Mamet: Take Away The Director And What Do You Get? (imported from my Hamlet blog)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
In an essay entitled David Mamet: Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal' in this week's Village Voice Mamet has written of his switch from big government liberalism to a free-market/civil libertarian outlook. To explain, he draws on his experience--in the play rehearsal process. But if the government is not to intervene, how will we, mere human beings, work it all out?Photo: To understand BRott, is it necessary to know he was Aquaman at Great America in Gurnee?I wondered and read, and it occurred to me that I knew the answer, and here it is: We just seem to. How do I know? From experience. I referred to my own—take away the director from the staged play and what do you get? Usually a diminution of strife, a shorter rehearsal period, and a better production.
The director, generally, does not cause strife, but his or her presence impels the actors to direct (and manufacture) claims designed to appeal to Authority—that is, to set aside the original goal (staging a play for the audience) and indulge in politics, the purpose of which may be to gain status and influence outside the ostensible goal of the endeavor.
