Frustrating the Audience
Frustrating the Audience
George Nicholas
Swing Joined: 12/18/18
#1Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/18/18 at 6:48pm
I admire the actor/director David Cromer, who stars in The Waverly Gallery and directed The Band's Visit. In a chance encounter I told him I was frustrated with The Band's Visit because not all the foreign dialog was shown in translation. He said he wanted the audience to feel the frustration the characters were feeling.
Theater should challenge the audience, but should it frustrate the audience? I think no. You thoughts?
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#2Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/18/18 at 6:55pm
In this particular case, he is right, you are wrong.
#3Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/18/18 at 6:56pm
The Bands Visit goes beyond a lot of people’s comfort zones because it partially depicts how we treat people who are culturally different from us when communications gets lost in translation.
If that frustrates you, then I think Cromer did his job effectively.
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JBC3
Broadway Star Joined: 4/9/17
#4Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/18/18 at 7:16pmFeeling the frustration of the characters is not the same as simply frustrating the audience. This is about empathy in support of the story.
GeorgeandDot
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/16
#5Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/18/18 at 11:06pm
As others have said:
He is right. You are wrong.
#6Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/18/18 at 11:59pm
To me this seems like a subset of the disagreement about linear vs non-linear that comes up here pretty often. Some theatre asks that you relax.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#7Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 1:40am
George Nicholas wrote:
"Theater should challenge the audience, but should it frustrate the audience? I think no. You thoughts?"
I agree with half of your statement. Audiences should not have to pay to be frustrated in order to gratify creators' "visions," or to satisfy their egos. Of course, the show in question was horrible; so that's not merely frustrating, but maddening.
I do not agree with your assertion that theatre should challenge the audience. My favorite theatrical experiences were at shows that did not challenge me in the slightest, yet provided me with unfettered delight.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#8Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 7:43am
I can't believe I'm about to type these words: A8 is right. About one thing: theater doesn't HAVE to challenge an audience. Nothing wrong with delightful fluff now and again.
PERSONALLY, I prefer a challenge, a prefer to think, prefer to analyze. There was nothing in TBV that I found frustrating. I loved every moment of it. More than once.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#9Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 8:12am
George Nicholas said: "Theater should challenge the audience, but should it frustrate the audience?"
Bad shows are frustrating. Good shows done with specific intention are not.
#10Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 9:20am
After Eight said: "My favorite theatrical experiences were at shows that did not challenge me in the slightest, yet provided me with unfettered delight."
You and my 5 year old nephew have this in common.
#11Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 9:53am
After Eight said: "My favorite theatrical experiences were at shows that did not challenge me in the slightest"
Which explains why you dislike nearly everything...
#12Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 11:19am
I can't say I have ever felt frustrated by a show, at least not in the way described here. I've felt frustration that a show isn't living up to its potential, sure.
And I don't think TBV is particularly challenging. Yes, there is some untranslated language, but the vast majority of the show is in English and one of the central themes is the struggle to find a common language of human connection.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#13Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 11:34am
I didn't find it frustrating at all. Twice!
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VotePeron
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/2/13
#14Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 11:42am
There's no right answer to this question. And to get us all back on track, the question wasn't were you frustrated by The Band's Visit, it's if directors/creators encourage audiences to feel frustrated during shows.
I hate it when shows (and movies) treat audiences like we're dumb. We're not. We can put pieces together, and lean in to work. I think the correct phrasing of that would be challenging, not frustrating. In that sense, I feel as if Cromer misspoke about intentionally frustrating the audience, because there's not one universal thing you can do to frustrate a group of people. What challenges all will frustrate some, but make others very happy.
An example for me that comes to mind was Sam Gold's Glass Menagerie. I was furious while watching that show. Gold wanted to illicit a response from us, and he didn't care if it was positive or negative. He knew some people would appreciate it, and some would be uncomfortable/bored/frustrated during it. It's better to feel something and be exposed to new ways of thinking then to just sit and let fluff wash over you.
I think that's why I didn't enjoy The Prom at all, as I felt like I was being treated like I was an idiot. It's a really personal question, and every audience member will interpret differently.
TLDR - Should art intentionally frustrate you? No. Should art pose situations that could potentially frustrate you? Absolutely.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#15Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 1:02pm
VotePeron wrote:
"I hate it when shows (and movies) treat audiences like we're dumb. "
I do, too. Unfortunately, it's an all too frequent occurrence nowadays. All those superior "artistes" who look down upon the paying customers might do well to consider that old adage about biting the hand that feeds you --- lest one day that hand stop feeding you.
"It's better to feel something and be exposed to new ways of thinking then to just sit and let fluff wash over you."
Here I disagree with you. I've let a lot of fluff wash over me through the years, and I assure you I felt the most wonderful of emotions while doing so: joy, magic, wonderment, elation. I am infinitely grateful to have experienced them.
#16Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 1:23pm
I can't help but think of "Twin Peaks: The Return" in this discussion: much of the nearly-impenetrable series was designed to challenge and intrigue, but I'd be lying if I said a sizeable chunk of the material wasn't there specifically TO frustrate and "troll" an audience that thought it knew what it wanted or what it would receive. I suppose you can have it both ways...
#17Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 1:47pm
@A8, in light of your confession (which I don't believe because you remain just a posturing poser), you are like a child pretending to have an adult conversation.
#18Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 1:52pm
This thread reminds me of seeing The Father at MTC. That show was very frustrating for the audience in a great way. It made us feel very empathetic towards Frank Langella's character. We too began to distrust our own memories of what was right there in front of us just minutes before.
#19Frustrating the Audience
Posted: 12/19/18 at 2:41pm
I needed translation at Billy Elliot and Matilda; very frustrating.
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