Fw: TIME FOR REVOLUTION? WILL THE PLAY GO ON?

[dkeith]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Plant" <rplant at chass.utoronto.ca>
To: "dkeith" <dkeith at SILK.NET>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: TIME FOR REVOLUTION? WILL THE PLAY GO ON?


> Hello:
>
> What a time we live in. Yet, we could be worse off indeed. In that
> circumstance, nonetheless we are surely compelled to act as vigorously as
> possible to combat ignorance and the various forms of oppression, subtle
> and indirect or open and brutal.
>
> My suggestion is that you contact my colleague, John Lazarus, who now
> teaches here after moving from BC. John is not only a playwright with many
> successful plays but hugely knowledgeable about the plays that might work
> in a situation such as you outline. Actually, I think John may get this
> email on Candrama. I'll mention your message to him. I have also a
> secondary motive: I note the absence of Canadian plays among those you
> list. i do not assume you do not do Canadian plays; rather, suggest that a
> Canadian play might come closest to addressing your situation.
>
> Richard Plant
>
> At 05:41 PM 2/5/2002 -0800, you wrote:
> >I am a high school drama teacher with 31 years of experience. I need your
> >help and support.
> >
> >I have never cancelled a show, and I have worked under many political
> >dicatorships , yet this year because of the recent events in B.C.
Politics
> >I am facing the withdrawal of all my voluntary extra-curricular work, aka
> >directing a play.
> >
> >Our school is well known and respected for the high quality of our work,
> >and over the last 20 years we have produced some of the greatest plays of
> >dramatic literature, from Sophocles to Shakespeare, Brecht to Miller.
> >
> >Our recent repertory included The Crucible,The Good Woman of Setzuan,
> >Aristophanes' The Birds, an original production of Frankenstein (written
> >and directed by my colleague), and my personal favorite, Our Country's
Good,
> >
> >We always try to pick plays which have a strong social or political
> >context because we enjoy teaching our students that theatre has an
> >important social function, and should challenge the audience to think.
> >
> >This year we decided to dedicate the entire year to Shakespeare, and we
> >have already mounted a production of Twelfth Night.
> >The second play, Much Ado About Nothing has been cast, the sets and
> >costumes designed, ready to go into rehearsal, and we are faced with the
> >possibility of canceling the show as a protest to the B.C Government and
> >their draconian legislation. Drama teachers are withdrawing their
> >voluntary services in many school districts.
> >
> >I have a wonderful group of talented students, and they have already
> >indicated  that if we cancel the play they are behind us 100%. They want
> >us to stand up for what we believe in. They put it in writing, and are
> >following up with some individual political protests of their own.
> >
> >After many sleepless nights I have decided that we should continue with a
> >play, maybe not Much Ado, but something a bit edgier, a play about civil
> >rights, or oppressive governments, or standing up for yourself. These are
> >the lessons I want to teach my students through theatre. I want to wake
> >them from their feeling of helplessness. Me too. This is the only way I
> >know to teach. I don't want to miss an opportunity to give the students a
> >special voice in this difficult time.I have a plan, but I am struggling
to
> >find a script.
> >
> >I welcome suggestions of scripts - ensemble works are preferred. (25-35
> >actors)I will direct it class time only (this is a Performance class, and
> >we meet outside the timetable) so I am limited to a few hours a week. Our
> >protest only covers extra-curricular, voluntary time.The production dates
> >are late April, so we have time to produce "one hell of a barn storming
> >50-75 minute, shake your bones, noisy protest." Suggestion and comments
> >please. Should I cancel, carry on with Much Ado About Nothing, or...
> >
> >Please forward your ideas.
> >
> >I thank you in advance.
> >
> >Don Keith
> >Kelowna Secondary School
> >KELOWNA B.C.