ITA Link Editorial (Dec, 2000)
Fri, 8 Dec 2000, 11:33 pmWalter Plinge1 post in thread
ITA Link Editorial (Dec, 2000)
Fri, 8 Dec 2000, 11:33 pmThis posting is reprinted from the December edition of the ITA Link newsletter:
Not everyone is connected to the Internet (although it will become compulsory in the New Millennium - you mark my words), so not everyone has been exposed to my incessant witless meanderings. With that in mind, regular Link Editor, David (please let me rest... just for a minute) Crewes, asked me to write something for this month's newsletter.
Some disconnected musings:
It is coming to the end of the year (decade... century... millennium...) and before the world ends forever, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank a few people. I know they're not on this page at the moment, but there wouldn't be an ITA newsletter without Elizabeth & David Crewes. Most of us whine about the late nights and hard work we put ourselves through for our productions, but Liz Crewes lives and breathes the ITA, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. She is constantly manning the office, fielding enquiries, dealing with bills and paperwork, and then, THEN, she produces the ITA Link EVERY MONTH! Liz has to coordinate all the disparate snippets of information from a wide variety of sources, and construct a legible, coherent, formatted newsletter. She organises photocopying, folding, sealing and mailing of the damn things. EVERY SINGLE MONTH! This wonderful lady deserves our undying gratitude on top of the small R & R break she has taken for herself. Get well soon, Liz!
David casts an editorial eye over the thing and grunts approvingly, but the pressure of the editorial reign never leaves him... I'm sure Liz & David would like me to thank the helpers that they have - particularly Barbara Zahari, Sandra Martin and George Hackett who do help with the Link every month. And Liz isn't forced to handle all of the paperwork... Norma Davis, ITA Secretary, seems to spend more time at the ITA office than at home, answering mail, sending out information to clubs and individual members, preparing agendas, and on top of all that, Norma is actually putting together this month's Link. Thanks again, Norma. Thanks also to Barry Lucas and his team of hard-working ITA Adjudicators, and to the entire ITA committee.
In a few short years, the ITA website has become such an integral part of WA Theatre, that many of us wonder how we managed without it (even those with a so-called life, eh, Dean?). The medium cannot be surpassed for last-minute publicity releases, eleventh-hour queries and requests, or just plain old gossip. With information technology threatening to assimilate us all, somebody, eventually would have constructed a theatre webpage. We're all very lucky that Grant Malcolm got there first. Grant manages the webpage, but he'd be the first to concede that we all contribute to it. If you haven't yet done so, get down to your local library and try it out!
I am looking forward to this month's ITA Finley Awards; now, for the first time, at the Bridge Theatre in Northbridge. I have spoken with David Yardley, manager of the theatre, and was very pleased to discover that he is very enthusiastic about the ITA's "Night of Nights" being held at his venue. I was also thankful that the theatre's rules only prohibit objectionable language and not objectionable hosts. Don't miss WA Theatre's "Night of Nights" (and it won't cost $85 per ticket...).
Finally, at perhaps my one-and-only guest editorial rant, I want to open a Pandora's Box which has lain at the back of my mind for the past two months. At this year's DramaFest I was approached by a prominent Perth director who told me - point blank - that some of this year's one-act plays should not have been entered in the Festival. "The Festival should be a showcase for the Best of the Best," I was told. This upset me, and the more I thought about it, the more it preyed on what I laughingly call my mind. I can see where the argument is coming from: Suppose Theatre X organises a season and produces three stunning one-act plays - each equally likely to run off with the top awards. But space is limited in DramaFest, and one or more of Theatre X's plays will probably miss out because Theatre Y has slapped together something at the last minute and entered their play.
I can see this argument, but I don't agree with it. To begin with, I do not accept that people put together plays - even one-act plays - so uncaringly. In my naivete, I do believe that everyone tries their best and everyone deserves a chance, be they nervous newcomer or experienced award-winner. I also believe that not every director enters a production expecting to win Best Play, but they do expect and desire constructive commentary from an independent, respected professional in the field. For most of us, this is a hobby, not a prize-grab, and we're thrilled simply with acknowledgement of our hard work and perhaps some suggestions as to how we can improve ourselves in the avocation of our choice.
I am proud of the fact that, for the first time in many years, every play entered to DramaFest was accepted. As is always the case, some plays were better than others, but the important point, in my mind, was that everyone got the chance. DramaFest should be equally open to first-time directors seeking experience as well as the auteur. But what do I know? I'm interested to hear other people's opinions. Write to the ITA Office, or simply visit the web page where this editorial will be reprinted.
