Theatre of the Unimpressed: In Search of Vital Drama (Exploded Views)

I think the well-made play can be profound if it causes us to be more contemplative than we are inclined to be in real life. And actors emoting onstage as characters can show us deeper emotion than it is polite to show in a social situation. The author fails to realize that anything happening onstage is removed from reality and presented for our consideration. The goal of theater should be to dig deeper than surface appearances and show us what is more real than our mundane reality. In psychological terms this means unveiling the unconscious mind, showing how actions don't correspond to words, and restoring the voice of the spirit which is silent in polite society.

A very insightful book full of excellent examples drawn from a load of theater viewing, reading and conversations with smart theater artists. His argument might have benefited from some examples of work drawn further afield from theater and performance.None of the ideas advanced here are super provocative, but that's probably a good thing: he's not beating a drum to his own tune, rather trying to rally people behind an idea which seems very much in motion.

Most of what was wrong with local theatre when I was in college back in the 80's, and still is today, is covered in these essays. Playwrights attempts at the well made play were typically unconscious and seemed to resemble real life as seen on TV. The other annoying trend: taking the classics and messing them up. Typically, the "messing up" gimmick overshadowed the story conflict in the original text which is what made it a classic in the first place. Some essays interested me more than others. Overall, insightful read about the theatre scene.

This guy put down many of my own impressions and issues with theatre in our contemporary reality. It's incredibly refreshing as a practitioner to read theatrical theory that is up to speed with out times and societies. I've been highly recommending this to everyone in the field.

A thought-provoking, amusing, and articulate manifesto about why theater often sucks and how to make it not suck. Tannahill questions and re-imagines many long-standing conventions of theater, and the result is surprisingly optimistic and inspiring. Read it now!

This! Mr. Tannahill puts a voice to what I have been trying to say for years! Must read for anyone wanting to make Art (Theatre) in the 21st Century!

Spoke to the heart (and to my heart) of what is possible in theatre.

My headline says it all. Finally, we have a contemporary view to a way forward in English-speaking theatre in the tradition of the vanguards of the 60s.

To be sure, this isn't a manifesto that many should or could follow in this country. Tannahill's genius here is to present his exceptional, unlikely success story in so breezy and accessible a way that you can't help but want to integrate some of his ideas into your theatrical worldview.

Started out strong. I got excited by what he was saying and how he was challenging my way of thinking. 2nd half went of on a pile of little tangents that lessened the overall message - my 2 cents.

Extraordinary book. A must-read for anyone making a living in the theatre in Canada today.

arrived quickly and as described