What you are about to read will probably offend you. Especially if you are involved in theatre. Which is probably all of you.
I am currently living in a wonderful city that affords me the opportunity to take in lots of theatre all year round. I see community theatre productions, Broadway tours, classic plays produced by two of the largest repertory theatres in North America and original Canadian productions and workshops. It's pretty great. #blessed
However, I am seeing things that turn my stomach. I may have to stop going to the theatre because I am constantly BOMBARDED by my top ten theatre pet peeves. Now…none of these peeves have anything to do with content. I am fairly open minded when it comes to the actual material of a show. Nor do they have to do with performance styles or performers in general. I'm into performers making a choice and committing to that choice (even if it's not necessarily a choice I would make). But these are things that are unforgivable and I am simply unable to stay silent about them any longer.
These are The Ten Deadly Theatre Sins as mentioned in the Book of Bri (Chapter 3, verse 12).
Counting down. Here we go:
#10. When the lyrics to an opening number repeat the title of the musical ad nauseam.
However, if the title of the show is someone's name, then it is sort of okay to use it a little more often. They say "Evita," like, seven trillion times in "Requiem for Evita" but that's very different. That's fine. It's her name. Can't very well change that, can we?
#9. Hailing something as “The Toronto Premiere.”
Fuck off. That’s not a thing. If it’s not the World or (at the very, very least) Canadian premiere, then just be quiet.
#8. When a production being staged in the basement next door uses reviews from the Broadway production in their marketing.
I recently walked by a poster in downtown Toronto that proudly boasted, “The Best Off-Broadway Musical!” Oh, did I slip and wind up in Manhattan unawares? This is like me saying, “Patti LuPone was great in this!” about my high school production of Anything Goes. You’re trying to trick people and that is despicable.
#7. When a community theatre production just copies a logo/graphics/poster design from the Broadway production.
I guess this kinda goes along with #8. The only exception to this rule is The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and The Rocky Horror Show. If you’re designing a poster for one of these three shows (I hope you’re doing it for free because any idiot with Microsoft Paint can copy a white mask, cat eyes or lips from a Google image search and paste it into a poster) you are totally allowed to use the signature mask, cat eyes and lips. Otherwise don’t use what are CLEARLY Alice Ripley’s eyes on your poster of Next to Normal unless, of course, she in your production. In which case, I pose the question, if you can afford Alice Ripley, can you not afford a graphic designer?
I guess this kinda goes along with #8. The only exception to this rule is The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and The Rocky Horror Show. If you’re designing a poster for one of these three shows (I hope you’re doing it for free because any idiot with Microsoft Paint can copy a white mask, cat eyes or lips from a Google image search and paste it into a poster) you are totally allowed to use the signature mask, cat eyes and lips. Otherwise don’t use what are CLEARLY Alice Ripley’s eyes on your poster of Next to Normal unless, of course, she in your production. In which case, I pose the question, if you can afford Alice Ripley, can you not afford a graphic designer?
#6. When a musical is adapted into a film and suddenly EVERY theatre in Ontario produces it.
I am guilty of this one. My production of High School Musical broke records. It didn’t feel good. I am sorry world.
#6.5. When a musical is adapted into a film and suddenly EVERY theatre in Ontario produces it and INCLUDES THE CHANGES MADE IN THE FILM VERSION TO MAKE IT MORE LIKE THE FILM VERSION!!
Anyone see Grease in the past thirty years? If they sing “You’re the One that I Want” at the end, they are GUILTY!
#5. Like, SO MUCH choreography.
I know how this one goes. You’re a director or a producer and somehow you’ve managed to find a cast that actually dances well (not like that time you did Chicago and everyone just step-touched their way around the stage) and a choreographer that placed 35th on “So You Think You Can Dance Canada.” You’re stoked! You’re so stoked that you’ve managed to work a large dance number into EVERY song. Even “Send in the Clowns.” No, especially “Send in the Clowns.”