Jarrod Buttery
Not everyone is connected to the Internet (although it will become compulsory in the New Millennium - you mark my words), so not everyone has been exposed to my incessant witless meanderings. With that in mind, regular Link Editor, David (please let me rest... just for a minute) Crewes, asked me to write something for this month's newsletter.
Some disconnected musings:
It is coming to the end of the year (decade... century... millennium...) and before the world ends forever, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank a few people. I know they're not on this page at the moment, but there wouldn't be an ITA newsletter without Elizabeth & David Crewes. Most of us whine about the late nights and hard work we put ourselves through for our productions, but Liz Crewes lives and breathes the ITA, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. She is constantly manning the office, fielding enquiries, dealing with bills and paperwork, and then, THEN, she produces the ITA Link EVERY MONTH! Liz has to coordinate all the disparate snippets of information from a wide variety of sources, and construct a legible, coherent, formatted newsletter. She organises photocopying, folding, sealing and mailing of the damn things. EVERY SINGLE MONTH! This wonderful lady deserves our undying gratitude on top of the small R & R break she has taken for herself. Get well soon, Liz!
David casts an editorial eye over the thing and grunts approvingly, but the pressure of the editorial reign never leaves him... I'm sure Liz & David would like me to thank the helpers that they have - particularly Barbara Zahari, Sandra Martin and George Hackett who do help with the Link every month. And Liz isn't forced to handle all of the paperwork... Norma Davis, ITA Secretary, seems to spend more time at the ITA office than at home, answering mail, sending out information to clubs and individual members, preparing agendas, and on top of all that, Norma is actually putting together this month's Link. Thanks again, Norma. Thanks also to Barry Lucas and his team of hard-working ITA Adjudicators, and to the entire ITA committee.
In a few short years, the ITA website has become such an integral part of WA Theatre, that many of us wonder how we managed without it (even those with a so-called life, eh, Dean?). The medium cannot be surpassed for last-minute publicity releases, eleventh-hour queries and requests, or just plain old gossip. With information technology threatening to assimilate us all, somebody, eventually would have constructed a theatre webpage. We're all very lucky that Grant Malcolm got there first. Grant manages the webpage, but he'd be the first to concede that we all contribute to it. If you haven't yet done so, get down to your local library and try it out!
I am looking forward to this month's ITA Finley Awards; now, for the first time, at the Bridge Theatre in Northbridge. I have spoken with David Yardley, manager of the theatre, and was very pleased to discover that he is very enthusiastic about the ITA's "Night of Nights" being held at his venue. I was also thankful that the theatre's rules only prohibit objectionable language and not objectionable hosts. Don't miss WA Theatre's "Night of Nights" (and it won't cost $85 per ticket...).
Finally, at perhaps my one-and-only guest editorial rant, I want to open a Pandora's Box which has lain at the back of my mind for the past two months. At this year's DramaFest I was approached by a prominent Perth director who told me - point blank - that some of this year's one-act plays should not have been entered in the Festival. "The Festival should be a showcase for the Best of the Best," I was told. This upset me, and the more I thought about it, the more it preyed on what I laughingly call my mind. I can see where the argument is coming from: Suppose Theatre X organises a season and produces three stunning one-act plays - each equally likely to run off with the top awards. But space is limited in DramaFest, and one or more of Theatre X's plays will probably miss out because Theatre Y has slapped together something at the last minute and entered their play.
I can see this argument, but I don't agree with it. To begin with, I do not accept that people put together plays - even one-act plays - so uncaringly. In my naivete, I do believe that everyone tries their best and everyone deserves a chance, be they nervous newcomer or experienced award-winner. I also believe that not every director enters a production expecting to win Best Play, but they do expect and desire constructive commentary from an independent, respected professional in the field. For most of us, this is a hobby, not a prize-grab, and we're thrilled simply with acknowledgement of our hard work and perhaps some suggestions as to how we can improve ourselves in the avocation of our choice.
I am proud of the fact that, for the first time in many years, every play entered to DramaFest was accepted. As is always the case, some plays were better than others, but the important point, in my mind, was that everyone got the chance. DramaFest should be equally open to first-time directors seeking experience as well as the auteur. But what do I know? I'm interested to hear other people's opinions. Write to the ITA Office, or simply visit the web page where this editorial will be reprinted.
Jarrod Buttery