Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Masturbatory Theatre

What is meant by the term "Masturbatory Theatre?"  Well, as far as I use it, the term means theatre that is done entirely for the sake of entertaining the folks who are on stage, rather than performing for the audience's benefit.  It is theatre by those who long to hear their own voices, or those who think that their perspective on life is remarkable beyond believe.  A subset of Masturbatory Theatre is the "Meaning of Life" play.

The Meaning of Life play is something often written by a first-time playwright who wants to pontificate about how brilliant he is for an hour or so.  Every playwright has written one of these plays.  Remember that I am a playwright when i say this.  Every playwright has written one.  However, the wise playwrights keep it to themselves, or show it to a few friends, get feedback and then hide it away from public view.  Unless you've had one helluva life, or you're a spiritual savant, you shouldn't be trying to preach the meaning of life at the age of 25!  Live a little, then get back to me.

With that in mind... I've assembled a list.  This is a list of shows that will potentially rise above the MT and MoL models, because they are from performers that have earned the right to share their views on what it all means.

  1. An Empire Disguised as a Nation: A Call to Conscience -- If Dean J. Seal hasn't earned the right to pontificate about anything and everything, I don't know who has.  This is a show that is timely and needed.  I hope that all sorts o' folks will take it in and make it the "Farenheit 9/11" of our festival.
  2. Goddess Menses and the Menstrual Show -- This show is proof that out of the mouth of babes comes wisdom for the ages.  This show was written 2 years ago by a bunch of teens and young adults at Youth Performance Company.  It looks at that monthly burden of all women and how it affects them and those around them.  Remarkably insightful, and fun.  Lat time I saw it the crowd of all women (excluding me) seemed really fired up and empowered by it.  Random cool thing:  If the script is done as it was originally written, one of the monologues is about me!
  3. Whiskey Bars --I don't actually know anything about Big Empty Bar Productions, but I do know that the songs of Kurt Weill (Three Penny Opera, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagony, etc.) are filled with great glimpses into the darker side of human life.  So, the material that makes up this one is more than solid.
  4. Goats -- You know, I want to cull every bit of wisdom out of this show.  I want to know what it is that makes the mideast tick, what makes Israel what it is, and what it is that we're supposed to know so we can stop getting it wrong.
  5. Delaware, and Other Lies -- Ari Hoptman is a comedian who's of a mold that isn't seen much anymore.  He looks at situations with a highly educated and witty mind, and he pulls some meaning from them.  He pulls so hard that his wit bends that meaning around and stretches is like taffy.  His comedy is insightful and Bob Newhart-esque.  It reminds us that we are higher life forms, sort of.



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