I am guilty of this one. My production of High School Musical broke records. It didn’t feel good. I am sorry world.
#6.5. When a musical is adapted into a film and suddenly EVERY theatre in Ontario produces it and INCLUDES THE CHANGES MADE IN THE FILM VERSION TO MAKE IT MORE LIKE THE FILM VERSION!!
Anyone see Grease in the past thirty years? If they sing “You’re the One that I Want” at the end, they are GUILTY!
#5. Like, SO MUCH choreography.
I know how this one goes. You’re a director or a producer and somehow you’ve managed to find a cast that actually dances well (not like that time you did Chicago and everyone just step-touched their way around the stage) and a choreographer that placed 35th on “So You Think You Can Dance Canada.” You’re stoked! You’re so stoked that you’ve managed to work a large dance number into EVERY song. Even “Send in the Clowns.” No, especially “Send in the Clowns.”
Please, for the love of God, show a little restraint. The main character shouldn’t be your Chorus. Your Chorus and choreography should support your leads, add visual interest to scenes and help advance your plot (when possible). It should also disappear during “Memory" or "Bring Him Home."
#4. When your set is going for ULTRA REALISM but your budget is ULTRA NON-EXISTENT.
I hate to break it to you but the audience knows that what they’re looking at is six flats with a pattern sponge painted on them. We KNOW Henry Higgins was NOT on a budget, nor was he some sort of Debbie Travis, do-it-yourselfer. We also appreciate that there is NO money in theatre, and therefore not every production can afford a Shaw-style set (where they, like, legit build a house nicer than mine on the stage), BUT there is no excuse for laziness. If you have a budget of zero you have to rely on your imagination!
#4. When your set is going for ULTRA REALISM but your budget is ULTRA NON-EXISTENT.
I hate to break it to you but the audience knows that what they’re looking at is six flats with a pattern sponge painted on them. We KNOW Henry Higgins was NOT on a budget, nor was he some sort of Debbie Travis, do-it-yourselfer. We also appreciate that there is NO money in theatre, and therefore not every production can afford a Shaw-style set (where they, like, legit build a house nicer than mine on the stage), BUT there is no excuse for laziness. If you have a budget of zero you have to rely on your imagination!
Unless you have a six-hundred-thousand dollar budget (or a very rich uncle), don't attempt to build a set like this. |
On the other hand, there is no excuse for this disaster either. |
When I think of some of the coolest sets for shows, two that come to mind are Mamma Mia! and Spring Awakening. I, to this day, have no idea what those two, white crescent things in Mamma Mia! are supposed to be. Is it half a lighthouse? Is it old ruins? NO IDEA! However, with some clever lighting and a Greek colour scheme, I know exactly where I am. They use those set pieces SO EFFECTIVELY so you don’t need to ask “WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS?”
What is this set?! Amazing. That's what. |
In Spring Awakening, the set is a brick wall and some chairs. Where are we? NO IDEA! But it works!! Think outside the box (made out of recycled flats from last year’s production of Death of a Salesman) and create something within your means that is thoughtful and creative.
#3. A drop with the show’s title on it during pre-show.
I know what the show is. I bought the ticket. I’m holding the playbill. Give me something more interesting to look at during the pre-show/overture. All this says to me is, "the set behind this drop is ugly as hell and we would like to keep it hidden from view until 'Good Morning Baltimore' is over." What’s next, opening credits?
I know what the show is. I bought the ticket. I’m holding the playbill. Give me something more interesting to look at during the pre-show/overture. All this says to me is, "the set behind this drop is ugly as hell and we would like to keep it hidden from view until 'Good Morning Baltimore' is over." What’s next, opening credits?
