Theatre is a game of hide-and-seek. For both the hiders and the seekers, the thrill is in the discovery. When the rules of the game are too vague or too complicated, however, the audience can lose its urge to play; the prize no longer seems quite worth the hunt.
Interpretation
Theatre involves a playful exploration, but clarity in its rules is essential for audience engagement.
In this quote, John Lahr reflects on the nature of theatre as a playful and engaging experience akin to hide-and-seek. He emphasizes that the excitement comes from the act of discovery, but if the parameters of the performance are unclear or overly complex, the audience may lose interest and feel that the effort of engagement is not worth the rewards that theatre can offer.
In practice
During a theatre workshop, I quoted Lahr to emphasize the importance of clarity in directing.
I was the first critic ever to win a Tony - for co-authoring 'Elaine Stritch at Liberty.' Criticism is a life without risk; the critic is risking his opinion, the maker is risking his life. It's a humbling thought but important for the critic to keep it in mind - a thought he can only know if he's made something himself.
Writers don't always know what they mean - that's why they write. Their work stands in for them. On the page, the reader meets the authoritative, perfected self; in life, the writer is lumbered with the uncertain, imperfect one.
I think that art has something to do with an arrest of attention in the midst of distraction.
Those moments before a poem comes, when the heightened awareness comes over you, and you realize a poem is buried there somewhere, you prepare yourself. I run around, you know, kind of skipping around the house, marvelous elation. It’s as though I could fly.
One thing about 'Star Wars' that I'm really proud of is that it expands the imagination. That's why I like the 'Star Wars' toys.
Most people do not believe in anything very much and our greatest poetry is given to us by those who do.
There is a lot of propaganda about opera singers not being able to act. That's not necessarily true and hasn't been true for a very long time. And certainly there were those instances when singers were told they need to fit into a certain size dress. Of course, women. Men? They just make the costume bigger.
Occasionally, in times of worry, I've longed to be stylish, but on second thought I say no-just let me be myself-and express rough, yet true things with rough workmanship.
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