the nashville theatre lost and found

excellence in community theatre

Great Theatre is the illumination of truth: being stirred or inspired and understanding something about ourselves through our observation of the world that is created for us on the stage. As H.L. Mencken proposed, back at the turn of the century, "The theatre, when all is said and done, is not life in miniature, but life enormously magnified, life hideously exaggerated.”

As my readers have guessed, I do love the theatre. Especially good, quality theatre. Because I have been involved in theatre in one form or fashion for the better part of my long life, and because I know what resources could/should be at company's disposal, I always hope for a good production when I step into a theatre. While my reviews are generally positive, and my negatives are peppered with humour, I certainly don't like everything I see. Many times I have left a show wishing I could get back those two hours of my life (as well as my money!) -- and at those times I am disappointed.

We have an amazing mix of both professional and community theatre in this town. I certainly expect to walk into a professional show and be wowed, to leave feeling like I have experienced great theatre. And I have also seen community theatre done very "professionally," when great talent took the stage, and time and resources were ample and well used. However, when community theatre is not done "professionally" or even well, I have often heard "but, it is JUST community theatre – we aren't professionals." Certainly, Professional and Community Theatre are not in the same ball park in terms of money, talent, space and directors, but the divide between the two should never serve as an excuse to produce mediocre theatre. That isn't fair to anyone.

Thorton Wilder said in 1958:“We live in what is, but we find a thousand ways not to face it. Great Theatre strengthens our faculty to face it.” I will be positive in my reviews where community theatre is strong, but I won't be dishonest. When it is cluttered with sub-par resources, the “truth” in theatre that I strive to find in my reviews/posts can be hard to find. I understand that the beauty of community theatre is the opportunity it affords new actors to come in and debut a new side of themselves alongside more seasoned actors. I have seen many amazing performances from first time or slightly green actors; I have also seen the unexceptional rear its ugly head. Often the responsibility for that lies with the director.

A director's job is to mine incredible performances from both raw and seasoned talent, to pull out some hidden truth that is buried deep within the actor and then to translate that truth to the stage for an audience. If an actor is encouraged to genuinely experience his character, the audience may genuinely experience it as well. If, however, an actor does not discover his character prior to Tech Week and only finds his hidden truth after the show has closed, he is unable to show the truth to those watching, and the audience has lost the opportunity to experience what might have been a great performance. That is when acting isn't about the story anymore, but about simply putting on a show for the sake of putting on a show. I believe it was the original 'method actor' Konstantin Stanislavsky who said, "Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art."

I have no doubt that theatre companies can be brought to a level of excellence worthy of a town dripping with so much talent and passion as Nashville. I write to encourage theatre, I make no bones about that. Though I prefer to apply a light touch, I do feel I owe my fellow actor, director and patrons my honesty; but remember, my goal is not the review itself, but a mission to realize the truth we find in ourselves while sitting amoung that crowd of other human beings in that microcosm of life we call the theatre.