Brecht, My Brain and the questions no one seems to be asking

And Barack Obama is now the leader of the free world... Kind of an ironic statement considering that I don't remember participating in a democratic election where I was FREE to choose who the leader of our FREE world would be. Then again perhaps I should remember that Freedom is to Americans as everything else is. Freedom is a commodity to be bought sold and traded. Brecht once said "In america everything is on sale! I'm sure they sell the piss in the urinals" and why should not the same principals apply to freedom. So my hackles are up but what is important is that I look at why they are up. I blame Brecht! Some of you may be aware that at this moment I am preparing to Direct Brecht's "Life of Galileo" for WA Youth Theatre Company (Auditions are on 28th Feb at kings st arts centre for those aged 15-26 for more info and to book call waytco on 9226 2144) and have been probing the depths of the text as much as Galileo did the sky. I spent a long time in pre-production struggling with the text and it was because I was trying to answer all the questions that the text raises rather than simply being content that I was asking the questions. Now, I feel certain that Galileo asks some fundamental questions that we as a society are not asking. To find out what those questions are you'll have to come and see the show. To give you a taste of what's in store here's a spiel: 2009 is the international year of Astronomy and it is in this year that WA Youth Theatre Company returns to the beginnings of the split of science and religion in the form of Bertolt Brecht’s play “The Life of Galileo”. Indeed it was named the international year of astronomy to celebrate the 400th year since Galileo Galilei turned his telescope toward the night sky and proved that careful examination of the heavens directly contradicts the bible. It is also interesting to note that it was not until just before Christmas last year that the pope finally apologised for the treatment of Galileo at the hands of the church. “Life of Galileo” first appeared in 1938 and was continually revised and changed by Brecht up until his death in 1956. Under the mentorship of Artistic Director Phil Thompson, director Garreth Bradshaw with the WAYTCo ensemble hopes to create “a version of “The Life of Galileo” will prove not to be a relic from the past but a relevant and extremely sharp questioning of all that we as a society believe and perhaps fail to question in our daily lives.” Bradshaw plans to use elements of retro sci-fi and just a dash of Orwell to help him achieve the legendary Verfremdungseffekt that is the contentious bone in the side of so many scholars and artists. “I don’t think Brecht wanted to alienate his audience, well at least not in the way we understand that word… alienation” Said Bradshaw. “Unfortunately the English speaking world has drawn the short straw when receiving translations of Brecht’s theories. We confuse exercises with actual practice and seem to think that somehow Brecht wanted his theatre to always be turgid, emotionless and didactic. If I were to some up what he wanted I guess it would be that he does not want us (the audience) to get distracted by the grand narrative of the piece. I think Brecht sees each scene as a parable, which hopefully makes us ask questions. Though, sometimes he considers his scenes to be a round in a boxing match where he wants you to get riled and involved in the action. The trick with these type of scenes is to then remind people that you are watching a play and then they question why they feel that way about what just took place and they realise that they’re not feeling the characters emotion but rather their own this is the true purpose of Verfremdungseffekt. Brecht’s theatre is vibrant, quick witted and emotional. What it is not is academic, sentimental, cathartic or plot heavy.” “Life of Galileo” will be playing at the subiaco arts centre from the 6th-9th May at 8pm. It is now that the ultimate tragedy of the creative mind makes itself known, doubt. What if I should not be asking these questions? Maybe it won't make a difference to anyone and if so what's the point of trying? What if I'm asking the wrong questions or what if i'm just an idiot and what I think is a play which pushes the bounds of the nature of the world we live in is merely a bloated imagaining of a rancid and crumbling brain? Then, I remember Dylan Thomas' alleged last words "I've just drunk 11 straight scotches in a row. That has to be some kind of record!" and the other alternative "Is this all i've accomplished?" Because of this I remember that in the end what matters is how you lived and if i'm remembered for asking questions even if they are stupid one's then still that has to be worth something.