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RAT Conference session on "Self-Evaluating Experimental Performance"
Amy's note on ritual brings up a very important topic -- which could be a
related PhilaRAT session in addition to the ritual / magic presentations:
what sort of guidelines can you use in self-evaluating experimental work.
(Keeping the Audience awake and involved during Anarchy, Ritual and other
"Experimental" Stuff Theatrical)
There are certainly some criteria than RAT presenters / critics can come
up with, and it could be *really* valuable to share this sort of
experience -- especially with folks who think they are re-inventing the
lode stone.
Anyone interested in participating in this sort of panel? (I'd be willing
to help set up a hands-on workshop, too. I outlined a book on this in the
'80s, but got sidetracked.)
Cheers,
Cat
On Fri, 27 Apr 2001 09:17:36 EDT Ahoodwink@aol.com writes:
>
> In a message dated 4/26/01 8:19:02 PM, alfredvitale@yahoo.com
> writes:
>
> << assemble a large group of people who
> have no idea what they are about to witness (vague
> title, but lots of hype, hoax, solipsisms, the promise
> of spiritual experiences). encircle them. present the
> ritual. blast drums, spontaneously dance. have many
> rituals all at once. be proud of even the awkward
> moments...when nobody is sure what is happening and
> nothing seems to be going on at that moment...this is
> the space where the mind can bungee jump.
> >>
>
> OK - I'm sure I'm going to sound like a crusty old coot here - but
> I've been
> to "performances" like this, and I LOATHE them. Good theater is
> craft. Good
> ritual is craft, too. Neither just "happens." There's a lot of
> thought and
> planning and structure involved in taking an audience or ritual
> participants
> on a journey. Ritual isn't usually general. It's to celebrate
> something in
> particular, bring closure, take the group on a SPECIFIC
> transformational
> journey. Plays are, hopefully, also about something specific. So
> both
> events have to be laid out with care. In my experience, the more
> care one
> takes in the planning, the more the event itself is likely to be
> take on a
> larger significance than you ever dreamed of - but it doesn't happen
> by
> accident, and it isn't random.
>
> In good rituals, also, people go into vulnerable states. A
> responsible
> ritual leader must be alert and aware, not lost in "I'm a God" ego
> bullshit.
> That's when people get hurt - esp. if you're using fire, etc. (No
> domme
> worth her salt stops paying attention to her sub.) If the leader
> has worked
> well, the participant may have the feeling that the ritual was
> spontaneous,
> just as the best theater SEEMS unplanned. But come on, folks, you
> all know
> how much work goes into effective and specific - as opposed to random
> and
> vague - theater.
>
> Yours in craft,
> Amy Ludwig
>
>
>
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