The Play’s The Thing

by Christina on July 19, 2010

In an ideal world, well, things would be different wouldn’t they? These days I often hate going to the theater, particularly because it doesn’t match my ideal. The latest trends of selling food concession-style, the casual attire, and an occasional cell phone ring are off putting. I see it everywhere–at the opera people are bolting for the door before the curtain comes down. But this weekend I was reminded of what theater can be. Should be.

Joe of Big Rodent productions contacted me to let me know their company was putting on a performance of Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband. They offered up discount tickets to Stacked readers (and you can still go, performances run through Thursday) and invited me to check out their modernized 1960s take on the play.

In college my good friend Camilla was one of those active triple-threats performing regularly (and often leading) at community playhouses while school was in session and over the summers. I loved going to watch her perform because, while the playhouses were always small, people were there because they wanted to see a show and they wanted to support their friends. There was something intimate about it, like the audience was part of things and not just observing from a distance. Nosebleeds belong in baseball, not theater. When you’re sitting up in the balcony there’s a disconnect between actor and audience. Disconnect does not work with good storytelling.

That feeling is something that is hard to find in New York outside of niche and underground sub-cultures. Burlesque pulls it off (pun intended) because they aren’t mainstream–plays and musicals are with the abundance of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

Watching Camilla, I always used to forget she was my friend. She gave a role her all and did what it asked of her. It’s the same with movies–can you forget that you’re watching XYZ BIG NAME STAR? There was much controversy earlier in the year over Broadway’s Promises Promises when a Newsweek reporter couldn’t get over the fact that Sean Hayes is gay. Hayes was phenomenal in the role of Chuck Baxtor. He’s an amazing physical performer. His personal life and the social media coverage of the controversy never entered into my head.

Storytelling isn’t just words on the page–it never has been. Wilde wrote his plays not just to be performed, but also read. The descriptions of setting and characters is not just for the actors’ benefit. Whether you read the words on page or read them by watching the stage, good storytelling stops time. You forget your to-do list, your phone, your problems and are suspended in a timeless bubble. You become absorbed and a part of the story as a fly on the wall.

I walked out of the theater Friday night wishing I knew more about community theater in New York. My one quibble is that for a show re-set in a different era, one meant to juxtapose against the original (straight-laced Victorian vs. free-love Sixties), only the costumes changed. A more mod setting would have helped move the play out of it’s original roots to show that greed and lust for power are intrinsic human nature that doesn’t change with time. But I don’t know how long I was there, sitting in the dark. My time was spent supporting people who are getting out there and creating something, doing something–and doing it well. And I love that.

Some quick housekeeping notes:

First off, I’m looking into featuring guest posts for the week I’m away at Space Camp. If you’re interested in sharing about a book that inspired you to go out and do something, please send a note to info@stackedblog.com and we can discuss details.

Secondly, I’m opening a Stacked Store! Twitter followers may have seen the photo of the “Dino-Rawr” painting I did this weekend. He’s the start in a line of bookplates and notecards that will launch the store. If any artists are interested in partnering on other items to sell, well, same as above, shoot me a note at info@stackedblog.com to discuss.

The Play’s The Thing

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