Theatre

[eduard_green]

Simon Callow raised an interesting point - Why do you go to the theatre? Do you go cause you think it's good for you? Do you not go cause it's boring? What would make it more interesting? This is the question I have been asking myself, cause I much prefer cinema to theatre in general, but I have seen some great pieces of theatre that could not have

Comments

[octopoid_horror]

Remember when we went to see 1984 and you said something about how it was odd at the theatre that, in theory, you -could- heckle or run up on stage?

I think that's what weirds me out.. that you -could- do that.. and that.. I dunno.. there is more contact than it sometimes feels like there should be.

It depends on the play - it's more prevalent for me in plays with a lot of staring out, talking to the audience. 1984 pretty much avoided that, in the end....

When I saw The libertine, the performance my brother was in... at the start, the main chap strolled around the small stage, tapping the audience members gently with his cane and directly addressing them and kissing the hand of the female audience members

[eduard_green]

Yeah, I remember that 1984 we saw. I think that is one of the things that used to make me uncomfortable in the theatre, but now I relish - that you are in the same room as something happening - you could run up to the stage or heckle them easily because you are there with them. It's great for comedy, but when someone is furious or crying or during the torture scene in 1984, it is a lot harder to watch than if it had been on film.

I think now though that this is one of the great things of theatre and shows should be very conscious of this, use it when they can. Not nescessarily just talking directly to the audience, although I think that's great so long as it's not over used - stand up comedians do it all the time and audiences are usually comfortable with it happening, but they get more thrown when it happens in plays.

Sometimes when I'm at the theatre I feel like a ghost walking through someone's house - I can see them but they can't see me. I like that. its unique to theatre.

[andrewducker]

He talks to the audience at the start/end of the film, and that works very well. But I can definitely see that working even more effectively at the theatre.

I'd like to see Reservoir Dogs done as a play - in some ways it's more theatrical than it is filmic.

[octopoid_horror]

It's been done. Can't remember when/where

[randomchris]

http://www.stagediary.com/reviews44.html (all-female version)

I seem to recall a French and Saunders skit with a community drama theatre group doing it, as well...

[octopoid_horror]

I think it was a university production, the one I'm thinking of.... With a bunch of blokes.

[andrewducker]

Yeah - I remember reading something about that. Would have liked to see it - if it was any good.