Skip to main content

Play or Production

I saw a production of "The Royal Family."

(Not the production of "The Royal Family" playing on Broadway, but hopefully that will be forthcoming.)

I saw a very good production of "The Royal Family"...or did I?

It seems like there are certain plays that need the hand of a strong director, a good cast, and/or amazing concepts and ideas. Whereas others just need you to not fuck them up.

Over the summer, I read a review for a play. I mean that literally. The review was of the play (actually, the musical) and not the production. The reviewer loved the musical, but didn't like the production. The production then proceeded to use the quotes the reviewer used to praise the musical--again, not the production--on its posters.

Does this make any sense?

I think a lot of people, including myself a lot of the time, have trouble separating the show from the work itself. In some cases it's not a question of--"Wow, what they did with that show was amazing." Sometimes it's just--"Wow, they didn't fuck that up. Good for them."

I should mention that I'm not trying to demean not fucking something up. Not fucking up is a huge undertaking a lot of the time. I've seen some people work REALLY hard at not fucking up, and fail miserably all the same.

To take a show like "The Royal Family," however, or other great works--and give the production credit that's really due to the invincible nature of the play, just doesn't seem right.

I think it's important to separate the two--This is what I think of the show, and this is what I think of the production.

Okay, what do you all think?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A List of People Who Can Go to Hell Now That I Can't Have Elizabeth Warren

So today was a rough day for everybody who isn't a @#$%-ing #$%hole. Let's just start there. If that upsets you, by all means, go straight to hell. This entire rant is going to be exactly what it sounds like. I am mad and I am going to exercise my right to BLOG ABOUT IT LIKE IT'S 1995, SO BUCKLE UP, BUTTERCUP. I really don't even know where to start, so let's just jump right in with the first person who comes to mind. Bloomberg, go to hell.  You really didn't have anything specific to do with today, but you can just go to hell for spending an ungodly amount of money on literally nothing.  I mean, you could have lit millions of dollars on fire and at least warmed the hands of the homeless, but instead, you made tv stations across the country that are already owned by Conservatives rich, so kudos to you and go to hell. Amy Klobuchar, I STUCK UP FOR YOU AMY.  I got into FIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA while DEFENDING your sorry, self-interested ass.  You know ...
42 comments
Read more

Theater and the Outbreak

After last week's interview, a representative from a theater that recently experienced the results of opening too soon reached out to speak with me. I want to thank this person for coming forward in the hopes that it'll change some minds about what's safe and what isn't when it comes to the performing arts. Here's the interview: ME:  So this wasn't a full production or-- THEM:  No. It was us trying to do a little something for friends and donors. ME:  Who is 'us?' THEM:  The board of _____. ME:  And how long have you been on the board? THEM:  Three years. ME:  What was this going to be? THEM:  There's a, uh, beautiful park here in town, and we wanted to do an outdoor performance of a Shakespeare as a benefit, because, as you know, theaters are having a hard time right now paying the bills. We checked with the local government and the health department for the state to make sure we were doing everything the way we needed to in order to keep everyon...
7 comments
Read more

People You Know Are More Important Than People You Don't Know

This post is in response to arguing with people--straight and gay alike--about a certain celebrity, whether or not she's an ally, if she's pandering, if pandering matters, and whether or not I'm an asshole. The last part is probably an enthusiastic "Yes" but let's reflect on this for a bit anyway without actually giving more time to an argument about a person none of us know, which is a crucial part of what I want to talk about. People you know are more important than people you don't know. I realize it's tricky in an age where we've never been closer or more engaged to our celebrities to keep in mind that we do not know them, they are not our friends, and while we may love them and stan and feel like we're attacked when they're attacked-- That is not true. That is not real. They are in no tangible way connected to us. Now, as someone who is obsessed with pop culture, I get that it's a little hypocritical for me to be making...
Post a Comment
Read more