What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?
What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#2
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:19pmDepends on how much nudity is involved.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#2
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:20pm
...or how much booze we consume beforehand.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/07
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#3
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:21pm
As I said in the chat discussion:
It depends. Everyone views theatre differently, and everyone will see a show and think about it in a different way. It's hard to generalize theatre. In fact, I can't even generalize theatre.
Example: My best friend and I went to go see SA. We're both 15 years old, and she felt the show completely affected her and related to her and "spoke to her" and I thought it was a piece of crap. (Sorry..don't mean to be THAT harsh about it..)
My cousin thoroughly enjoyed Legally Blonde because it was mindless, entertaining fun. I thought I was watching a high school show.
My mother hated Talk Radio! while I thought it was brilliant.
The purpose you ask?
A definition of musical theatre I have learned is telling a story through song and dance. You're communicating with the audience when you are performing.
The affect on the audience, however, depends on the individual alone.
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#4
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:22pm
Does it awaken us or do we awaken it?
It depends who falls asleep first and who has to take a poo in the middle of the night.
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#5
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:23pm
To engage humanity in some form or fashion.
Engage as in -
Give pleasure
Depress
Question
Answer
Discuss
etc
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/07
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#6
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:24pm
Another example: Lestat. So many people I have talked to thought it was such a creative, gutsy, artsy show that communicated something so vividly deep to the audience, and I nearly left the theatre. And I NEVER leave theatres before the show is done.
Lizzie, come back to the chatroom!
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#7
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:24pmSorry, I had Firefox problems. It must want me to be deep.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/07
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#8
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:25pm
Well get your black beret and cigarette (and grab some for me) and jump in!
I like what Julian2 said. Well put.
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#9
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:26pm
i can only speak for myself but to me...
theatre has always been a spiritual experience. when you act, you literally shuffle out of your body to become a part of a larger consciousness. i find that i don't really remember much of actual performances, as if my memories of performing are somehow downloaded into another human being's brain. i, quite literally, am not myself. i become one soul drifting amongst other souls in a large spiritual patchwork.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/07
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#10
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:30pmWell sure, but I doubt something like that will happen at fluffy, entertaining shows like Hairspray or Legally Blonde. It doens't mean they're not theatre or considered good theatre by some people.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#11
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:30pm
Cruel, what drugs do you take?
I want sum of that large spiritual patchwork sh*t
I did feel that when i watched
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'
I wish it was still playing.
Updated On: 5/28/07 at 11:30 PM
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#12
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:31pmreciprocity...a vicious cycle for some.
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#13
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:34pm
now to spin it around...
the audience's role and relationship with a performer is very interesting. the audience is sucked into this false reality. to the point where the reality overwhelms the artifice and becomes real (or that is always the goal). in essence, the act of watching...of being the observer...is an act of spiritual prayer. the viewer worships by being taken along by the existence that the theatrical performers create.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/07
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#14
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:36pm
Cruel, I gotta tell you, it is too late at night for me to try to understand what you're saying. Especially after leaving the chatroom.
It is fine that you think that. I'm sure many people would agree with you. I'm not following this "prayer" thing...
But as I said in the chatroom (because we're STILL discussing this): Even the most "arsty, creative, abstract" shows need publicity to survive. They USE their abstractness or whatever word you want to use for their publicity.
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#15
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:37pmCruel, WTF.
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#16
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:38pm
"Put on the watch. Light the cigarette, fold back the silk, and use the cigarette to burn a hole in the silk. Then put your eye up to the hole and look through, all the way through, until you find yourself falling through the hole and into the shifting patterns you see on the other side."
- INLAND EMPIRE
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/07
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#17
Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:55pmRight. And?
re: What Is The Purpose Of Theatre?#19
Posted: 5/29/07 at 11:20amOh god.
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