tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post8620948247328517236..comments2023-08-24T07:28:15.209-04:00Comments on ARCHIVE: The Barksdale Buzz: Thoughts on Offending the Audience - IntroJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01690159972412894518noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-14940988502483108392008-01-10T17:29:00.000-05:002008-01-10T17:29:00.000-05:00Bruce - I would argue that there is a whole genera...Bruce - I would argue that there is a whole generation of potential theatre goers (and participants) who long for theatre to be relevant to their modern lives, not approved by a group of self-appointed censors who believe themselves righteous enough to mandate a theatrical experience to the masses. Provocative theatre can be life affirming while still surprising or even shocking us - in fact, shock value in theatre stands to REMIND us of our humanity and our shared values that find certain human behaviors abhorrent. Staging offensive human behavior is not an endorsement of it, and those who do not realize that point have truly missed the boat.<BR/><BR/>However, given the infinite range of human perception, there is something to offend in every theatrical event. Unless we schedule only G-rated fare the average middle school or church group might produce, we cannot assure ourselves of offending almost no one - but we CAN guarantee theatre will become nearly irrelevant to our culture.<BR/><BR/>I'm quite sure if you were to produce "Lysistrata", there would be torrents of protest and letters to the editor of the Times Dispatch. Yet great theatre reflects the entire human experience, not the most politically correct or majority-approved agenda in vogue at a given point in history.<BR/><BR/>To thine own self be true, Bruce - and you will continue to serve us ALL quite well.Frank Creasyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15302762603707230845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-47761116679237604852008-01-10T09:20:00.000-05:002008-01-10T09:20:00.000-05:00I'm with you, Bruce. I think the best art takes pe...I'm with you, Bruce. I think the best art takes people out of their comfort zone and challenges them to look at things differently. That almost guarantees that the best art is going to offend some folks. So please offend away, Mr. Miller!Dave Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554650648344826824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-10481944711252942152008-01-08T10:52:00.000-05:002008-01-08T10:52:00.000-05:00Ooh! I can't wait! The suspense is terrible, Bru...Ooh! I can't wait! The suspense is terrible, Bruce!!!Robinitafacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15114957337047124636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-66627752346145638172008-01-08T08:31:00.000-05:002008-01-08T08:31:00.000-05:00Bruce,I loved the production of the Crucible, I th...Bruce,<BR/><BR/>I loved the production of the Crucible, I thought it was one of the better shows I was a part of in Richmond, but yes it is long. I am about three weeks from opening a production of this Miller classic here in Indiana. Sadly we are not blessed with here with the depth of talent you were able to cast in our production.<BR/><BR/>Running a community theatre in a town more conservative that Richmond (yes Virginia it is possible), I am always trying to walk that thin line that will challenge my audience, while not killing my company. We are about to do a staged reading of Doubt (I really wish I could get to Richmond to see what Keri does with this beautiful play). A full production would be impossible. Next year we are doing Proof, I am already bracing for the reaction to the language. <BR/><BR/>I often think of the complaints that Theatre IV gets for relatively silly things. The knife wielding woodsman in Snow White, the "Silly Ass" line in Peter Pan. I think that you are correct, "If you're not making somebody mad, you must not be doing it right. I just wish my paycheck didn't depend on not upsetting too many people.<BR/>Rick St. Peter and I often discussed our list of "Shows that we want to do, at someone else's theatre".<BR/>Speaking of Rick St. Peter, a recent production of Hamlet that he directed and I lit is featured in this months American Theatre, check it out.hoosier stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17980563368931644249noreply@blogger.com