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Re: RAT The Sassies!!!!
In a message dated 01/13/2000 5:07:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
cgr9456@garnet.acns.fsu.edu writes:
<< Notable tidbit about Ragtime - it was tweaked and tuned and shaped before
opening by focus groups and marketing surveys (ie. what did you like about
this scene, that scene, etc). Much like tv pilots. What have we come
to... >>
Actually, I know Flaherty, Ahrens and McNally and this is not true. They did
not write to audience approval. The only thing they were ever interested in
finding out was what was UNDERSTOOD -- that is, did you know who was related
to whom, etc.
If you knew anything about these people, or how prominent they are in the
battle to protect authors' rights and prerogatives at the Dramatists Guild,
you would know that what you suggest has nothing to do with the people who
wrote it. This is a silly rumor that was floated in a NY TIMES piece and was
instantly and heatedly refuted by all parties concerned.
I have my plays done at the Victory Gardens Theatre. During previews, the
theatre retrieves comment cards. The only use that is made of these is to
pinpoint where the audience might have been confused about facts. (For
instance, in previews of BLUFF, a few people thought that stepfather was a
dentist. In fact, he's a dental supplies salesman. It was important enough
to me that the audience understood what his profession was that I added a
line or two to clarify. That is hardly what I call pandering. Rather, it is
making certain that what I intend is understood.)
It is so easy to instantly assume that anything as big as RAGTIME had to have
been corrupted in the process. Just ain't so. The show that's on is the
show some people of fierce integrity intended. Which is one of the reasons
why it's so bloody good.
----------------------------------
Jeffrey Sweet
Resident Playwright, Victory Gardens Theatre
Faculty, Actors Studio at the New School
Council, the Dramatists Guild of America
http://members.aol.com/DgSWEET/index.html