A lot of bloggers today (see list at Scott's blog) have decided to write about "the value of theatre" today.
My contribution is... when is the last time you asked yourself what the value of a painting was? Or the value of the movies? Or the value of opera? Or PBS? Maybe you said "Christ why is there American Idol?" but you weren't being serious. You know why it exists: the same reason the Christians were fed to the Lions.
We simply know, in our bones, that in order to live full lives, we must engage with something beyond ourselves, something that expresses abstractions and feelings. There is a difference between understanding something and experiencing it. We may be able to know where "fear" comes from by studying the brain and evolution; but to feel "fear" is something else. We may be able to track the chemistry of love through the body; but when you see and feel love, you are a whole, not the sum of your parts.
Theatre is simply one more way in which we experience the world. We slow it down, break it a part, present it as a re-enactment, through the lens of some creative impulses.
It's another way to write poetry, to tell stories, to paint a picture.
And, despite the almost constant cries that it is endangered, we make quite a bit of it, every day, all over the world.
Does its value have a measure? Ask yourself: is it valuable to you? If it is, it has value. You are no less or more important than any other person. I am not sure why or how to quantify that. I just feel that it is so.
About Me
- Freeman
- Matthew Freeman is a Brooklyn based playwright with a BFA from Emerson College. His plays include THE DEATH OF KING ARTHUR, REASONS FOR MOVING, THE GREAT ESCAPE, THE AMERICANS, THE WHITE SWALLOW, AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR, THE MOST WONDERFUL LOVE, WHEN IS A CLOCK, GLEE CLUB, THAT OLD SOFT SHOE and BRANDYWINE DISTILLERY FIRE. He served as Assistant Producer and Senior Writer for the live webcast from Times Square on New Year's Eve 2010-2012. As a freelance writer, he has contributed to Gamespy, Premiere, Complex Magazine, Maxim Online, and MTV Magazine. His plays have been published by Playscripts, Inc., New York Theatre Experience, and Samuel French.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Catch by A.E. Stallings
Over at good old Poetry Magazine... a poem I liked very much and wanted to share with you. Reprinted entirely without permission.
The Catch
Something has come between us—
It will not sleep.
Every night it rises like a fish
Out of the deep.
It cries with a human voice,
It aches to be fed.
Every night we heave it weeping
Into our bed,
With its heavy head lolled back,
Its limbs hanging down,
Like a mer-creature fetched up
From the weeds of the drowned.
Damp in the tidal dark, it whimpers,
Tossing the cover,
Separating husband from wife,
Lover from lover.
It settles in the interstice,
It spreads out its arms,
While its cool underwater face
Sharpens and warms:
This is the third thing that makes
Father and mother,
The fierce love of our fashioning
That will have no brother.
For the record
This is the statement by Dr. Wright that is being considered so "repugnant" by the MSM:
“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God bless America’? No, no, no. Not God bless America. God Damn America.”
This statement doesn't bother me. I don't see what the big deal is here. Except that a black leader was angry at the government on TV.
“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God bless America’? No, no, no. Not God bless America. God Damn America.”
This statement doesn't bother me. I don't see what the big deal is here. Except that a black leader was angry at the government on TV.
Obama's Speech Today
Have you read it? Read it.
The press is already trying to find the soundbites, of course. But just think the words George Bush, read Obama's speech, and then try not to be humiliated that we have settled for LESS than this in the public discourse.
The press is already trying to find the soundbites, of course. But just think the words George Bush, read Obama's speech, and then try not to be humiliated that we have settled for LESS than this in the public discourse.
Monday, March 17, 2008
When is a Clock - Opens April 15th
More announcements to come, and we're rushing around finalizing casting, but my latest play will be opening on April 15th at the Access Theater. I'm excited by the cast we have made offers to, the work being done and design elements that I'm seeing.
I'll write more substantively about what's up soon.
