NYTimes.com: THE work of the playwright Thomas Bradshaw has been described as depicting “life with all the boring parts taken out.” It might also be described as life with all the ghastly extremes — incest, pedophilia, rape, racially motivated murder — added back in, and depicted in a deadpan style that has prompted both big laughs and angry walkouts. In “Job,” which runs at the Flea Theater through Nov. 3, Mr. Bradshaw, 32, takes on that biblical story in a production Ben Brantley of The New York Times called “a jolting treat.” Speaking with Jennifer Schuessler by phone from Evanston, Ill., where he teaches at Northwestern University, Mr. Bradshaw talked about the play and the philosophy behind his button-pushing work. Here are excerpts from the conversation.
3 comments:
As I was reading this there was a couple of things he said that really stuck up in my mind. When he is confronted with being called a provocateur his response made me think about how some of the "dark" and most banned books and material in the world deal with topic are not wanted to be talked about even though they have already happened. Often the people who write and make these things are labeled this. There are several paintings in the Carnegie Mellon museum of art that when released the artist were charged with trying to start the Holocaust over again. So to be labeled as a provocateur I think you are doing your job as an artist and as Thomas Bradshaw say push boundaries.
I agree. Theater is an amazing form- we can actually say so much and have the freedom to touch on such dramatic issues, some that non would ever talk about in a conversation- for fear of offending someone or hitting a nerve/ ending on an awkward note. Theater is so hyper dramatized nowadays, I feel like it just calls to attention how much of a euphemism our everyday lives have become. As theater is getting edgier and edgier, our world is becoming more politically accurate, theater almost deals with the leftover problems that the world doesn't want to face. It makes art with the big elephant in the room, when, despite all that society has progressed, the changes we made to improve living in this world, the more sensitive and offended we are becoming as people- for fear of being wrong, being to "bad", or yes, politically incorrect. I feel like our theater is getting so uncesored and even all types of art forms are becomnig uncensored, but meanwhile the real world is censoring itself so much- focusing on the hyper real problems of leading a perfect easy life with all this technological assistance, and worrying about small small things. Okay, I'm going on a tangent, but I find this correlation really intriguing. Its interesting to investigate how this edgy theater is acting as a remedy, I'm sure it is- its just interesting to consider all the ways.
This was quite an interesting article. I have never seen any of Thomas Bradshaw's work, but I think that I would like his style. Until I actually see his work I can't say whether it might be because he takes risks or because it might actually be good. Nevertheless, I like his attitude towards theater which is captured in this interview.
I completely agree that theater should push the envelope; that makes it more interesting. It is really amazing that people get upset with theater that makes them uncomfortable, even if the events are completely true. Isn't that what theater is supposed to do? What is even more amazing is that the other half then laugh at the things which just shouldn't be laughed at.
Continue to write stories which inspire and compel you Mr. Bradshaw.
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