The Purpose of Theatre

There is a certain theatre for which I periodically work, that has a director who often tells us that our acting needs to be more didactic or less didactic. Now, by this term he means that it should be more presentational in nature. More clear to the audience. The thing is, that the word didactic doesn't mean that at all. Theatre by its very nature is didactic, that is, it teaches a lesson. It gives a point of view and educates the audience about that point of view. By having a directorial concept a show is didactic. What this director is trying to say is that he needs a acting gesture to be Theatre-for-the-thinking-impaired. Or, he might find better use from a word that I coined a few years back for the same phenomenon. "Indicatory." That isn't a real word according to Webster, but it describes the type of acting that is slightly larger and overdone for the sake of clarity.

Now, why do I bring all that up? Because I want to talk about shows that fulfill the duty of theatre to be didactic...in the word's real meaning. As artists we have a duty to make people think and feel and come away a better and improved human being. We shouldn't pretend that we'll accomplish that with every show we do, but if you are a theatre artist, and not just a theatre performer, then you have to be at least partially dedicated to producing art. Art needs a perspective and a point. It needs to evoke a reaction.

I saw "Farenheit 9/11" the other night, and it made me think about how much of what often does best at the Fringe Festival isn't art, isn't pushing any limits, isn't really on the "fringe" of any type of thought, behavior, or anything else for that matter. It is merely entertainment. Not that entertainment is bad, it is necessary for maintaining sanity and emotional balance. Yay! Entertainment!

But, when a festival promises to be on the "fringe," I look for performances that push the limits. And more importantly ones that really are art. Shows that are didactic. Show me an opinion. Stand behind it. Try to make an impact. Take a risk! Put on a show for a small budget that dares to say something important instead of just trying to cash in on a witty title.

Now, before you go and think that Chris is saying that you ought to go sit through a preachy piece of crap, let me allay those fears. Every play that has a point of view is didactic. That's what I mean by theatre by its very nature is didactic. "Streetcar Named Desire" teaches lessons about human nature and human failure that we could all learn from, it is truly theatre. A great is didactic, but more subtle about it than a soapbox preacher.

So... Here's my challenge to you, Fringe-Goer! While you take in "8/7 Central" or "Fringe Sex," take some time to search out the shows that are less well publicized but that might actually make a difference, might offend you a bit, might do something actually fringy.

Here's my list of shows that might actually have something to say that is worth seeing.

1. An Empire Disguised as a Nation: A Call to Conscience
2. Fear of Freedom
3. Feeling Faust
4. Osama Kinkaid, Painter of Terrorism

Granted, many of these may be a little on the preachy end of the spectrum, but at the Fringe it seems that one end of the spectrum (Preachy) or the other (purely entertainment) is what you get.

I'm sure that there are others. This is just off the top of my head, and mostly regarding our current political situation, but many of the queer content shows will have something to say. There are many of the more off-beat comedies that share a good message or two.

What I'm saying, is don't just buy into the hype of certain shows. Go ahead, buy into it a little, and have some fun. But do what is right and go to see some didactic theatre, too.