Play Slam 2011
Thirteen actors gathered. Five plays read. Two days. One room. We covered a myriad of plays during our Play Slam this week. Works of Shakespeare, Letts, Gwynn. Each play with merit, every writer — a voice. So how does a regional, not-for-profit theatre go about the tricky task of choosing the plays it will produce each season? There’s the “artistic” approach: the succulent, heavy, complex plays that make actors and directors salivate as they imagine the layers of poetry and dialogue to pull apart and ponder. The sort that forces viewers to look into themselves to see if they’re guilty of the same sins and, hence, damned to an equal fate as the tragic protagonist. As moving as these plays are, this sort can get rough on audiences after a while. That’s when we start to consider the “lighter” approach: bubbly plays that froth out over the stage and wash over audience members so they can’t help but laugh as hapless characters tumble through ridiculous situations in search of resolution. We laugh because we can forget our lives for a moment. We laugh because it’s not us. It’s a delicate chord to strike, picking out a season. Balancing horror and farce, tragedy with hilarity. After hearing fellow actors I respect and enjoy read plays by playwrights whom I admire, frankly, I’m glad it’s not my responsibility. I look forward to watching the coming seasons take form.
– Charlyn Swarthout, Associate Artist