NYTimes.com: Ruby Rae Spiegel’s earliest stab at playwriting makes her cringe in the recollection. It was a modern-day “Peter Pan,” with Wendy sending instant messages. But give a girl a break: Ms. Spiegel was only in seventh grade when she wrote it, and she had a classic motive. She wanted to cast a boy she liked as Peter.
10 comments:
I do not even know where to begin with this. Abortion is such a sensitive topic and to include it in a play is a huge risk. Having a show like this could make for a very controversial piece of theater. Not only is it a play that will be intriguing it is written by someone so young. Barely twenty-one and writing shows that most adults would not want to touch with a ten foot pole. Abortion in a show could make or break it, some people who are pro-life might consider not even seeing the play because of it. On the other hand though they could go to cause a commotion and make a statement. I have a huge sense of admiration for the writer breaking boundaries and writing about subjects that do not normally get addressed.
Regardless of if people are for or against abortion I believe this show does something really incredible in that it opens the door to the conversation and educates those watching about the feelings that a woman goes through in dealing with that situation. It is a very personal situation, and I think the fear and silence that Ruby Rae Spiegel addresses removing in this article are a key factor in the aloneness that women often speak about when referring to an experience with an abortion. Theatre is such an incredible way to educate those who come to see the shows being put on a stage. They don't have the option of closing a book, changing the channel, or turning off the movie. They're watching another person, in the flesh, standing mere feet away from them and spilling their emotions on the floor. It's an incredible platform for a topic like abortion. I'm extremely interested in the other plays she will write in the future.
Theater is about making a point, or conveying a message, or starting a movement. People want to see risks being taken and life being explored; thats what makes theater so interesting. Rather than finding this conversation of abortion, shocking, I find it brave and admirable. If theater is too afraid to confront controversial topics, than it's not really fulfilling its purpose. I'm strongly supporting the idea that theater is not about playing things safe, but rather exploring boundaries, and testing limits. I also find it interesting that the playwright is barely 21. But I think this gives us insight into the new up and coming generation. Our future is starting to be more involved and further engaged in social awareness. I also saw "Obvious Child", the indie film that also touched the topic of abortion, which I think further emphasizes this shift in entertainment that is accompanying the shift in generation. I'm so excited to watch this unfold as I think this strengthening connection between art and social awareness is vital.
One flaw in this production is that in a lot of states, abortions can be done without parental consent at Planned Parenthood. Otherwise, this show seems incredible! I love when theatre tackles topics which are taboo. It doesn't matter if people are for or against abortion, they should see both sides of the argument. People are so afraid to speak their mind about abortion so it's great to see a show which shows what a woman goes through: the loneliness, fear and shame. This show is incredibly brave and I hope it is received well by others.
It's exciting to see the New York Times cover a story about a young playwright breaking out onto the theatre scene. As young theatre practitioners I feel as if we're only exposed to only the greatest, most historic plays of a certain era. Spiegel sets an example for other young-adult playwrights hoping to have their works heard--and uncensored. Certain topics, like abortion, aren't broached by older readers perhaps out of embarrassment or because they're "pandering to the bourgeois audience". And that's all well and good, because those types of plays can be as interesting. But isn't theater supposed to be for exploring unheard topics? Or at least part of theater is dedicated to that. I would be interested to see 'Dry Land' performed around colleges nationwide to raise more awareness about how common abortion can be among young people. De-mystyfying abortion will hopefully clear up some of the hysteria surrounding it currently in the United States.
Ruby Rae Spiegel seems to have a really good hand on "Why This Play Now?". Abortion has been such a sensitive topic for centuries and it wasn't until the early 1900s that it became a more publicly sensitive topic. Although abortion is still an extremely controversial topic, I think Rachel Spiegel picked an excellent time to have written "Dry Land." Many young women struggle with the idea of abortion and it seems more reasonable to point out how difficult it is now when it is sensitive rather than in 50 years when people might not be thinking about the consequences and effects of abortion as heavily.
There will always be rough topics of subject matter. Abortion is a matter that is present in todays society and is under a great deal of argument as of late. It is tricky to be including this in theatre and can be a sensitive topic for most. However, many plays break boundary lines to get a point or across to an audience or suggest an alternate point of view. With the pro-life campaign taking off, it is a risky time for author Ruby Rae Spiegel to launch her play. I believe that bringing attention to this issue can bring either really good or really bad vibes to the subject matter at hand. I can't wait to see where this goes from here.
I'm glad to see both a young playwright breaking into the theatre scene, and a show that challenges what people are comfortable with. Though abortion is a sensitive and controversial issue, it is something that should be addressed. Ruby Rae Spiegel's play introduces it back into the conversation, and forces people to confront it in a theatrical setting, where, as Abagail said, the audience is faced with a person spilling their emotions. I admire her for placing the issue so deliberately in the audience's face. I will be interested to see how it is received, and what other risks she will take in the future.
I think this is an interesting topic for a play (especially written by a girl not much older than myself). I think it's important that the topic of abortion is brought up more in art culture and isn't just kept political. It shouldn't even be a political debate, what someone does with their body is up to them, not the government. I like that presents the issue as it is, something that will always happen, whether in a safe, controlled situation, or, as Amy says, a "do-it-yourself approach". I think that this young playwright is making an important, yet risky, step in the right direction towards bringing more talk around the subject of abortion.
"The extreme also make an impression," is what comes to my mind in reading what this playwright is trying to do. The topic of abortion is a very touchy subject for a lot of people of both genders. Some see it as a form of taking a future great life while others see it as giving the mother/ parents the choice to take care of their own life. While one approach always seems highly selfish on the surface I get the sense that the playwright digs deeper into this issue. The other approach pushed forward the believe in destiny and fate and that our lives are predetermined and that free will is nothing more than a misconception which while is a big theme seen in a lot of plays, it looks to be not the route the playwright is taking. Theater is meant to mimic real life and get the audience thinking while sometimes also entertain but more at it's core inspire everyone to change and look at the world around them with more openness. I applaud the playwright for what they are trying to accomplish.
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