Smile in the Face of Tragedy: Theatre as a Space for Childish Games

By: Lenny Borzov | Intern at Lynn Hazan & Associates

Eminent director and actor Konstantin Stanislavsky once proclaimed: “I don’t believe in you,” to his cast. For him, and other modern directors, it’s important that actors should play realistically and raw; to be as close to real life as possible, even if it’s painful. What’s sad for me is that there is almost no one in the traditional theater community who remembers this famous motto from the Moscow Art Theatre: “Higher, Lighter, Simpler, More Joyful”. I find this method more authentic to the process of creating theater than the classic Method (think of Marlon Brando in his film performances).

This motto might seem somewhat confusing. Yes, it can be implemented when you’re doing comedy. It’s when actors act out a tragedy that it seems contradictory. Logically, joyfulness never equals bleakness. What I argue is that these two emotions must coexist with each other for one reason: by working in a lighthearted environment, we actually pursue the real value of theater.

When the crew and cast are constantly serious, we lose the playfulness and the adventure of theater. It’s these elements that create authenticity for the audience. We shouldn’t trick them into believing what they see on stage is “reality”. In fact, it’s all fake and audience members can see it. Theater companies continue to fool them. STOP TREATING YOUR AUDIENCE LIKE DUMB PEOPLE! They’re much smarter than that and can enjoy the production like the cast on stage, even if it’s not “classic” Chekhov or O’Neil.

To achieve that ecstatic feeling on stage, every director should set up a cheerful and almost immature mood. That’s the importance of the smile and what encourages the cast to be creative. There’s no right or wrong in creating a stage performance, until you start to be too serious and strict. Directors are still the lead visionaries. Their remarks are vital for the cast in the room. Did you ever have a pompous teacher at your school who made you hate literature and theater? I definitely experienced those teachers firsthand. I beg you to never be like them.??????

Theatre is a limited space, yet it’s also a space filled to the brim with freedom. Let the cast act an Oedipus tragedy like students at an elementary school performance. To be quite frank, theater is a place for adults to be little ignorant kids again. So, please, don’t ruin our games!??

#smile #creative #inspiring #freedom #theatre

Leonid Borzov , Intern at Lynn Hazan & Associates

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