I'll write more substantively about what's up soon.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Michael Gardner on Gothamist
Take heed, oh Theatrical Practitioners. One of the bestest peoples in all of the New York Theater scene, Michael Gardner, is interviewed on Gothamist today.
He deserves this. He is good.
Read it!
He deserves this. He is good.
Read it!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
David Mamet: National Treasure
As in, about as logical and substantial as the film National Treasure.
Let's check in on the state of one of our great American playwrights:
1. Makes TV shows and movies about the military
2. Next film is about... jiu-jitsu.
3. Latest New York stage offering: harmless Nathan Lane sketch comedy about the Presidency after perhaps the most egregious Administration in the history of the US.
4. Is no longer a "brain-dead liberal." As if he represented, until now, deeply liberal values.
I'm sorry, but is liberalism so prevalent in this country that it needs to be rebelled against? One of the world's most intellectually lazy stances must be "I'm against everyone."
Mamet, is, as usual, mooing about himself.
Let's check in on the state of one of our great American playwrights:
1. Makes TV shows and movies about the military
2. Next film is about... jiu-jitsu.
3. Latest New York stage offering: harmless Nathan Lane sketch comedy about the Presidency after perhaps the most egregious Administration in the history of the US.
4. Is no longer a "brain-dead liberal." As if he represented, until now, deeply liberal values.
I'm sorry, but is liberalism so prevalent in this country that it needs to be rebelled against? One of the world's most intellectually lazy stances must be "I'm against everyone."
Mamet, is, as usual, mooing about himself.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Shame on you, Ferraro
Daily Kos highlighted a recent comment by Geraldine Ferraro about Barack Obama which is so wrong-headed and backwards, you might think Anne Coulter said it.
I certainly hope both former Vice Presidential nominee Ferraro and Senator Clinton have the good sense to apologize outright for this statement.
UPDATE:
Clinton has made it worse. She (through her campaign manager) has accused Obama of making attacks by objecting to these statements. Then, Ferraro went on to say this:
Holy shit. How bad is that?
If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.
I certainly hope both former Vice Presidential nominee Ferraro and Senator Clinton have the good sense to apologize outright for this statement.
UPDATE:
Clinton has made it worse. She (through her campaign manager) has accused Obama of making attacks by objecting to these statements. Then, Ferraro went on to say this:
Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up. Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?
Holy shit. How bad is that?
What's up on the home front
Pam and I both came down with this virus that's going around...nasty bugger. Really doing a number on both of us. I'm at work today, but not feeling all that spectacular.
Last week we had a second reading of a new draft of When is a Clock. The play will be going up in mid-April, and we're beginning the casting process right away. So keep that in mind as you make your theatergoing plans in the upcoming month.
Last week we had a second reading of a new draft of When is a Clock. The play will be going up in mid-April, and we're beginning the casting process right away. So keep that in mind as you make your theatergoing plans in the upcoming month.
Live in the London area?
Go check out American Voices, featuring The Most Wonderful Love and The Americans.
Press release here.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Quite...ill
Hello friends:
I am coughing and full of illness. I shall return to blogging when I do not feel the icky hand of death on my shoulder.
I am coughing and full of illness. I shall return to blogging when I do not feel the icky hand of death on my shoulder.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Tagged - Movie Quote Thingy
I was tagged.
Here's the rules -
Here's the deal:
Look up 15 of your favorite films on IMDb and take a quote from each. List them below. When someone guesses the quote correctly, I cross it off the list.
NO CHEATING.
This is my ultra-goddamn geek list. I mean, seriously. All of this is easy and just what I thought of while sitting here. I would not call it a "list of my favorite films." But heck, it's fun.
1. There is no civility, only politics.
- Russ Marcel got this.
2. This is a snake skin jacket. It's a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom. Hill!
3. A strange man defecated on my sister. (Ok, I can't figure out how to make this strikethrough. I'm a tool. Anyone know how? I'm turning it to Red in the meantime. Well done, Matthew.
4. -Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?
