these modes are valid, to my mind, but some seem to be more frequently employed than others. Again, inspirational or uplifting theater, as you might have described it, seems all too rare.

On the other hand, I would be very reluctant to draw the conclusion (which you imply, I believe, but don't come out and say directly -- I could, however, be wrong) that conservative theater practitioners would be more likely to focus on that kind of story. I just wouldn't want to pigeonhole anyone. Furthermore, the first politically conservative theater practitioner that seems to come to people's minds when I discuss this issue is David Mamet, and his plays are many things, but not inspirational. (At least not to me.)

Finally, let me say that I understand what you mean about one's political positions being relative. I'm almost always the most liberal/progressive person I know (until I write things like this blog post!), but the difference is more stark when I spend time with my wife's more conservative family than when I'm hanging around other theater folk. It's all very much relative.

Comment by Richard T. Young on May 3, 2011 at 10:22am

Gwydion
First let me say you have an amazing name.
Second, while I hesitate to put any political label on myself I think by most cultural markers I am a conservative. What I most appreciate about your blog post is your concern that we create "culture" from a diverse community. "Groupthink" is well worth guarding against especially on such a large scale as "artistic community."

On a personal note, for many years at work (small liberal arts college) I was the conservative, but at home (small rural community), especially at church, I was the crazy liberal. Which points out the obvious . . . it's all a matter of perspective. But I think your concern is legitimate.

The thing I've been thinking about most lately, in terms of creating culture via theatre is the nature of what we, as artists, appeal to in our patrons. Do we create theatre that appeals to the best parts of who we are, or the worst parts. I've had colleagues, even my own students express how they are attracted to or enjoy the darker side of theatre. At acting competitions and festivals I'll keep track of the themes of the scene work. Usually the dark, lonely, disturbing, narcissistic themes win 2 to 1 agains the themes that are more a celebration of goodness. I think the bottom line for me is that regardless of conservative or liberal, I want to promote theatre that appeals to what is best in people. And that doesn't mean "fluff" theatre. I can imagine a play wherein couple of people in a concentration camp "eat" their dead friend to survive, and the play is about hope, and faith, and love in spite of the horrific setting.
Well, I guess I got off track from your political question. Sorry. Lots to think about here.

Comment by M. Yichao on April 27, 2011 at 12:54pm

Well stated! It is definitely a point of concern. I agree: it is so vitally important to involve all people of all political inclinations in the creation and sharing of the arts. I think you hit it on the nose that some theater IS skewed, and in some cases alienating. We're preaching to the proverbial (and liberal) choir, and while discourse and discussion might be what we're striving for, I cannot count it a success if such discourse is only between like-minded individuals. I've seen plenty of plays where I agreed fervently with some of the ideologies presented, but knew that my more conservative friends would not have enjoyed the production nor been opened to those ideologies, but rather further turned off. A cause for concern indeed.

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