I agree with many of your sentiments here. I agree that the spirit of the program is nice, but the huge number of bodies onstage doesn't yield very artistically satisfying productions (though I did enjoy Hercules more than Twelfth Night and As You Like it).
But your comment that this shouldn't be done at the Delacorte is a little troubling. Part of the whole purpose of the program is to give these community groups the opportunity to perform in this iconic venue. It's a deliberate attempt to combat the kind of elitist mindset you yourself perpetuated with that comment. Why shouldn't it be done at the Delacorte? It's not like you paid a lot of money to see it. It's not like it cheapens the reputation of the Delacorte. And since Public Works is its own dedicated program, it's not like you are being denied the chance to see professional actors perform at the Delacorte in favor of amateurs. (Well, I guess you could make a case that this did happen last year when they did Public Works Twelfth Night as their 2nd SITP production - but that was the exception to the rule) . |
