From: Susie Boffin
I think that the no drama type people hate stage plays like Shakespear and stuff. I have no idea why they want to tell us about their literary tastes though.
Shakespeare wrote his works 350, or 400 years ago (Elizabethan period) so the English spoken word was a Very different beast back then Shakespeare actually Invented several words that are Now in Common English usage (Like the word "Twilight" to describe the light at dusk just as the sun had set). So, Understanding what is said takes a Little Knowledge. English is not my First language, so i Paid Much attention to the Origins of words, and not just thier meaning, so i actually have no trouble Understanding what Shakespeare is saying. The stories themselves are Excellent the Barbs exchanged between Petruchio and Katharine in the Taming of the Shrew are SO Naughty.
Pity most people don't know what they are Missing.
So much in Defence of the Bard of Avon.
I was Building a Noh Theatre, to Give performances in the Traditional Japanese Format of short plays. The Plays, performed by Masked Players were only a Few Pages of scene, and usually degenerated into a Silly, or Ribald Joke. It was the Theatre of the Common Man and more often than Not ended up with the rogue of the piece being Chased, or Beaten with a stick. I was Also Looking at the Posibility of doing Kabuki, but again, the logistics of having the Music stymied me.
The Possibilities of a Live Theatre are Endless
-British Victorian Pantomime Theatre would be Fun, (No Pantomime does Not mean like pretending to be stuck in an Invisible Box) Panto's were Traditional stories like well known Fairy tales (Peter Pan is probably one of the most commonly done), But rewritten with Lots of topical, or contemporary Humor. Ad-Libbing was Freely encouraged, so no two performances were exactly alike. The story was usually told by a Sidekick Character, who Freely interacted with the audience, and encouraged structured audience participation.
-How about Vaudeville, from the late 19th, and Early 20th Centuries? a Multitude of acts of Comedy sketches, Acrobatics, and Music?
-Or, Vaudevilles more notorious Sister, Burlesque, where the theatre is more Raunchy, the Girls more Busomy, and there were strippers a Plenty.
-There was also the Morality Play. Usually involving the Girl, who had an aged Mother, and they owed a Mortgage, a Slimy Villain who Held the Mortgage, but was "Willing to come to an arrangement" ~Boo, Hiss~ and the Hero, who would save the day at just when All seemed Lost.
-If you want something more Highbrow, you could do Greek Classical. Also done with Masks Plays about the Old Gods, like Zeus, and Heraclese, and Thetys. "Deeds so Grand, and names so Lofty they sound like they Sh*t Marble" (Line borrowed from Amedeus).
Live Theatre would be Great. it has a Lot of Potential. If people can make SL TV shows, and do soap Operas and things, then Why not live theatre as well?
