Random Thoughts

It’s time to put aside my vain search for the words for Why Read Plays and ramble on a stream of consciousness, whatever topics come to mind, and see what happens. These will appear as By George posts as often as I find the time.

Sharing Scripts

Now and then I check the check my Feedback file to see who’s checking in, and for the past few months I notice a lot of people downloading Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, beginning with the early ones. I can only presume there’s just one group, and all the members are requesting individual scripts from CR/I.

THIS IS NOT NECESSARY!

Any one member of a group can download the script and share it with the other readers, so long as he or she — or another member of the group — sends feedback. Feedback’s nice.

I may be wrong. Each of the nine downloaders may coincidentally decided to read these plays in their own groups, which would mean, presuming (again) 6-10 readers in a group. 54-90 people reading Pulitzer plays from the ’20’s and ’30’s.

If you’re among those reading these fine plays, I’d love to know which assumption is correct.

Pulitzer Plays

Their Testimonials bear witness to my observation yesterday that the best American plays of their time were, in the words of one, “More timely than you’d think”; from others, “It’s incredible how so little has changed in politics since the ’30s!” “It is disheartening to see that the political landscape hasn’t changed much since the early ’30s. The satire still holds up!” “Again, another play that is politically and socially relevant to our current time. ” “The play is a satire on presidential politics, and seemed eerily relevant in today’s climate. ” “Again, another play that hits current events on the head. There is even a character called Trumper”. “We were blown away that a play written almost 90 years ago was so relevant today.”

All these from different people about several different plays.

The Centennial Challenge

It summons up fond memories of 2016-17, when I challenged the country to join me in the celebration of the Pulitzer Prize Centennial by reading at least one, while I read every play that had ever won, from Why Marry? in 1917 to Hamilton. No one answered the challenge but my Cold Reads/Charlotte group, who showed up in clusters of six or eight to help me through to the end, a singalong party “in the room where it happened.” See A Cold Reads Challenge.

One of my favorite testimonials says of George S. Kaufmann musical, Of Thee I Sing:

“This play could be shown today and be relevant, including a character of questionable morals named Trumper. The problems they wrestle with regarding politics in 1933 unfortunately remain pertinent. This play provoked much thought and conversation.”

Thought and Conversation.

One of the primary features of a cold read is the opportunity for any reader to interrupt the reading with a question (or request), to share a reaction, insight or opinion, which may launch a conversation. It’s like sharing thoughts on paintings at an exhibition: the art is there, in mind, along with the discussion. The boon of immediate expression, of sharing “in the moment,” far outweighs the flow of a straight read with remarks at the end.

It’s something you can’t do when you see a play. You can’t say, “Stop, go back, rewind; I missed that” or “You know, this scene makes me realize…” Sharing reactions not only brings the play into focus; it builds a mutual vision and the collective mind of the readers, a communal understanding of a work of dramatic art. A common bond.

Not that we discourage non-stop reads, especially time is an issue and you only have one meeting. Straight-through will likely get to the end of the play, and there is an aesthetic sense of rhythmic flow that makes it great entertainment. Some plays don’t warrant much discussion; most comedies can be read straight through for fun and laughter. Others are more thought-provoking.

The hard fact is, all full-length plays take at least 90 minutes; most go past two hours. With moderate discussion, a typical read can last three hours; with Shakespeare even more. Typically, we slate at least two sessions and read and ruminate until time’s up. Those who can’t come back can see how it ends on their own.

The essence of a cold read is the company.