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trof

(54,256 posts) Sun Oct 27, 2013, 07:50 PM Oct 2013

Amateur theatricals. meh

Maybe I'm just jaded.
I dunno.
In the last month I've been to two amateur playhouse productions.

'Lil Abner', a musical, was the first.
It was really abominable.
Way beyond the capabilities of the director and cast.

This afternoon it was 'Night Watch', a 'thriller', I guess.
There was a delicious plot twist in the very last few minutes.
But the acting was...amateurish?

Over-the-top emoting.
Just not believable.
It was a good plot, but I was dead bored until the twist.

In the past I've been to community theater productions that were good and I enjoyed them from start to finish. I know the participants enjoy them.
But I'm through paying 18 bucks to see untalented people put on a boring production.

OK, I'm a jerk.

4 replies

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Highlight:

Amateur theatricals. meh (Original Post) trof Oct 2013 OP

Perhaps two of the worst pieces ever written cliffordu Oct 2013 #1

I do appreciate that these folks are trying to bring a little culture to coastal Alabama. trof Oct 2013 #2

The closest 'big cities' are Mobile and Pensacola. trof Oct 2013 #3

I understand, but sometimes ... Demoiselle Oct 2013 #4

cliffordu

(30,994 posts)

1. Perhaps two of the worst pieces ever written

Reply to trof (Original post)

Sun Oct 27, 2013, 08:03 PM

Oct 2013

Go to a big city and watch semi-pro versions of Cat on a hot tin roof.

Or anything else by Tennessee Williams

Or support your local Shakespeare freaks.

Go to your local community center for theater and, well, there ya go.

trof

(54,256 posts)

2. I do appreciate that these folks are trying to bring a little culture to coastal Alabama.

Reply to cliffordu (Reply #1)

Sun Oct 27, 2013, 08:08 PM

Oct 2013

And good luck with that.

I know that they enjoy doing it.
But they're just so...bad at it?

trof

(54,256 posts)

3. The closest 'big cities' are Mobile and Pensacola.

Reply to cliffordu (Reply #1)

Sun Oct 27, 2013, 08:20 PM

Oct 2013

And they possibly have good plays and players.
But they're both an hour away.
We're in the cultural (and actual) boonies.

Demoiselle

(6,787 posts)

4. I understand, but sometimes ...

Reply to trof (Original post)

Sun Oct 27, 2013, 08:32 PM

Oct 2013

I think that the energy and sheer love of it is a great gift to an audience. The best performance of "The Importance of Being Earnest" I've ever seen was done by Seniors a year ahead of me in high school. They even nailed the British accents. Of course, "Earnest" is an incredible jewel of a play and it has to be pretty terribly done to be totally unwatchable. But...they were really very good, full of energy and very well directed, and I'll never forget it.
I think the biggest problem "amateurs" have is throwing themselves into a thing wholeheartedly. They get this hesitant, afraid to look foolish thing going, and it completely destroys their conviction and their believability.

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