We went to see RENT yesterday at the Harbor Playhouse. It is so exciting to see Executive Director Joel Earley and the playhouse’s Board of Directors reaching beyond the traditional and expected productions to bring some challenging pieces to this area. This season’s showcase has challenged not only the talent pool to dig deeper and raise the production quality but has also challenged the audiences to broaden their experience of community theater.
“Taming of the Shrew” set in the 1920s stretched the audience’s expectations of how Shakespeare should be presented. Del Mar Colleges’, Carl Yowell so easily transforms these traditional pieces creating work that is accessible to so many who may be unfamiliar with classical theatre. The community’s talent pulled off “CATS” to everyone’s surprise by successfully collaborating with dance studio talent and adding a backstage chorus. That’s not to say that the stage performers could not sing. Most of them did and beautifully too. But the supporting chorus broadened the sound and was a good choice. “RENT” asked a South Texas audience to open their hearts and minds to a cast of gays, lesbians, junkies and homeless living with HIV and AIDS. This was a risk but I believe the risk was less because of the topic and more because of the depth the performers needed to have in order to pull off the demanding roles. They did a good job. “Seussical” was fun and silly and perfect for getting little ones into the seats. Bravo! And for those unfamiliar with Sondheim and his stage of quirky couples playing match-maker to their only single friend, Bobby, in “Company” there might have been some confusion. But that’s Sondheim for you and this was a solid cast who brought a great evening of theatre to our small region. “Children of a Lesser God” posed more questions than provided answers for people unfamiliar with Deaf culture and language. And on a personal note, YAY! To participate in this piece was such a thrill and I hope to write about it at another time.
Theater is that great gift where we can observe the human condition in all its forms and find various ways to respond to it. To explore how we interact as people, cultures, countries and perhaps find solutions. For me, to really experience theater is to be truly open to the gift of being thrilled, moved, maddened, enlightened, saddened, transfixed, excited, transformed, convicted, convinced, freed, captured, swayed, pushed, crushed, uplifted and on and on. I simply LOVE theatre. I appreciate all the work that’s involved with producing a piece – not just the acting but the technical vision and production too the lights, sounds and smells. And when it is done well, when it all comes together, I FEEL everything the characters feel, what they describe, what they show me and when it is done poorly I am so disappointed – well frankly, I’m mad pissed off. That’s why I’m so pleased to report that attending these Harbor Playhouse shows of late has not been a disappointment.
Note to all actors: I can be your best audience member, truly. I am happy and ready to go there with you. I’m one that wants you to do well for when you do, I’m transported too. So please study hard, dig deep, do your part and do it well. I want to be moved – move me for I simply adore the theatre. Thank you!