Posted: 4/10/22 at 10:43pm
Friday's episode of 'Real Time' featured playwright David Mamet interviewed by host Bill Maher. Of course, they talked about theater and Mamet's contribution to theater with his challenging works. At one point, Maher acknowledged that Broadway has become 'Disney Land', while works like what Mamet gave us over the years are sparse - which is why Maher rarely goes to the theater anymore. There is nothing there to 'challenge' the audience, just 'entertainment'.
Mamet agreed (though he did mention his 'American Buffalo' has been revived with a stellar cast and currently playing on B'way).. Mamet said that years ago, 75% of theater-goers were 'middle class' and wanted to be challenged, not just entertained. That has changed over the years. Today, the middle class is gone from B'way, and that 75% has been replaced by NYC tourists who don't want to be challenged at all, they just want to be entertained. Maher completely agreed.
I never thought of it that way, but it does explain the majority of shows which have taken the stages of B'way over the past 20 years. Nothing too challenging - just 'entertaining'. So where did the middle class go over the last two decades ?
Updated On: 4/10/22 at 10:43 PM