- I don't listen to Hip-Hop! Hill!
5. I was not just fondling my lamb's wool sweater!
Troubador gets this one.
6. - Jack Flack always escapes!
That's right Frogeh. Cloak and Dagger.
7. - I guess I just don't fit the new corporate profile?
- Which is?
- ... Competence.
- You got it Adam.
8. - Home? I have no home! Hunted, despised. Living like an animal. The jungle is my home. But I will show the world that I can be it’s master! I shall perfect my own race of people. A race of atomic supermen which will conquier the world!Pull the string! Pull the string! Hill!
9. The only way to win is not to play. Hill!
10. Suave! Goddamn, you are one suave fucker! Hill!
11. I mean, hell, Hank, I've never even kissed a girl. You know, if me becoming rich is gonna change all that, you know I'm all for it.
Art scores with this one.
12. We are gathered here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. But it should be noted that this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world; a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one, and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human.
To Froggeh.
13. - Oh God.
- Zod! Hill!
14. Wings? I don't have wings!
- Of course not! You're a boy!
Isaac Butler got this one. Because he's a Gelfling.
15.
- We've met before, haven't we. I don't think so. Where was it you think we met?
- At your house. Don't you remember?
- No. No, I don't. Are you sure?
- Of course. As a matter of fact, I'm there right now.
- What do you mean? You're where right now?
- At your house.
Hill!
Here's the rules -
Here's the deal:
Look up 15 of your favorite films on IMDb and take a quote from each. List them below. When someone guesses the quote correctly, I cross it off the list.
NO CHEATING.
This is my ultra-goddamn geek list. I mean, seriously. All of this is easy and just what I thought of while sitting here. I would not call it a "list of my favorite films." But heck, it's fun.
1. There is no civility, only politics.
- Russ Marcel got this.
2. This is a snake skin jacket. It's a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom. Hill!
3. A strange man defecated on my sister. (Ok, I can't figure out how to make this strikethrough. I'm a tool. Anyone know how? I'm turning it to Red in the meantime. Well done, Matthew.
4. -Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?
- I don't listen to Hip-Hop! Hill!
5. I was not just fondling my lamb's wool sweater!
Troubador gets this one.
6. - Jack Flack always escapes!
That's right Frogeh. Cloak and Dagger.
7. - I guess I just don't fit the new corporate profile?
- Which is?
- ... Competence.
- You got it Adam.
8. - Home? I have no home! Hunted, despised. Living like an animal. The jungle is my home. But I will show the world that I can be it’s master! I shall perfect my own race of people. A race of atomic supermen which will conquier the world!Pull the string! Pull the string! Hill!
9. The only way to win is not to play. Hill!
10. Suave! Goddamn, you are one suave fucker! Hill!
11. I mean, hell, Hank, I've never even kissed a girl. You know, if me becoming rich is gonna change all that, you know I'm all for it.
Art scores with this one.
12. We are gathered here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. But it should be noted that this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world; a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one, and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human.
To Froggeh.
13. - Oh God.
- Zod! Hill!
14. Wings? I don't have wings!
- Of course not! You're a boy!
Isaac Butler got this one. Because he's a Gelfling.
15.
- We've met before, haven't we. I don't think so. Where was it you think we met?
- At your house. Don't you remember?
- No. No, I don't. Are you sure?
- Of course. As a matter of fact, I'm there right now.
- What do you mean? You're where right now?
- At your house.
Hill!
Clinton wins Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island
Well, she hasn't won the Texas Caucuses, but she won the popular vote there. Interesting to see if she still plans to sue over the caucuses in Texas now that she's declared victory.
If what I'm reading is right, the pledged delegate count is almost in exactly the same place. She's still not, in actuality, in the lead among pledged delegates. She never has been.
Onwards. Endlessly. To arguments about fuzzy math and weird triangulations.
I'm sure John McCain is thrilled.
