Is theatre as agitprop too risky in today's political climate?

Currently, the Mark Taper Forum in LA is producing David Hare’s new play STUFF HAPPENS, a “magnificent portrayal and exploration of how and why we went to war in Iraq” (Gordon Davidson). It is a blistering commentary on the sociological and philosophical implications of recent world history.

But there’s an aspect of this endeavor that is a little frightening to me. Mr. Hare premiered this piece in his native England, and this is now its American premiere. Even though he has had some readings around the country, according to him in a recent interview, he has not one other offer to produce this piece. Apparently, no one as of yet is willing to risk the alienation of their audience – or make a name for themselves as a voice of dissent against our current administration. Gordon Davidson was willing to (perhaps even eager) because this is his last production as artistic director at the Forum.

Theatre has a tradition of questioning and holding up to examination the times in which it exists. If the climate created by those who are in power now has caused some in our community to step back from that purpose out of fear, then I find it tragic – and a large indicator of the dark time we seem to be mired in.

Shira - we saw it last night. Honestly, I was more intrigued by the audience reactions than what was happening on stage. They even booed and hissed like they were at a melodrama when Cheney first showed up. And truth be told, it probably IS a melodrama!

CK - I agree 100%. I had visions of someone trying to produce this in the midwest and having the cast gunned down onstage. And frankly, it really didn't present anything that hasn't already been covered before (except for one fairly shocking scene where he presented that the Brits had actually cornered Bin Laden at one point, but were told by the United States not to abduct him - for reasons of hubris, basically.)

It very much had the atmosphere of preaching to the choir.

I have felt the real power of the LARAMIE PROJECT has come from productions being done by high schools around the country. There is NO WAY that this could have that kind of life.

I believe agitprop still exists. Wasn't Newsical agitprop?

http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/newsical-rev.htm

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But did you think it was good?

ANGELS IN AMERICA can very much be viewed as agitprop. But it's also brilliant and wildly theatrical and done all over the world as well as the country.

Was this particular piece of agitprop able to entertain in a truly theatrical way?

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Thanks DG -- maybe I'll get the chance to see it anyway -- for the hell of it.

By the way, check your phone messages! (I probably sound halfway drunk, but blame the Vicodin!)

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