TheatreAddict.com - Bakersfield Drama Blog
Rants, raves, and musings about the Bakersfield Theatre community by yours truly - a real life theatre addictWednesday, July 19, 2006
Porter Jamison response to Rob Long Blogs
I understand that Rob's musing about theatre educators has drawn attention in other places it's been posted (I haven't seen them, only heard about them from others, as I don't have time for frequent web-browsing). As I'm apparently going to be the subject of a later blog, I won't get too detailed in this response to the following quote:
"All of them are experts in their field. All of them have been doing theatre for decades, and know the craft inside out. And yet, next to none of them participate in the theatrical community... why?
There isn't really an answer there - it could be as simple as how draining a theatrical program is on its leader, or it could be as complex as frustration with the community and voluntary withdrawal from it. I don't know, and I can't speak for them. I can only look at them and wonder why it is that they are not more influential, more involved in shaping theatre here."
There isn't really an answer there - it could be as simple as how draining a theatrical program is on its leader, or it could be as complex as frustration with the community and voluntary withdrawal from it. I don't know, and I can't speak for them. I can only look at them and wonder why it is that they are not more influential, more involved in shaping theatre here."
Based on conversations I've had, for many of us much of it comes down to the time demands of being a teacher. Yes, it's draining to run a theatre program, but as someone with years of working on program and community productions simultanteously I can say that this really isn't the problem in my case.
I've found that when I work on "outside" productions, I can't make enough time to get everything else done-- evaluation of student work, writing and grading tests/quizzes, curriculum adjustment, developing A/V materials, administrative paperwork, &etc. (This is especially true of teachers who also instruct non-theatre classes such as English or History.) I can barely do this workload justice while doing only three school shows a year, much less when I'm investing another four hours a night on a community show in the evenings (not to mention my personal quirk of designing and helping build/paint the sets of my shows, in addition to usually being involved with prop and costume gathering as well).
Besides which, I'd miss too many episodes of House, M.D., The Closer and CSI.
(That's a joke, BTW. But I don't have Tivo. heh)
Admittedly, I have a number of other idiocies, visions and stubbonnesses that also limit my involvement-- but I'll wait for Rob's analysis before going into that bucket of muck.
To those reading this, I ask you to go see a show at each theatre in town. (My personal favorite is The Empty Space, and BCT has the best plant for audience interaction.) If you see anything you like, attend their next production as well. There's enough stuff out there for everybody to find a favorite.
TheatreAddict.com note: The following section is a response to an N.L. Belardes Article on Long's blogs...
"Long writes, Television and movies don't respond to the rhythms of the audience. To say there is no audience participation in television and film? Believe me, there is plenty of participation transformed to fit the medium of todays segment who stick to their couches, unable to pull away from Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, and Survivor. Call in, make your choice, or interact online in message boards. Todays shows are increasingly interactive. And film is interactive too. I heard people laughing at Cars, crying at United 93, and I threw popcorn at the screen just last week. Dont forget sports on television. Watch some 49er football with chingpea (she's the host of Zowietown) and youll even see a shoe fly across the room. Thats interaction. When was the last time you were allowed to throw a shoe at a local Bakersfield theatre performance?"
What's being described is, for the most part, reaction rather than interaction. Laughing or crying at a movie is simply reaction-- the movie won't pause or adjust to accommodate. If a film has a nonresponsive house, it's won't alter its performance style or energy to engage them more deeply. It's an unvarying artifact (something I never thought I'd have to publicly state). The film doesn't get a night off if there's no one there at the opening of the performance.
Calling in, voting, writing on message boards-- these are interactive for the producers of these shows but will not change how the artist performs except that they allow or deny a particular performer's presentation.
Throwing popcorn or footwear is a reaction. Interaction is when the fluffy treat is eaten by the performer with a smile on her face, or flings the shoe back, exchanges it for his, or ad-libs "that damned dog" while throwing it into the onstage trash can. Interaction is adjusting to the rhythms of a live audience the way any performer (musician, comedian, actor) does as a part of his/her art and craft.
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