If what I'm reading is right, the pledged delegate count is almost in exactly the same place. She's still not, in actuality, in the lead among pledged delegates. She never has been.
Onwards. Endlessly. To arguments about fuzzy math and weird triangulations.
I'm sure John McCain is thrilled.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Delegate Counter Game
This is an interesting little game. You slide the counter along to set up scenarios with pledged delegates (there's a Super-Delegate counter too) to see where the candidates wind up in different scenarios. Suffice to say, it's extremely difficult to find a realistic scenario where Clinton becomes the nominee.
In addition: Newsweek makes it perfectly clear.
So... why is Clinton still in the race... besides hubris?
In addition: Newsweek makes it perfectly clear.
So... why is Clinton still in the race... besides hubris?
A Fair Shake
Tonight are primaries in Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island. Those of us watching closely have noticed the ever shifting narrative.
Note: After Super Tuesday, it was plainly declared that Clinton had drawn with/lost to Obama overall. He was expected to have a string of victories (he had all those, by large margins) and Hillary was expected to have to come up strong...today. She was always expected to win both Texas and Ohio, but the question became numbers: it was said that if she didn't win both by more than 16 points... she would never catch up to him in pledged delegates. Suffice to say: even a victory by a few points for her in Ohio doesn't add up to victory for Hillary Clinton.
Then came the few days of bad press for Obama (Rezko being on trail; the NAFTA-Canada controversy), Saturday Night Live comes out for Clinton, and Clinton makes big waves about media bias. So what do we have now? The narrative has become about the possible scenarios that keep Hillary Clinton in the race. Including narrow victories in Texas and Ohio, or splitting the states.
Now who's complaining about the power of words versus action? If you look at all logical scenarios, the chances of Hillary Clinton winning more delegates than Obama is slim-to-none. And, of course, he's won all over the country, and she's been winning (and is expected to continue to win) traditional democratic strongholds by thin margins. The race hasn't changed, only the narrative.
So what if Hillary Clinton does force a big fumble for Obama, changes the rules to get Michigan and Florida's delegates to count, moves all the superdelegates into her camp, and wins a long, bloody race to the convention. What do we get?
Senator Clinton versus Senator McCain. Thank God. The Democratic Party wouldn't want to win. It would take away our street cred.
We shall see. Personally, I'm hoping for an end to the race tonight.
Note: After Super Tuesday, it was plainly declared that Clinton had drawn with/lost to Obama overall. He was expected to have a string of victories (he had all those, by large margins) and Hillary was expected to have to come up strong...today. She was always expected to win both Texas and Ohio, but the question became numbers: it was said that if she didn't win both by more than 16 points... she would never catch up to him in pledged delegates. Suffice to say: even a victory by a few points for her in Ohio doesn't add up to victory for Hillary Clinton.
Then came the few days of bad press for Obama (Rezko being on trail; the NAFTA-Canada controversy), Saturday Night Live comes out for Clinton, and Clinton makes big waves about media bias. So what do we have now? The narrative has become about the possible scenarios that keep Hillary Clinton in the race. Including narrow victories in Texas and Ohio, or splitting the states.
Now who's complaining about the power of words versus action? If you look at all logical scenarios, the chances of Hillary Clinton winning more delegates than Obama is slim-to-none. And, of course, he's won all over the country, and she's been winning (and is expected to continue to win) traditional democratic strongholds by thin margins. The race hasn't changed, only the narrative.
So what if Hillary Clinton does force a big fumble for Obama, changes the rules to get Michigan and Florida's delegates to count, moves all the superdelegates into her camp, and wins a long, bloody race to the convention. What do we get?
Senator Clinton versus Senator McCain. Thank God. The Democratic Party wouldn't want to win. It would take away our street cred.
We shall see. Personally, I'm hoping for an end to the race tonight.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Newly Available on Playscripts.com
Actor's Choice: Monologues for Men
Actor's Choice: Monologues for Teens
Both of these collections feature pieces from The Death of King Arthur.
