frustrated!
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3040
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Topic: frustrated!
Posted By: Nanette
Subject: frustrated!
Date Posted: 3/13/08 at 9:39am
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(I just need to vent ... feel free to respond)
EGADS!!! When will they stop "dumbing down" theatre to people?! I'm so tired of hearing that classic pieces of theatre are too far above youth audiences (EG: Christmas Carol, Anne of Green Gables, etc.), and then learning that they're taking a group to see something by Milne. I'm not denying that the production will be very well done, but why not encourage children (and adults) to THINK once in a while?! Do we really need to make everything cutsie so that people can understand it?
Are others finding that classic shows are being virtually ignored by the population in favor of comedies? There's nothing wrong with comedies, but, personally, I think I'd rather ponder on something meaningful every once in a while.
Why don't we just have canned laughter piped in so that people know when to laugh?
(PS ... Youth = 5 to 11 year old children.)
..... I feel better now. ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Replies:
Posted By: SherrieAnne
Date Posted: 3/13/08 at 9:04pm
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One of our local theatre companies put on THE ORPHAN TRAIN a while back - beautifully done, incredibly well-acted, and both the children in the cast and in the seats got to think and feel a little bit. (Grownups, too.) But you're right - most "children's theatre" is "dumbed down" and sanitized. If only more people would take children to see real plays... One of my favorite moments ever in a theatre was in the audience for Yul Brynner's last run in THE KING AND I. I sat with a mother, daughter and granddaughter, the last about six. The little girl sat with wide eyes the whole time - and at one point turned to her mother and asked, "Are those people really real?" THAT one found the magic... ------------- There's a little bit of diva in all of us. Some just have a larger helping than others. |
Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 3/27/08 at 9:27am
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My better half presented me with this quote that seems to comfort me a bit with this situation. I think I'll include it in all future press releases and fliers to schools. LOL
It's from the book Matilda by Roald Dahl. Matilda (age 4) has informed the libarian that she intends to read ALL the books in the library.
The librarian responds, "Don't worry about the bits you can't understand. Sit back and allow the words to wash around you, like music." ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Posted By: SherrieAnne
Date Posted: 3/27/08 at 8:57pm
I ADORE it!!!!!!! ------------- There's a little bit of diva in all of us. Some just have a larger helping than others. |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 3/27/08 at 10:47pm
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G'donya Nanette
"WALTZING MATILDA"
This could be used as a theme song?
{though I would suggest that the South Australian version, is much better!}  ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 3/31/08 at 10:56am
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Nanette - it isn't just theater! I worked at a college for many years and it used to make me crazy whenever I would read play reports and be told to NOT correct grammer and spelling. "We wouldn't want to make them feel stupid, would we?" Oh, please, this is college! You should be able to spell, construct proper sentences and compose properly by the time you get to the univsersity level. Soon after, the faculty was told to 'dummy' down their topics so that more students would feel comfortable with the lessons...how do you 'dummy down' stats or linquistics? At my new theater, we look for plays that challenge and never consider the need to 'dummy down' plays for children. We have a sign in my office that states: "If you don't know, ask!" Whenever we do a show directed to children, we have a Q&A session in the lobby. The kids can ask the actors or techs anything they want. After all, there's where the next generation of theater goers/participators are coming from. Charlie
There is no shame in not knowing everything, just of closing yourself off to the experience of learning
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Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 11:12pm
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I had a bad theater experience in first grade, playing a frog and not being able to croak. We did Reader's Theater Shakespeare (a modified version, possibly from Jr. Great Books) in 3rd & 4th grade (Academically Able, a gifted program), which is largely why I'm still involved in theater. And I went to a production of "Hamlet" at that time. If 8-10 year-olds can understand the ideas in "The Tempest", "Hamlet" and "Macbeth", I am sure they can understand both the language and ideas in "Christmas Carol" or "Anne of Green Gables". Assume the audience is intelligent... |
Posted By: lmar12
Date Posted: 5/02/08 at 3:08pm
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I have been involved with our local Children's theater for about 20 years. We have tried to do a nice variety of shows and we have been getting good audiences for years. Right now they are in rehearsals for High School Musical. I don't know what you think about this show--but I for one just think it's kind of--well--JUNK! But here is the thing--I have never seen anything like it! TTheir presells are through the roof--and that was before casting! They are doing workshops for middle school kids--that have a rather high tuition (it includes their costume) and they have more kids than they know what to do with. I think this is going to be the biggest show in the history of the community and that is saying a lot for this area. I'm happy for them but also a little depressed for obvious reasons. SIGH |
Posted By: gggf
Date Posted: 6/11/08 at 9:35am
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Yes Nannette, I agree. Here's where the Americans COULD still learn something from the British. the Brits often put teenagers in Shakespeare's comedies -- and then you realize that some of his roles really do seem suited for smart-ass kids. Remember how caustic your little brother was? Kids are not only smart enough to get Shakespeare, they are smart enough to act in Shakespeare. Greta ------------- gggf |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 1:17am
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Bewdy Greta!
Yes I was one of those 'Pohmy' young blokes, who was in Rep at about 9 or 10.
The Playhouse I was at did about three or four plays per week, ranging from kitchen sink farces, turgid dramas to the classics, usually performing a different show each night.
It does get up my nose, with those that believe the 'tin lids' won't understand this play or whatever. Even when I did Panto in those days, with all it's innuendos or whatever. There was those in the establishment that pushed the barrow of 'They are only kids, they won't understand'. Which was pathetic even then, as most of the young punters were the core of the audience & were usually in front of the plot & grasped it very easily. If their reactions - was anything to go by. ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: gggf
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 7:24am
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YEAH. Children have souls too.
I read Shakespeare in third grade, watched the films AMND and The Tempest on afternoon TV,and listened to the Catholic Bishop Sheen on TV explaining what Hamlet meant. ------------- gggf |
