Article written by Breanna Smith.
Theatre brings us together for many reasons. It allows us to tell stories, share ideas and bring together great talent. It lets us share stories we may not have heard before or may not truly understand. It can share thoughts that scare people and change people’s mindsets. There are many cases of productions being shut down because leaders of government fear the message of the play. The theatre is a powerful tool to share ideas and bring together those who possess talent. Memories are made and shared, leading to a wonderful night at the theatre.
When watching a play, it is live. For me, this makes it more realistic. All parts of the play from the lights and sounds, to curtains and the cast, must be in place with perfect timing for it to go right. When there is audience interaction it helps you to be brought into the world of the play, allowing you to join the characters on their adventures. Each time this happens, there are different people in the audience. There are always different reactions to the play, making it different each time. Each play is different and you know that it will not happen the exact way again. It makes each performance personalised and one of a kind, making it special. It makes the viewing a more memorable event. You will never see the exact thing another sees.
When seeing the same play performed by a different group, it is different once again as it is being performed by different people. This can lead to more changes as they modify who performs which character and how each character is played. By changing a character's gender, it can change a scene and the meaning behind their interactions with others on stage. By taking out a minor character, it may change how we are meant to view their character. Change can be a big impact on the audience. Changing the original play can be effective, for example: taking out references that younger viewers might not understand or focusing more on humour for a performance aimed at those who are not used to the theatre. A play will change each time due to those working on it, from lights to the main actor. This all affects those who watch it. The play is allowed to change and evolve, permitting for new ideas from old work. This is how Shakespeare is still being performed today.
As said before, when watching a play, it is live. This means a lot of time is put into making everything run smoothly. If something goes wrong on stage, they act around it and work to keep the performance going. ‘The show must go on’ is a very true statement. All the work done is to keep it going. Those on stage, backstage as well as those in the sound booth contribute to this. I have seen the leading male act disappear during the preeminent love song of a play, the audience not knowing he was meant to be there due to the cast's quick thinking. You never get the same play twice.
When you go to the theatre with someone, you share a memory of an event. Compared to seeing a film, it stands out from other memories. You take the time to dress nice, meet up and head to the event before watching the play and forming views. You'll end up talking about the play for days, whether it was a good play or not. After you speak to each other and compare thoughts on what you saw, this follows to a discussion of thoughts and comparing what has been seen, leading to creative and critical thought. It makes you smarter as you speak to others on your thoughts, and when brought up later it adds a different view to your own thoughts.
When you see a performance, you see it at face value. If errors are made, they cannot be hidden away with editing like in film. With film, ideas can be shifted from the original intent. The actors and those on set can be seen doing or saying something very different after the film footage has been edited. While many films benefit from this, theatre does not allow for it. Theatre allows for the actors to hold control and send what they wish to share and how. Their thoughts and meanings cannot be changed behind their back without their knowledge. If something on stage is changed quickly, the others on stage are aware of it immediately. Although some might be surprised, changes cannot go behind their back. If something is changed, they are aware of it.
When seeing theatre, it allows us to see ideas in a new light. When watching a play, you are watching a story through the ability of storytelling. If the play is smart, the performers are able to introduce new ideas. These could be from a story not yet told or one more widely known, but in a different form. Shake & Stir Theatre Co.’s production of Animal Farm is a good example of this. This play leads to a better understanding of the work when performed. You are able to understand hidden meanings when it is presented in a different light. The theatre performance makes it easier for digestion, especially on the topics it aims to cover. It is a good view for those who understand the topics of the books, but also helpful to students studying the book but not fully understanding it. The performance allows for ideas and thoughts to be shared between students, which eventually helps them to learn.
Theatre lets us connect, think, dream and share. When watching a play, we are able to connect to a story and join a new world. These characters in front of us are living these lives, letting us believe in the world. The more we see them live their lives, we can imagine their lives continuing after the story. At the end of films, we see all those who worked to make the world and are reminded of it with credits. Theatre does this differently. We are told via programs as we wait, and then we forget, only to be informed again if we wish to be reminded. Those who act in the play are often forgotten, their characters being remembered in later reflection. This allows for the stories and storylines to stay with us, which will likely lead to explaining and boasting about seeing the play to one another.
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