A play, after all, is a mystery. There's no narration. And as soon as there's no narration, it's open to interpretation. It must be interpreted. You don't have a choice... Each play can become many things.
Mike NicholsRead
Plays, especially great plays, yield their secrets over a long period of time. You can't read it three times and say, 'OK, I got it. I know what's happening.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Great plays reveal their complexities gradually, requiring multiple readings to fully understand.
Mike Nichols emphasizes that exceptional plays are layered with depth, and understanding them isn't instantaneous. It takes time, reflection, and multiple encounters with the text to uncover its nuances and fully grasp its meaning.
Themes
PlaysUnderstandingDepthSecretsArt
In practice
Example use cases
During a theater workshop, the instructor referenced this quote to explain the complexity of the plays being studied.
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Mike NicholsRead
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