It’s even worse when the title is just projected onto the auditorium’s curtain. Like…seriously! You wasted precious time and effort during tech week to set up and focus a projector just to remind the audience as they enter that they are indeed about to watch The Music Man? Do you know how many times I’ve entered a theatre and as the usher is showing me to my seat I hear, “Oh, shit! The Music Man!? So, this is not Seussical!? Well, goddamn. It’s a good thing they had the title projected on the curtain to warn us.” NEVER. I’ve literally NEVER heard that phrase. I’ve also never heard, “Wow…nice projector.” NEVER.
One day, I hope I walk into a theatre and just see some red velvet curtains closed in front of the stage and upon reading my program see this note: “Instead of renting and setting up a projector for the pre-show, we’ve made a donation to Unicef.” Put that money to better use.
One day, I hope I walk into a theatre and just see some red velvet curtains closed in front of the stage and upon reading my program see this note: “Instead of renting and setting up a projector for the pre-show, we’ve made a donation to Unicef.” Put that money to better use.
When you enter the theatre to see Phantom, you get to feast your eyes on this stunning set. Then it starts and it's pretty much downhill from there. |
#2. “Realist” 2D landscapes painted on backdrops.
You’re not fooling anyone with your large, detailed painting. I KNOW I’m not in the Swiss Alps. Either build a fucking ALP out of two-by-fours and ply or try – I don’t know – a little IMAGINATION.
I’ve seen approximately six thousand productions of The Sound of Music. Some were community theatre, others regional theatre, others were filmed in front of a live studio audience and starred Carrie Underwood. Almost ALL the productions used a huge, 2D backdrop of the Swiss Alps for their opening scene. Do you know how many people gasped once the drop saying “The Sound of Music” was raised? ZERO PEOPLE. Do you know why? Cuz it’s almost underwhelmingly unimaginative and untheatrical. Save your money. The most EFFECTIVE (albeit costly) was the opening of Mirvish’s latest production with that weird, floating, hill thing. Like, what was that?! Doesn’t fucking matter. Someone with an imagination was like, “maybe let’s NOT bore the audience with a huge 2D backdrop of some OBVIOUSLY painted Alps and instead do something cool.”
Now you’re saying, “But Brian, my production’s budget is three sandwiches and the change I find under the dryers at the laundromat. How can I afford a giant robotic set piece?” You don’t have to! How were you going to pay for a three hundred square foot drop of the Alps!? Save that money and create something intelligent using your imagination!
#1. The Deadliest of Sins. “Canadian” theatre companies that only stage cookie-cutter, American musical theatre.
#1. The Deadliest of Sins. “Canadian” theatre companies that only stage cookie-cutter, American musical theatre.
This is everything that is wrong with Canadian theatre today. While these companies are giving Canadian performers an opportunity to perform (usually non-union performers, working for an honorarium or “just for the opportunity” – which is totally fine. Sometimes to do the work you want, you have to work for free) they are NOT helping to progress Canadian theatre in any way.
There is so much talent in this country. So many amazing playwrights, composers, lyricists and directors who are also looking for an opportunity to produce their work but with such expensive rental rates in Toronto’s theatres and with so few grants to go around, the option of self-producing work is nearly impossible.
I get it, it is easier to sell tickets to Oklahoma than it is to sell tickets to Red and White: A Canadian Musical Spectacular! (a musical I just made up in my head), probably because you can’t use the tag line “Winner of 60 Tony Awards!” on your poster. But I have a theory: if you stage it, they will come. We will have to start small, maybe for every three American blockbuster musicals you try to cram onto your five-by-five studio stage, produce one Canadian show. And if you’re looking for a show that has a built in tag line, “Dora Award Winner” or “Best of Toronto Fringe” can work for you as well!
Steer clear of these do-nots and you will hear a lot of these: "WOW! HOW IMAGINATIVE!" "THEY THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!" "UNLIKE ANY PRODUCTION OF BRIGADOON I'VE EVER SEEN!" "THERE WERE NO PAINTED ALPS, YET I SIMPLY KNEW I WAS THERE THOUGH SEMIOTICS!"
Merde!