Theatre Australia

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What constitutes a good show?

Mon, 4 Dec 2006, 08:21 am
Gordon the Optom11 posts in thread
What constitutes a memorable show?
Should a play still be considered admirable and worth recommending, if the sets are first class, the lighting outstanding, the direction imaginative, the acting amazing – never been better - but the script boring, clichéd and pointless? On this occasion the audience may depart the theatre frustrated and thinking what a waste of time and talent.
Or is the piece which has very little scenery, a few lights, the acting is wooden with the odd fluffed word, direction is dull and laborious, but the play has a brilliantly inventive, beautifully written script, a better show?
Possibly the play is one which is technically average, has good - but not outstanding acting - yet on leaving the theatre you realise that you have engaged in some kind of emotional experience? Perhaps you have laughed, cried, aroused, been scared witless and still are thinking about passages in the play a day or two later. Is this the 5-star production?

I realise that in the ideal show, all of these ‘quality features’ should be present, but isn’t the audience enjoyment factor the most important point of any show?
We hear of Art Galleries which have spent $20,000 on a pile of bricks, or recently in the UK of the 50,000 pounds spent on a standard urinal as the latest art. Likewise I feel that the number of productions which are weird and fit into some strange genre is increasing. There is a massive GENERAL public out there, which some producers may consider plebs, who need to be taught to appreciate the latest real and innovative theatre art. Are the public right or should a select few discerning theatricals receive preference?
The Da Vinci code was a massive seller, very popular but hardly the best written book of the year, but it was a good satisfying yarn. So how should books and plays be rated? Does the audience enjoyment factor matter?

Acting?

Thu, 21 Dec 2006, 12:58 pm
There is a radio personality in the UK called Zoe Ball. She was a Radio 1 (think JJJ) presenter and rock journo. She once played herself in a film called "Still Crazy" (which by the way is brilliant) I heard her talking about it on radio afterwards. She said in part " I have developed the greatest respect for actors. I was only playing myself and I was awful, those guys have to remember the lines hit their marks make sure they are facing the right way while all the time being someone else with enough conviction to make the rest of us believe in them totally." Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

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