What're you talking about 10/24-11/3

News
This week brings conversations on Halloween costumes, the movie Anonymous, and bad audience behavior

This week we shared an article from the Denver Post on bad audience behavior. There were some very interesting comments shared about negative audience experiences.

Linda Sue Anderson: "texting is the new level of rudeness - but I've also seen an increase in "shy" Minnesotans being more assertive with people who are texting or talking - and with civility. that gives me hope." Jesse Villarreal: "Here at Bemidji State University ,last semester, we did A Midsummer's Night Dream and had a special Wednesday morning performance for a few High School around the area. Besides the usual texting and talking we come to expect we had a few aw...ful incidents: someone yell out "Faggots" during the last scene with Pyramus and Thisby. A few people throwing out the middle finger (especially at Puck during his final monologue) and a group of people calling our director somewhere along the lines of "Speaking of fags..." as he walked to the bathroom past them.See More. We were sent apology letters from some of the students and a teacher apologize to us the next week but I am still in awe. Felt like I was in the 1600's."

With the release of a new movie questioning Shakespeare’s legitimacy as a writer called ‘Anonymous’ there was some discussion on whether the plays would be impacted if this silly idea turned out to be true.

Sid Solomon: "Maybe.We tend to examine how a play fits into the context of its time and of the history of theater more generally. But context is hard to stage, and even harder to play. But I don't doubt people will try..." Ben Kreilkamp: "His background in a Catholic culture, on both parents' sides certainly informs our understanding of many aspects of the plays, including their politics. So while it doesn't affect the plays themselves (what could?), it does certainly affec...t our understanding of the plays. And more than the religious background it's impossible really to imagine anyone not a performer himself constructing such profound and complex reflections on that art. See More" Daniel Pinkerton: "It would mean that playwrights can write great plays even after they're dead (as DeVere was when some of WS's greatest plays were written). More importantly, it would mean that we would be looking at Shakespeare in a much more reductive light --- as a puzzle, not great (and in a few cases, not-so-great) art."

Last week we posed the question- “Are actors less likely to dress up for Halloween because it’s sort of like work?” There were a number of differing opinions.

Mo Perry: "Yes." Peter Moore: "Definitely." Stephen Houtz: "Yes." Tamara Philbrick: "Really? I think actors get into it more than others. (Then again, I used to hang with lawyers ...)" Sally Clayburn: "No way, actors take the opportunity to be even more over the top than usual. :)" Clark A. Cruikshank: "I think you can make that generalization. With many exceptions, of course." Kaira L. Miller: "No, we love our job and to get to go out and bring it with us to show the world without a box office beingi n the way and to show off our imagination!! there is definitly going to be some over-the-top action going on! definitly" Hazen B. Markoe: "I have tended not to really go in for the costuming for that very reason. I put on enough costumes throughout the year, that it seems more like a hassle than anything else." Michael David Postle: "Not really, since a lot of shows I've been in the costume ("wardrobe", PLEASE!) tends to come from my own closet. Which...you know...still has a Spider-Man outfit hanging in the back. Just in case." Heather Klein Quigley: "Depends on the year and how costume-heavy whatever show I've been working on is- some years I need to just be me, some years I go all out (and my costume this year is AWESOME)" Gus Lynch: "I don't get into it." Anissa Lubbers: "I love the excuse to dress up, be it on stage or off!" Sheila Regan: "What? You mean I have to provide my OWN costume? Where's my Equity rep?" Crystal Shoener: "I love to dress up! All the time! Any time!" Natalie Ness: "Depends. Last year I was doing a show where I played a vampire durring halloween... so I was a little over it." Laurel Sandberg-Armstrong: "If an actor has a costume that is guaranteed to make them look: sexy, clever, creative, funny, or any combination of those (especially in combination) then I think it's pretty much a given they will. Unless it's too much work and they're lazy like me." Cheryl Moore Brinkley: "Working actors are less likely to, but out-of-work actors definitley dress up -- it's the next closest thing to a gig!" Tony Wallin: "hell no i love it" Daphne Siegert: "Had my share of costumes and roles over the years. Don't feel need to do more." These quotes all came from our Facebook page Let us know what you think
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