Contemporary Love Of Classics

There’s something truly necessary for a classic musical, a Golden-Age theatre moment, to read for our contemporary eyes, ears, and minds: 

BELIEF. 

If you don’t believe, the story will never soar. Truly, this goes for all theatre, but having worked on many classics this summer, I’m seeing how important this dedication is for this specific vein of theatrics. 

“It’s just a fairytale cliche,” many say. You can’t fall in love in one day; that’s such a stupid disguise that would never fly; IT NEVER WORKS OUT THAT WAY IN THE REAL WORLD! 

And how do I respond to that?

You’re absolutely right. It’s a flippin’ musical for goodness’ sake...

How do you make these instances become significant? How, in the blink of an eye, do you separate your audience from the outside - that lingering dread and worry of getting the laundry done and hoping someone let the dog out - as to bring them into a world unlike their own? 

BELIEF. It’s a big word, I know; but this constant idea, this force, brings life and a reason for living. 

I’m not expecting that the audience will come in believing. To enter already separated from their daily grind would eliminate the very reason for musicals. It is our job as artists to communicate a pathway upon which our spectators can easily fall onto and follow forward. 

And how does that yellow-brick road appear? The artists’ BELIEF in the story they’re sharing.

You have to go there even though it may be so unbelievable to you that it sickens you. However, when you as an artist completely give yourself to the story, to the seemingly basic and platitude ideas of classic musical theatre, new ideas blossom for our contemporary souls. With this belief, the classics strip down the contemporary human condition to it’s inner oscillating dreams. Thus, when presented by contemporaries to other contemporaries, the depth and beauty of the story’s happenings are purposefully carried to and passed onto the audiences who dare to go there.

I dare you to go there. Whether you are an artist or audience member: DARE TO BELIEVE. When you do, you’ll see something beyond. I can’t tell you what you’ll see (no one really can), but I know it will be something over and above what you believe you’ll find. 

Look deeper; something is there for everyone to see.