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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>Gentlemen,
my congratulations. Fabulous performance.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>I'll admit
you initially had me fooled. Indeed, I was quite puzzled why two academics
would publicly humiliate themselves with public displays of intellectual
sloppiness and childish shenanigans--but in retrospect it seems so clear what
this was: a stellar performance of<EM> virtual invisible
theatre</EM>. Hats off to you both!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2><EM><U>Please see below for the awarding of points</U></EM>, but
first if I may...:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><STRONG>"What do
customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?"</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>Subscribers
to CANDRAMA who enjoyed the good doctors' performance should also
appreciate the attached excerpt--in much the same tone--from my Alexandrine
rhymed verse translation of <EM>The Misanthrope </EM>(not,
unfortunately, <EM>The Doctor in Spite of Himself</EM>, which would have
been so much more <EM>à propos</EM>!). This was first produced by Third
Wall Theatre Company in Ottawa in 2004, to popular and critical acclaim.
The translation itself was highly lauded (if I do say so myself) and
ever since, people have been pestering me to seek further productions and
publication. Many feel this text is particularly suited to
University/College/Conservatory/even High School staging, based on it's
fresh, accessible, irreverent tone (though also owing to cast size and
familiarity of the original text). So it may
prove of particular interest to many CANDRAMA subscribers.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>My intention
with this translation was to introduce contemporary vocabulary, speech patterns,
cultural references and æsthetics while retaining line-by-line faithfulness
to Molière's original in terms of story and structure, to create a new work that
would be as appealing to 21st century Canadian (and more broadly
English-speaking) audiences as the original was to its audience. I
believed that Alexandrine rhyme was an important tool to recreate the pleasure
of the original piece (one almost universally abandoned by other translators)
but that other forms of "exactitude" of translation would result in a distance
between text and audience that isn't desirable and is profoundly
<EM>un</EM>faithful to the spirit of the original. In other words, I
sought to create <EM>not</EM> a museum piece but instead a
faithful <EM>revival</EM> of the work in a very different set of cultural
circumstances (with a change of tone a necessary part of that cultural
adaptation). I leave others to judge both the pertinence of this goal and
my success at it (to which purpose the attached excerpt is quite
insufficient--email me to request a copy of the full text), but reactions
I've heard are fairly unanimously affirmative on both
points.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2>Unfortunately, as a director and actor I've been too preoccupied
with more immediate projects and more familiar undertakings to do any
follow up with this text to date. I lack any experience with seeking
publication or even production opportunities outside of my familiar enclave of
emerging Ottawa pro and semi-pro theatres, and this has fed my
procrastination. As a result, my <EM>Misanthrope</EM> has been languishing
in obscurity for two years, but I (and many others!) believe it to merit much
more than a single production. I would very much appreciate not only
direct expressions of interest (whether to produce, publish or otherwise revisit
the work), but any advice any of you may have as to how best to pursue further
life for this text in any guise. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>I'm also
keenly interested to produce more English Alexandrine rhymed verse adaptations
of Molière and others. Perhaps other subscribers would themselves be
interested in commissioning a similar transadaptation, or know of others who
might be? If so, I would be very keen to hear from
you.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>Heck, I'd be
pleased to hear others are interested by this little preoccupation of mine,
<EM>regardless</EM> of whether you have ideas for any possible further life
for it or not! So p</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2>lease send comments and questions to me at <A
href="mailto:david@ncf.ca">david@ncf.ca</A>.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>Thanks in
advance, and once again kudos to Drs. Kirkley and Egervari on a highly
entertaining performance!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><STRONG>Now, as promised,
to award points and declare a winner!</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006></SPAN><SPAN
class=218301517-01122006><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>-
Initially, I found it odd but nothing more that Dr. Kirkley would sabotage
his case with what I know recognize as a tongue-in-cheek <EM>éloge</EM> to
the "beer and popcorn" election <EM>débâcle</EM>. "M<FONT size=2>yriads of
individuals making very poor consumer choices" sounds wryly pseudo-academic but
isn't nearly as funny as the original, and lacks clarity to its
reference. A</FONT> direct quote would have served better. No
points.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>- I
started to clue in that something must be up with Dr. Egervari's response.
