Why is there so much drivel in community theatre?

I wish to provoke a bit of debate here, not because I wish to be spiteful or scornful towards amateur theatre (or community theatre as some patrons wish to call it) but because I was just wondering where community theatre seems to be heading.

I am dismayed at the lack of challenging theatre these days. The only type of plays that seemed to be performed these days are inane musicals, light fluffy comedies, preposterous melodramas and murder whodunnits. There seems to be a lack of both imagination and will in community theatre in putting on contemporary dramas and even the classics are ignored. It's like Strindberg, Ibsen, Brecht, Pirandello, Beckett and Pinter never existed.

Even Shakespeare's other plays seemed to be neglected. I know 'Class Act ' and 'Grads' seems to be making some effort in producing his other works, but most theatres seem to only produce 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' and 'Romeo and Juliet' as though these are the only plays he ever wrote. To make matters worse these plays are constantly rehashed and churned out so there is no opportunity for the average punter to go out and explore other works from this great artist. In 2005 we can expect Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' and in 2006 we can expect Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'A Midsummer Nights Dream'. In 2007 we can also expect Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' etc. etc.

There is also a lack of imagination and consultation by theatre houses in the choice of plays in the same year. I noticed that Noel Coward's play 'Fallen Angels' - which is regarded as one of his weakest plays - is on at both the Old Mill and Marloo Theatres. Although they are not on at the same season, judging from the narrow spectrum of audience members touring the theatre houses, it would seem unlikely that those audience members who saw the production at the Old Mill are going to waste much time in seeing the Marloo production. Variety, after all is the spice of life.

And what of American plays? Not too many of those around. I know there is one community theatre director who specialises in American plays, but again he produces the light fluffy American equivilent of the mostly British plays that are performed here. Arthur Miller, Tennesee Williams and Eugene O'Neill are firmly excluded. And that's ashame. Miller died this year although I doubt whether many of the theatre companies have noticed. One suggestion to the ITA is to create some kind respective of Miller's work for next year, each theatre producing a play of his. The programme could be Marloo - 'A View from a Bridge', Old Mill - 'The Crucible' and Garrick - 'Death of a Salesman' and you can stagger the programme throughout the year. But I doubt whether that would happen.

What we can expect instead is a murder whodunnit called 'The Butler did it' followed by the usual sex farce comedies ('The Vicar and the Actress' as well as its sequel 'The Vicar and the Actress does it again!') a couple of nonsense musicals and an umpteenth version of 'Educating Rita' double billed with 'Romeo and Juliet'. Throw in a soppy romance, a histrionic melodrama and 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' in the middle of winter and that's your year.

It's puzzling as to why theatre companies play to the lowest common denominator. Sure it's good for the blue rinse set, but when they pass on, as we all do, what kind of audience are you going to have then? Judging from last years production of 'Salad Days' when all the older members were gleefully clapping along to the encore while the younger members were shaking their heads wondering 'what the f**k was that about', it doesn't look promising.