Does Theater Still Matter?

Summary

In this insightful discussion, Tony Kushner explores the unique power of theater as a communal and live experience that cannot be replicated by digital media. He emphasizes the audience's impact on live performances and the inherent incompleteness of theater's illusions, which fosters a critical consciousness. Kushner also touches on the role of theater as a laboratory for interpreting life and the enduring nature of its forms despite technological advancements.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Theater's power lies in its inability to create a complete illusion, which invites the audience's critical engagement.
• 🌟 Live performance provides an excitement that digitally reproduced media can't replicate due to its unpredictability.
• 👥 The relationship between the audience and actors is unique in theater; the audience can influence the performance.
• 😮 Watching theater produces discomfort and anxiety because it’s not a finished product; it's transient and ever-changing.
• 🤝 Theater fosters a communal experience, as audience members team up—consciously or unconsciously—to impact the performance.
• 🎬 The limitations of theater’s illusion create a critical consciousness in the audience, enhancing their experience of reality and fiction.
• 🧠 Theater teaches that life cannot be read literally; interpretation is essential to grasp deeper truths.
• 🛠 Innovation in theater, such as using advanced technology (like pulleys or video screens), has always been part of its evolution.
• 📜 Despite technological advances, the basic form of theater—conflicting viewpoints on stage—remains consistent and recognizable.
• 🌍 Theater strips down human experience, showing essential truths free of everyday trappings, bringing audiences closer to core human nature.

Q & A

What does Tony Kushner believe is the power of theater?

Tony Kushner believes the power of theater lies in its inability to create a complete illusion, allowing the audience to simultaneously believe and disbelieve what they are seeing. This creates a unique experience that encourages critical consciousness.

How does live theater differ from film according to Kushner?

According to Kushner, live theater differs from film because the audience can directly influence the performance. In theater, the audience's presence and reactions impact the actors, whereas film performances remain unchanged regardless of viewer reactions.

Why does Kushner believe theater creates anxiety and discomfort?

Kushner believes theater creates anxiety and discomfort because the audience doesn't know what will happen during a live performance. Unlike film, where the outcome is predetermined, theater is dynamic and can change with each performance.

What does Kushner mean by saying 'theater is not finished'?

Kushner means that theater is ephemeral; once a run of a play ends, it is gone forever. Each performance is unique and cannot be exactly replicated, contributing to its impermanence.

Why does Kushner think theater is a more powerful communal experience?

Kushner believes theater is a more powerful communal experience because the audience members, even if they don’t know each other, collectively influence the performance. This shared, interactive experience creates a sense of community and connection.

How does theater's inability to fully create illusions enhance the audience's experience?

Theater's inability to fully create illusions forces the audience to engage with the performance on a deeper level. They must interpret and analyze the action, understanding both the illusion and the reality, which fosters critical thinking and awareness.

What does Kushner suggest theater teaches about life?

Kushner suggests that theater teaches the importance of interpretation in life. Just as theatergoers must interpret the performance beyond its literal elements, people must interpret life’s complexities rather than take everything at face value.

How has theater evolved technologically over time, according to Kushner?

Kushner notes that theater has always incorporated cutting-edge technology, from the use of pulleys and ropes in the 18th century to modern-day use of video screens and multimedia in performances. However, the core elements of theatrical storytelling remain intact.

What example does Kushner give of early theater that is still relevant today?

Kushner references the works of Aeschylus, one of the earliest playwrights, noting that despite the vast differences in worldviews and knowledge between then and now, the basic dramatic form and human conflicts in his plays are still recognizable and relevant.

Why does Kushner think the 'fakeness' of theater is important?

Kushner believes the 'fakeness' of theater is essential because it strips down the experience to something more fundamental. It brings audiences face to face with an essential sense of what it means to be human, unencumbered by the trappings of everyday life.