Re: RAT questions

[Audie McCall <audiemccall@yahoo.com>]

> As JJ said:  

 Since 'audience' is indeed not a
> monolith but  composed of
> individuals who are completely unpredictable, even
> to themselves, whom do
> we want in our audience.  Does it matter?  Next
> November 3rd a production
> of "Come Back Little Sheba" might have only three
> people in the audience
> one of whom will be moved to become the next Mother
> Teresa another to open
> up uzi-fire at the local McDonalds.  You'll never
> know what caused that
> particular reaction on that particular night in that
> particular person, but
> you certainly effected social change.  Whether you
> ignite the first light
> bulb or place the proverbial last straw is a
> crap-shoot.  All you can do is
> your work, as Mitchell says.

This strikes me as somewhat glib and irresponsible. 
To assume that theatre must "effect change" (a
seductive assumption, admittedly, but nevertheless
dubious) and then throw up one's hands and say it's "a
crap shoot" what kind of change you're effecting seems
disingenuous and callous.

Hypothetically now, if you're fairly certain it's a
toss up whether your audience member is going to go
out and become Mother Teresa (an abiguous hero to
many, btw), or shoot up a McDonald's, wouldn't it be
better to just to keep your mouth shut until you have
something to say that at least makes YOU a better
person/citizen/buddha.  Then, it seems to me, you've
hedged the universe's bet, by effecting change in
yourself first, scoring a point before the game's even
begun.




__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com/