Lots of great writers are represented in these books. Fantastic for auditions. Buy one. For yourself. And your school district. Today.
Actor's Choice: Monologues for Teens
Both of these collections feature pieces from The Death of King Arthur.
Lots of great writers are represented in these books. Fantastic for auditions. Buy one. For yourself. And your school district. Today.
What's Good About Theater
Slay makes a good point here, as he rounds up some discussion.
How bleak is my valley? Quite apparently. Except, of course, for those of us having a great time despite the obvious and painfully unfair circumstances. I want to see them changed. And I applaud the changes that people are trying to make. But I also think that there's lots of wonderful stuff out there going on, and we can be too quick to commit ritual love-suicide.
Anyone out there having a lovely time seeing great plays and making great plays?
Even though (see below) I didn't pee with glee over August: Osage County...it's a three and a half hour American play on Broadway that it's considered important to see. In fact, the straight play is doing rather well on Broadway as of late, no?
Encouraging I think.
What's some stuff you find encouraging lately?
How bleak is my valley? Quite apparently. Except, of course, for those of us having a great time despite the obvious and painfully unfair circumstances. I want to see them changed. And I applaud the changes that people are trying to make. But I also think that there's lots of wonderful stuff out there going on, and we can be too quick to commit ritual love-suicide.
Anyone out there having a lovely time seeing great plays and making great plays?
Even though (see below) I didn't pee with glee over August: Osage County...it's a three and a half hour American play on Broadway that it's considered important to see. In fact, the straight play is doing rather well on Broadway as of late, no?
Encouraging I think.
What's some stuff you find encouraging lately?
August: Osage County - thoughts
I finally saw August: Osage County. A few unformed thoughts:
- It's fun enough, flashy, punchy, soapy, and ultimately like watching HBO in a very big doll house. I like HBO. It's not really about anything you could put in capital letters. It's not about "The American Family" or "America" or "Addiction" or whatever. Whenever it tries to be, it sort of comes off hollow. You immediately want it to return to nastiness and laugh lines.
- Didn't dig the Indian/Native American Johnna character. Someone please tell me what she is supposed to represent in a cogent way. Clearly, I missed something. On the surface, it's an expediently dull portrayal of the housekeeper/minority: she has nothing but blank care for the far-more-fucked-up-but-three-dimensional white folks around her and, when not needed, sits upstairs dutifully reading T.S. Eliot or comes downstairs to cook great meals. I'm sure there's supposed to be some commentary on racism there, but it seemed pretty thin.
- Thought the twists were pretty mundane fare but the audience around me gasped at them. People had a blast. That's awesome to see when watching a play, especially on Broadway. The play as excellent entertainment is incredibly rare these days. I think that's what all the excitement is about: watching a play that doesn't feel like homework.
- The expectations game, in all things, is a painful one.
- It's fun enough, flashy, punchy, soapy, and ultimately like watching HBO in a very big doll house. I like HBO. It's not really about anything you could put in capital letters. It's not about "The American Family" or "America" or "Addiction" or whatever. Whenever it tries to be, it sort of comes off hollow. You immediately want it to return to nastiness and laugh lines.
- Didn't dig the Indian/Native American Johnna character. Someone please tell me what she is supposed to represent in a cogent way. Clearly, I missed something. On the surface, it's an expediently dull portrayal of the housekeeper/minority: she has nothing but blank care for the far-more-fucked-up-but-three-dimensional white folks around her and, when not needed, sits upstairs dutifully reading T.S. Eliot or comes downstairs to cook great meals. I'm sure there's supposed to be some commentary on racism there, but it seemed pretty thin.
- Thought the twists were pretty mundane fare but the audience around me gasped at them. People had a blast. That's awesome to see when watching a play, especially on Broadway. The play as excellent entertainment is incredibly rare these days. I think that's what all the excitement is about: watching a play that doesn't feel like homework.
- The expectations game, in all things, is a painful one.
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