Sunday, January 10, 2010
America's Favorite Plays
WSJ.com: "Facts, it's said, are stubborn things. Anyone curious about the state of American theater will find plenty of stubborn facts to chew on—some of which are tastier than others—in American Theatre's annual list of the 10 plays and musicals, not counting Shakespeare revivals and seasonal shows, that are produced most frequently in the U.S."
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2 comments:
I felt this article was a bit redundant, because I honestly didn't feel the same shock the author felt towards American theatre neglecting the classics. Maybe I'm more indifferent than I thought, but I really feel it's no surprise that theaters across the country are choosing to produce more modern work than anything else. It's the very nature of art...when something new comes along it's time for Miller and Beckett to step aside. Although those pieces will never be forgotten, and most likely reproduced in hundreds of theaters, I think it's perfectly normal that 'Dead Man's Cell Phone' and 'Rabbit Hole' are making the top 10 lists, and in a way a good thing. Weren't we all complaining a few months ago that American theatre is slumped in this routine of simply recreating novels, fairy tales, and reviving previous works too often? Well here we go, we're more ingenious than we thought. These pieces are the classics of tomorrow. Also, the author mentioned the popularity of a small cast. Although I feel an audience can connect better to a small cast, you have to admit, with budgets nowadays it's no wonder these plays are so popular. Can most regional theaters still afford to pay a cast of 25?
I feel the same way that Shar feels. I am not that surprised at the lack of classical theater on the list. As the world continues, I feel this generation is subjected to, not what would best teach them, but the classics. They are taught only because they are classics. But these new works present the same morals and ideas, but in a way that the new generation is now more open to. I know for me, the second I hear the word classic, a certain prejudice closes in on my mind and I am less open. I believe this is so because I cannot relate to these works as well as the new works. While the classics are vital to theater, they must make room for the new plays to leave thier mark.
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