HowlRound: At a time when commercial theater is moving increasingly toward productions of ninety minutes with no intermission, adventurous theater artists seem to be experimenting with elaborate works of moment and circumstance, requiring endurance.
“They’re a badge of courage,” said director Whit McLaughlin, artistic director of New Paradise Laboratories, a theater company based in Philadelphia known for its noodling.
5 comments:
Although I enjoy the idea of theatre festivals and events, theatre marathons seem excessive. Five plays going on simultaneously or even twelve hour long plays contradict the idea of capturing an audience that is used to watching 90 minute movies or 30 minute TV shows. Despite the breaks that are allegedly scheduled, sitting in the same theatre and same seat for twelve hours does not seem appealing.
I really hate the idea of theater marathons.
Sometimes, short is good!
Too much of anything is not good!
I believe that a good story is one that can be told in less than 3 hours.
I think that this new "marathon" trend is coming from the film and books industries. There's a new trend of making long movies and making movie trilogies.
In my opinion, this whole trend really brings down the quality of film and books.
I'm really sad to see it also slowly spread to theater.
I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of theater "marathons." In some cases, I think they sound really interesting and innovative. For example, I think the marathon of monologues being done at The Public Theater has the potential to be really interesting and successful. I do not necessarily like a play that is super long for no reason. For example, I think that it is okay for a production to be long if it is presenting a multiple number of shows in one production. A few years ago, a dinner theater production was done in New York where the cast performed all 7 of Sophocles' plays in one production. Experiencing a production like that can really enhance the audience's experience. However, I do not agree with a Broadway show not including an intermission for no reason. Also, I think that long, marathon-like productions can be really interesting when the audience member gets out of it what they put into it.
A theatre marathon sounds like a terrible idea. During a longer show I am always antsy and looking forward to intermission (usually because I have to pee, sometimes when the show is bad.) I don't want to watch theatre for as long as I possibly can. I want to see a production that is a maximum 2.5 hours, then I want to go home and go to bed. I don't think this means I don't "love my craft" or "support innovation," I think it means that I love my craft in a sane way and support good innovations. There are an infinite amount of new age theatrical roads to travel; I don't think making a show that is a full day long is necessary for one to be considered a forward thinking artist.
This idea of immersive theater is so cool. Changing the way theater is and making a new experience each and every time is outstanding. When you do not have to sit in a seat and watch a play act by act you can get more enjoyment out of it. Yes most people love to go see traditional plays but you won't really get a new experience from it. This idea of new and innovative shows reminds a bit of playground, where us as students get to make something that is not just a play or musical being acted out. It is something that is creative and lets you work out of the box.
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