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Wit

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3580
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 7:24am
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Topic: Wit
Posted By: Cravens
Subject: Wit
Date 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.



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Tracy
www.longmonttheatre.org



Replies:
Posted By: skoehler
Date 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.



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


Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 11/04/08 at 7:54pm
Be sure your audience is ready for this type of show.  It failed with us.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse


Posted By: Topper
Date 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."

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


Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 11/05/08 at 8:33am
Is that the one where they only shave half her head?

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse


Posted By: Shanahan
Date 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.


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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!


Posted By: MLT.
Date 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.



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