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As a playwright, you are a torturer of actors and of the audience as well. You inflict things on people.
Tony Kushner
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects the complex role of a playwright in evoking strong emotions from both actors and audiences.

Tony Kushner's quote highlights the dual focus of a playwright: not only must the playwright challenge and push actors to deliver their best performances, but they must also engage the audience in a way that provokes thought and emotion. The term 'torturer' illustrates the intensity of this creative process, suggesting that art often requires an exploration of difficult themes or emotions, thereby transforming both the performers and spectators through that shared experience.

Themes

PlaywrightArtEmotionAudienceActors

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a talk about the emotional impact of theater at a drama festival.

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Gay TV has been immensely important in transforming American culture in a more gay-positive direction.
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