Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Wit

Author

Message

Cravens
Player
Player

Joined: 11/03/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13

Topic: Wit
Posted: 11/03/08 at 4:08pm

Our theatre is considering doing Wit. What are the Pros and Cons of this show. I have not gotten to read the script and do not know if the full nudity at the end of the show has to be there. Anyone got any ideas. Thanks.

Tracy
www.longmonttheatre.org

IP Logged

skoehler
Lead
Lead

Joined: 5/19/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 37

Posted: 11/04/08 at 9:57am

The play is beautiful, funny and touching. Not sure how necessary the nudity is, although the message it implies of finally being free of the treatments and trappings of the world is wonderful. I am sure that there is a way to convey the feelings with taste and tact, just because she gets nude does not mean that the audience needs to see her full body, creative blocking and lighting can do wonders.

Steven Koehler
Managing Director
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
www.lafayettecivic.org

IP Logged

pdavis69
Celebrity

Joined: 3/26/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 437

Posted: 11/04/08 at 7:54pm

Be sure your audience is ready for this type of show. It failed with us.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

IP Logged

Topper
Celebrity

Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 543

Posted: 11/04/08 at 8:16pm

I'm sure our audiences couldn't handle it, either.

I suggested to our board we do a dumbed-down version titled "Half-Wit."

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

IP Logged

pdavis69
Celebrity

Joined: 3/26/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 437

Posted: 11/05/08 at 8:33am

Is that the one where they only shave half her head?

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

IP Logged

Shanahan
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 5/08/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1

Posted: 11/06/08 at 11:38am

Beautiful, tough show.

However--it's my opinion that if you're not willing to have that nude moment at the end, don't do the show. It's not as if the playwright threw that moment in there on a whim. It's a stunning, metaphorical moment that's essential to the play--it is the piece's culminating moment, the final absolute vulnerability for a woman whose life has been about not being vulnerable. Do the scene, or don't do the play.

Laughter guaranteed. Plays by John Shanahan

http://www.johnshanahan.net
Dinner for Several
One Before Forty
Bob's Date
Brushstroke
Worst Possible Time for Writer's Block
& more!

IP Logged

MLT.
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 3/28/09
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 3/29/09 at 9:45am

I realize this is an older thread, just wanted to post my two cents. i saw a community theatre production of W;T last week - it was incredible. Risky-yes. But they are a fairly established theatre group with a very supportive group of patrons. It was interesting however, hearing some of the older patrons discussion after the show. Many lives have been touched by cancer and many of them found it very difficult to sit through.

Also, you MUST have a TERRIFIC (this can not be understated) actress to pull this show off.

This particular production chose NOT to use the nudity at the end. Having never read the script, I was unaware that it was even in there until I read this thread. It was VERY clear that she was 'shedding her pain' at the end (they used a beauitful silk robe over her hospital gown that she let 'slip to the ground before walking off stage') Having said that, knowing how it should/could have ended - it would have made a much bigger impact had they chose to do the nude ending - and I am quite sad that they didn't. I liked this production of Wit - quite a bit actually- but I would have LOVED it had they done the nudity at the end. It is a risky piece to begin with - and the actress shaved her head and did an amazing performance - but it just would have been one of those shows that stay with you for a very long time - if that final risk was taken.

IP Logged

Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Author	Message
Cravens Player Joined: 11/03/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Topic: Wit Posted: 11/03/08 at 4:08pm
	Our theatre is considering doing Wit. What are the Pros and Cons of this show. I have not gotten to read the script and do not know if the full nudity at the end of the show has to be there. Anyone got any ideas. Thanks.
	Tracy www.longmonttheatre.org

	IP Logged

skoehler Lead Joined: 5/19/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 11/04/08 at 9:57am
	The play is beautiful, funny and touching. Not sure how necessary the nudity is, although the message it implies of finally being free of the treatments and trappings of the world is wonderful. I am sure that there is a way to convey the feelings with taste and tact, just because she gets nude does not mean that the audience needs to see her full body, creative blocking and lighting can do wonders.
	Steven Koehler Managing Director Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette www.lafayettecivic.org
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 11/04/08 at 7:54pm
	Be sure your audience is ready for this type of show. It failed with us.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 11/04/08 at 8:16pm
	I'm sure our audiences couldn't handle it, either. I suggested to our board we do a dumbed-down version titled "Half-Wit."
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 11/05/08 at 8:33am
	Is that the one where they only shave half her head?
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

Shanahan Walk-On Joined: 5/08/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 11/06/08 at 11:38am
	Beautiful, tough show. However--it's my opinion that if you're not willing to have that nude moment at the end, don't do the show. It's not as if the playwright threw that moment in there on a whim. It's a stunning, metaphorical moment that's essential to the play--it is the piece's culminating moment, the final absolute vulnerability for a woman whose life has been about not being vulnerable. Do the scene, or don't do the play.
	Laughter guaranteed. Plays by John Shanahan http://www.johnshanahan.net Dinner for Several One Before Forty Bob's Date Brushstroke Worst Possible Time for Writer's Block & more!
	IP Logged

MLT. Walk-On Joined: 3/28/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/29/09 at 9:45am
	I realize this is an older thread, just wanted to post my two cents. i saw a community theatre production of W;T last week - it was incredible. Risky-yes. But they are a fairly established theatre group with a very supportive group of patrons. It was interesting however, hearing some of the older patrons discussion after the show. Many lives have been touched by cancer and many of them found it very difficult to sit through. Also, you MUST have a TERRIFIC (this can not be understated) actress to pull this show off. This particular production chose NOT to use the nudity at the end. Having never read the script, I was unaware that it was even in there until I read this thread. It was VERY clear that she was 'shedding her pain' at the end (they used a beauitful silk robe over her hospital gown that she let 'slip to the ground before walking off stage') Having said that, knowing how it should/could have ended - it would have made a much bigger impact had they chose to do the nude ending - and I am quite sad that they didn't. I liked this production of Wit - quite a bit actually- but I would have LOVED it had they done the nudity at the end. It is a risky piece to begin with - and the actress shaved her head and did an amazing performance - but it just would have been one of those shows that stay with you for a very long time - if that final risk was taken.
	IP Logged

Topic: Wit( Topic Closed)