While I was left cold by Dr. Egervari's fallaciously unfair, straw man critique
of Dr. Kirkley's position, and unconvinced by his passive-aggressive use
of retroactively-rhetorical questions to make his point, I
<EM>was</EM> highly entertained by his overall choice to make his offering
in the form of a pastiche of classic 1990's flame wars ("Oops! Did I click
'Reply <EM>ALL'</EM> by mistake? How embarrassing for
<EM>you</EM>!"). 5 points.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>- I
still hadn't <EM>quite</EM> worked out the joke by Dr. Kirkley's follow-up
(everything's so much more obvious in hindsight). Of this I will
simply say: immediately following "But that's a red herring. And you
know it," with "Respectfully," -- <EM>that's</EM> comedy <EM>GOLD</EM>. 10
points.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>- I
<EM>finally</EM> realized the whole thing was an amusement on reading Dr.
Egervari's conclusion, which sent me googling to confirm that yes, it was
indeed World Invisible Theatre Day. As for the score, Dr. Egervari
declaring a debate closed and in the same breath continuing the debate?
That joke's a bit tired,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2> so only 5 points.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>So, with
scores tied at 10, I congratulate the two winners and thank and applaud both of
you for bringing a smile to my day. And for reminding us in this ironic,
buffonesque way that shared concern for the arts requires us to overcome
personal bias masquerading as informed opinion. And also of how
academic debate is often merely dressed-up children's squabbles.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>Sincerely,
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>David
Whiteley</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT size=2>Artistic
Director, <EM>mutatis mutandis</EM></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=218301517-01122006><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT
size=2></FONT><EM><FONT size=2></FONT></EM><EM><FONT
size=2></FONT></EM><EM><FONT size=2></FONT></EM><EM><FONT
size=2></FONT></EM><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> Canadian Theatre Reserach
[mailto:CANDRAMA@LISTSERV.UNB.CA] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Tibor
Egervari<BR><B>Sent:</B> November 30, 2006 6:45 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
CANDRAMA@LISTSERV.UNB.CA<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Responding to the Honourable Jim
Flaherty, Minister of Finance<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Dear Bruce,<BR><BR>
<P class=MsoNormal>Many thanks for your answers. They show clearly, and you
state it at the beginning, that we see things differently. Indeed, the only
intent of my questions was to register my dissenting opinion. Therefore, I see
no reason to pursue a debate that could go on forever. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>However, allow me one last remark concerning the original
purpose of subsidies. You should check Canada Council's original mandate (1957)
that has never been changed. You would pay particular attention to the order of
tasks that has been assigned to the organization. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><O:P> Kind regards, <BR></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><O:P>Tibor<BR></O:P></P><BR>Bruce Kirkley wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid456ED95B.985E.00C6.0@ucfv.ca type="cite"><PRE wrap="">Dear Tibor:
Clearly we see things differently. But to answer your questions:
1) Why do you think that spending money earned by your fellow
citizens is better employed according to your choices rather than to
their own?
Not MY choices, but rather collaboratively and consensually determined
national objectives.
2) Have you thought that those citizens might spend those extra
dollars to go to the theatre that became more and more expensive in
spite of subsidies? (Remember, the original purpose of subsidies was to
allow for more, less wealthy people to attend. Nowadays, a normal
ticket
price in any legitimate theatre in the country is almost a day's salary
at minimum wage.)
I doubt the vast majority of Canadians will be spending their extra
dollars at the theatre. They'll be needing them to pay for increased
user fees and privatized health care. And I disagree completely that the
original purpose of subsidies was simply to allow for less wealthy
people to attend. Their primary purpose was (and is) to nurture and
develop creativity and culture in this country.
3) Has it occurred to you that today's children will become
tomorrow's "individuals making very poor consumer choices"?
Um - yes. Which seems to me to be a powerful reason for setting
directions that will enable them to make wise consumer choices (such as,
for example, supporting the growth of a nation).
4) Finally, don't you think that the vast majority of parents do
care for their children and are quite capable of making responsible
choices regarding their future?
Yes, of course they do. But that's a red herring. And you know it.
Respectfully,
Bruce
Dr. Bruce Kirkley
Theatre Department
University College of the Fraser Valley
45635 Yale Road
Chilliwack BC V2P 6T4
(604)702-2613 office
(604)792-2615 fax
</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>