tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post8972568499192327450..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: Ripoff of the Year?Playgoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-19892291069010900042008-08-12T07:42:00.000-04:002008-08-12T07:42:00.000-04:00Hi Anonymous! I'm so glad my writing on Samuel Bec...Hi Anonymous! I'm so glad my writing on Samuel Beckett "inspired" you to post such an irrelevant hack spam comment!<BR/><BR/>I simply must return the compliment by going to your consumer website and posting random comments about esoteric theatre.Playgoerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-14454596852112747942008-08-11T22:30:00.000-04:002008-08-11T22:30:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-73104955573174324222008-07-18T18:30:00.000-04:002008-07-18T18:30:00.000-04:00The cultural divide has been a back bone of theatr...The cultural divide has been a back bone of theatre for as long as it has been a money making enterprise. We, and I use it in a Western Cultural Sense, have allowed wealth enormous impact on the, for lack of a better term, artistic report card of our theatre. <BR/><BR/>There is sense of exclusivity that comes from the high ticket prices, a literal sense too, but I think there is a feeling of intellectual elitism fed by those who can afford to see Beckett, for example, and not needing to make room for those who cannot fork over the dough. Theatre can be expensive and not for entry level because it's not for entry level. Circular logic, surely, but the notion of logic is there. <BR/><BR/>On your last note, a large part of me wants to fight against the categorization of <I> Grease </I> as Theatre, I mean, it is, but don't we want so much more?Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13746879865518968962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-85230246887145435802008-07-18T15:58:00.000-04:002008-07-18T15:58:00.000-04:00That's really interesting about the TDF offer, act...That's really interesting about the TDF offer, actually. Seems to me that means they indeed had trouble SELLING those orchestra seats at $90 a pop--or $270 for the package. (Remember that the 10-hour Coast of Utopia "marathon" cost only $30 more. Just saying...)<BR/><BR/>On the point of "entry-level theatre" I have only this to say.<BR/><BR/>First I think Daniel has probably captured exactly how Lincoln Center Festival thinks of this themselves. However, not that he meant to imply this necessarily, but I have problems with equating "theatre expertise" automatically with high discretionary income levels.<BR/><BR/>The truth is, there are many,many folks out there who know tons more about Beckett than LCF director Nigel Reddin himself, but could barely afford even the $50 tickets.<BR/><BR/>And yet there are plenty of other folks, shelling out 3-figures every night on Broadway for whom the current "Grease" is the most gratifying theatre they've ever seen.<BR/><BR/>What do we make of this divide?Playgoerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-70904500456160858752008-07-18T11:39:00.000-04:002008-07-18T11:39:00.000-04:00For the record -If you are a member of TDF, both E...For the record -<BR/><BR/>If you are a member of TDF, both Eh Joe and I'll Go On appeared there this week for performances on Wednesday and Thursday. That's the only way I could afford to see it (orchestra seats! $30!).<BR/><BR/>I found both, well, "interesting."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-54722308552287522042008-07-17T13:10:00.000-04:002008-07-17T13:10:00.000-04:00I'm sorry, but three actors, three hours, $150? I...I'm sorry, but three actors, three hours, $150? I'm sure that the Festival has its costs, but really, who are these shows for? I certainly can't afford that, as much as I would be interested in seeing an interesting interpretation of Beckett. I do wish the recent $100 million that was just donated to Lincoln Center went just a little towards making the Festival more accessible, in terms of price. That's what's been happening at the Metropolitan Opera, and they've been reaping the benefits (As have I...suddenly I can afford to see opera. From the highest balcony, but that's why there's opera glasses)Theater of Ideashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10124743041051665112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-66714648205460798852008-07-16T22:13:00.000-04:002008-07-16T22:13:00.000-04:00Lincoln Center: We're not for entry-level theaterg...Lincoln Center: <I>We're not for entry-level theatergoers.</I><BR/><BR/>Sounds like a great new slogan if you ask me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-14708234202214297342008-07-16T18:31:00.000-04:002008-07-16T18:31:00.000-04:00I'm seeing one of the Beckett Marathons in a coupl...I'm seeing one of the Beckett Marathons in a couple of weekends. It's expensive, yeah, but worth it I think if purely for the uniqueness of the event. How often do you see Fiennes doing a solo show, anyway? And the McGovern play has received pretty much universal acclaim- raves really as being one of THE great interpretations of Beckett. The Neeson show is a bit of shell game IMHO, but it's part of the event so I guess, what the hell.<BR/><BR/>Stuff at the Lincoln Center Festival is as a rule, expensive, and usually for a good reason. Actually, if you saw one of the DruidSynge Marathons (which I did) then you got a bargain. Producing stuff like "Die Soldaten" just doesn't come cheap. Is this all a bit elitist? Okay, maybe. But that's what high-end theatre is in this country for better or worse- LCT isn't really for the entry-level theatergoer as a rule. It's for the cultists... and the wealthy<BR/><BR/>What I think is interesting about the Gate/Beckett series is how they're splitting it all up- the "Breaks" seem too long to me, and I'm not sure why they are doing the shows individually as they don't seem like much of an evening out. Also, St. Anne’s Warehouse originally announced that THEY would be hosting the Gate/Beckett festival back last fall, so apparently somebody at LCT poached it from them.Daniel Bourquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06970474731021731429noreply@blogger.com