The Easy Way?

Dec. 4

In The Muppet Movie, Kermit and friends are driving across the country to make it famous in Hollywood. When they encounter Gonzo, they ask where he is headed. Gonzo replies, “To Bombay to be a movie star.” Kermit and friends reply, “We’re going to Hollywood.” And Gonzo answers, “If you want to do it the easy way.”

I feel a little Gonzo-ish in the theatre world. I get involved with many projects and productions, but in places and ways that go against traditional theatre wisdom of moving closer to the big theatre centers to gain greater visibility and fame. I always seem to be traveling in the exact opposite direction.

Just this morning, the production I spearheaded and directed performed for a lovely audience of essentially middle school students who validated all of our hard work by their strong attention and reactions. One of the teachers approached me and said how touched he was by the emotional moments that occurred during the play. And by puppets, no less. There was a significant sense of triumph in those moments.

And then I thought, I am sitting in the Nazrul Kalakshetra auditorium in the middle of Agartala, Tripura in the Northeast part of India. Who the hell will ever know that accomplishment? Of course the answer that quickly popped into my head was, everyone here in the auditorium. And that, in my Gonzo little way, is exactly the point. There is almost a greater sense of accomplishment for the very reason that I am in this auditorium. Connecting with THESE audience members in this moment with THESE young artists on that stage and collaborating with these musicians and designers and assistant directors is what makes this experience engaging for me and enriching to me.

I find myself less drawn to the ‘traditional’ theatre experiences back home as I feel there is too often a sense of exclusivity. Our theatre field likes to talk of community, but I wonder about the entrance requirements for the aforementioned ‘communities.’ Many actors, directors, playwrights and etc feel ignored and required to fight hard for few opportunities. How is that about building community, I wonder? As for audiences, ticket costs winnow the community down to a slim population.

For me, gathering a community to create, produce and share theatrical experiences often seems more genuine and joyous. We come together in a common pursuit that brings us closer together. I am thrilled when we break conventions, when we organically develop performances that are reflective of and relevant for the local audiences of that particular place. Reaching out to audiences that rarely get the opportunity to experience theatre, or theatre that others feel is good for them, as opposed to reflective of them.

And best of all? Performing out IN the community. That part doesn’t happen as much for me as I wish it did, but I supremely value those experiences. Often means the shows are a bit rough and raw, as we don’t know exactly what we will encounter (babies and dogs criss-crossing the stage are, cars parking at the side of the performance space, audience sitting on EVERY side of the space), but there’s the joy, the unvarnished joy.

At heart, I believe I most value these experiences because we can easily create our own conventions as the so-called ‘traditional’ ways of doing things aren’t relevant to our journey. We can create the rules and logic that fit our needs.

It might not be the easiest way, but it’s the exciting, off-kilter Gonzo kind of way that, for me, keeps the work vibrant, unexpected and, I believe, truly communal in its purpose.