"His Feet Are Where?"

Written by Tony Adams Thursday, 03 December 2009 11:48

Opened up this months issue of American Theatre, and Jenn and I both had a Letter to the Editor catch our attention:

"His Feet Are Where?"
I found the cover photo on your Sept. '09 issue most disturbing: The man has his feet on the stats--on the theatre seats! What kind of message are you sending? What kind of audience behavior are you encouraging?

There's an implied symbiotic relationship between actor and audience, where by one performs before the other, who "attends" (and all that that word implies). Such a posture shows disrespect for that relationship and is an insult to those who cherish the theatre.

How reckless and indifferent of your editor to allow this oversight, and how arrogant of Mr. Tarell Alvin McCraney, who, as an emerging "major new voice," should have known better.

The letter is not online, but the photo in question can be found here. (Scroll down to September 2009.)

I myself have been known to put my feet up in the seats. I spend a lot of time in theatres. I'm very comfortable in them. I also believe that the notion that a modern theatre building is a sacred place is complete horseshit.  (What can happen in side the bricks is a different story.)

I think this also intersects with Rebecca's post:

So here’s my question to you: are we trying to put square pegs into round holes? The tradition of theatre is that of a sacred space–and in that space, silence is demanded. For the sake of the performers, and for the sake of fellow audience members. While I do think that it’s important to show respect for others in the audience, I wonder if we are mistaking engagement for rudeness. As a field theatres go out of their way to keep people from enjoying themselves.

I'll never forget seeing Troilus and Cresida at the National and being shushed for having the audacity to laugh with Thersites. Silence in the wake of Culture was demanded. I dunno. If the audience is talking or texting through a performance, it's not their fault a show can't keep their attention.

But what does that say when people freak out about a writer relaxing in an empty theatre by putting up his feet. That people are shushed for laughing at comedic bits. That (some) actors will stop a performance if there is the least bit of distraction while they are working. (Because no one else has distractions at their job.)

Should we trade the notion of sacredness for the sake of being a living thing? Have codified behaviorial instructions taken the place of theatre that demands attention be paid by being breathtaking? What kind of audience do you want? How does your offstage attitude intersect with what is happening onstage?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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