One (might even be) Too Many
In the NY Times article of May 3 entitled ‘Theater Companies Learn the Value of Flying Solo’, its author, Cara Joy David quotes Roundabout Artistic Director, Todd Haimes, as saying, “A new playwright now, no matter how talented, would never write a play for 15 people because it wouldn’t get produced. By virtue of the constrained budgets theaters have we’ve changed the style of playwriting. Arthur Miller wouldn’t write The Crucible today.”
How sad is that? I know this comes as no surprise to anyone, but to have it said so straight-forwardly makes it even sadder. We’re all well aware that money is constantly the monkey on our backs, but to assert that one of the greatest plays of the 20th century wouldn’t be written today (or certainly never produced) due exclusively to finances is depressing. I honestly believe if an adventurous playwright needed 25 people to tell the story, he’d use them. Guess we just live in a world now where all those characters would have to be double or triple cast.
Is it true? Are there no good contemporary American plays with more than 10 people in the cast?
How sad is that? I know this comes as no surprise to anyone, but to have it said so straight-forwardly makes it even sadder. We’re all well aware that money is constantly the monkey on our backs, but to assert that one of the greatest plays of the 20th century wouldn’t be written today (or certainly never produced) due exclusively to finances is depressing. I honestly believe if an adventurous playwright needed 25 people to tell the story, he’d use them. Guess we just live in a world now where all those characters would have to be double or triple cast.
Is it true? Are there no good contemporary American plays with more than 10 people in the cast?
posted by THALATTA! Theatre International at 11:40 AM
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