So, is the man a genius, or is he insane? And why can’t he be both?

Jack Reuler is the topic of discussion this week, after announcing that for the next three seasons, Mixed Blood Theater will not charge admission for their mainstage shows. The general reaction has ranged from “Jack’s a genius” to “Jack’s insane” to “You can do that?” The only major criticism I’ve heard thus far has been from a Star Tribune commenter (the highest of opinions, I know) who seemed to argue that people should be obligated to pay for things or else they have no worth, meaning he must also hate the MIA, City Pages, network television and pizza samples at the grocery store. That’s right, he hates the slice of pizza on the napkin given to you by a nice old lady. Now who’s insane? The real point that I think needs to be made here is – why don’t we wait and see how it goes? I’m fairly sure this wasn’t a snap decision, and after 35 years of difficult theater, I’m also fairly sure the man has some good ideas. He’s been given just about every single award you can get in the theater – I said of Jack last year, at the falsely titled “goodbye” roast for Domino Stapatola, that life time achievement awards mean you should really “stop achieving – you’ve done it – take a break.” Luckily for the Twin Cities he hasn’t, because he keeps coming up with these ideas. (Full disclosure: Jack let me use his lifetime achievement Ivey as a prop in a show last year, and let me make fun of him for it in said show. He’s a good guy, and I know I’m fawning.) So, we’ll wait. We’ll observe. We’ll see some shows for free (note to all actors – you now have NO excuse not to see a Mixed Blood show. Gone.) As Jack has even said, it probably isn’t going to lead the charge to make all theater free from here on out. Do you really expect the Guthrie to follow suit, and give the entire city free tickets to A Christmas Carol? (Do you hear that? I hear incredulous laughter, coming from down by the river. And it’s pretty damn loud, because I’m in Bemidji.) Remember, they’re still going to do the $15 online reservation thing, and you know that’ll be popular the first time a group of suburbanites get turned away at the door. But if they’re turning people away because the theater is full to capacity…? How can that not be a success, regardless of the money involved? Because someone who can do that is a genius. And also, completely insane.