Monday, September 12, 2005
The Gap Between Theater-Makers and Theater-Goers
A recent discussion on the Footlights DC e-mail list about the "Passion Plays, A Cycle" currently at Arena Stage illustrated the persistent gap between those who are in the theater and those who go to the theater. (Call them theater-makers and theater-goers). Generally speaking, more religious people who attend the Passion Plays by Sarah Ruhl might be offended by the play's focus on politics, rather than religion, and by the lack of any truly religious person or prayer in the 3 1/2 hour long play.
I LOVED the play, and intend to go back and see it again. It touched on so many aspects of our life, particularly the role of theater in our lives, and how we try to make the Biblical "story" our own. But I think that religious person or people (sorry for generalizing about you) may come out of the theater ticked off because, despite the play's title, they might not be able to relate to anyone on stage. Instead, they get a few same-sex kisses, some heterosexual rolling around, and a little foul language in the last act. Now, I was not offended by these things, though I didn't think they added much to the play, and might have slowed them down. I think they were gratuitious additions to fit into the theater culture, rather than the theater-goers' culture.
This is a shame, because I think theater should reach as many people as possible. I'm not suggesting that religious people are all uptight prudes who can't stand to see sex or hear foul language. I'm saying that they might have hoped to see religious people on stage, presented perhaps in a positive light, and that this does not happen in the Passion Plays.
I wonder if there are religious people in the theater world. There must be. I think theater and religion have a great deal in common--both bring people together for a spectacle of sorts, and when it's over, you hope to go home a changed person, understanding your life, your times, and your fellow man a bit better. Ironically, that does happen with the Passion Plays--at least it did with me. A shame that sensitive religious people might have had their hopes dashed.
Both religious institutions and theaters attempt to reach out to the outcasts. Theater does this better than most organized religions, I think. That's why I hope that theater-making people occasionally might wish to reach out to religious theater-going people in the audience. Not just when the show is "Ahmahl and the Night Visitors," but during a show dealing with the Passion Plays.
At any rate, I'm sorry that some religious people will stay away, but I understand if they do. Secularly yours, Wendy
I LOVED the play, and intend to go back and see it again. It touched on so many aspects of our life, particularly the role of theater in our lives, and how we try to make the Biblical "story" our own. But I think that religious person or people (sorry for generalizing about you) may come out of the theater ticked off because, despite the play's title, they might not be able to relate to anyone on stage. Instead, they get a few same-sex kisses, some heterosexual rolling around, and a little foul language in the last act. Now, I was not offended by these things, though I didn't think they added much to the play, and might have slowed them down. I think they were gratuitious additions to fit into the theater culture, rather than the theater-goers' culture.
This is a shame, because I think theater should reach as many people as possible. I'm not suggesting that religious people are all uptight prudes who can't stand to see sex or hear foul language. I'm saying that they might have hoped to see religious people on stage, presented perhaps in a positive light, and that this does not happen in the Passion Plays.
I wonder if there are religious people in the theater world. There must be. I think theater and religion have a great deal in common--both bring people together for a spectacle of sorts, and when it's over, you hope to go home a changed person, understanding your life, your times, and your fellow man a bit better. Ironically, that does happen with the Passion Plays--at least it did with me. A shame that sensitive religious people might have had their hopes dashed.
Both religious institutions and theaters attempt to reach out to the outcasts. Theater does this better than most organized religions, I think. That's why I hope that theater-making people occasionally might wish to reach out to religious theater-going people in the audience. Not just when the show is "Ahmahl and the Night Visitors," but during a show dealing with the Passion Plays.
At any rate, I'm sorry that some religious people will stay away, but I understand if they do. Secularly yours, Wendy
