Some years ago I was part of a 4-man show about the life of Woody Guthrie. I did spoken word selections from Woody's writings and a duo of musicians played his songs. I'd punctuate the guitar music with harmonica occasionally as well. Our 4th man was an old friend of Woody's named Ed Robbin. Ed had the distinction of being the guy who first put Woody on the radio at station KFVD in Los Angeles. A writer and activist, Ed had dabbled a bit in directing plays and drama workshops. It was with that in mind that I once invited Ed to accompany me to a play one evening in San Francisco. After the production concluded the director invited the audience to remain after and come down to the first few aisles and meet the cast and discuss the play.
Ed nodded that he's like to stay. I'm purposely leaving out the name of the play and any of the cast because that's not what matters. What matters is what Ed did and said. After taking some questions, the director introduced the actors and then asked if there were any more questions or comments. Ed raised his hand and was recognized. He slowly stood up. Here's the picture: Ed was about 75 then and had a full head of gray/silver hair. He wore a seaman's cap and his sharp features were set off by his olive skin tone. He looked like somebody.
"You're all very good," he said to the actors and the director. "But the play doesn't say anything. A play has got to say something. This play doesn't say anything."
Then he nodded to me and we exited our theater.
I tell this story because it has helped me many times in teaching a play. One of my favorite plays to teach was "Inherit the Wind," by Lee and? The play, which centers around the famous Scopes
"Monkey Trial" is loaded with meaning. Briefly, it's about change and the battle between those who believe in Creationism vs. those who argue in favor of Evolution. Aside from the obvious religious issues present, the play cleverly dredges up many other types of faith and evolution. That's where social change or even revolution come in.
At one point in the play, Henry Drummond (Clarence Darrow) is talking about the tradeoff that happens when we are in the middle of social change. He says:
"Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there is a man who sits behind a counter and says, "All right, you can have a telephone but you lose privacy and the charm of distance... you may conquer the air but the birds will lose their wonder and the clouds will smell of gasoline."
I'm reminded of this quote every time I think of the dilemma of the cell phone or the consequences we have inherited by our use and dependence of the automobile.
No wonder that living off the grid has become so popular these days.
"Inherit the Wind" is loaded with profound ideas that, if nothing else, it makes people stop and think. And then there is the origin of the title itself. What it means to inherit the wind. Actually the full quote there is:
He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
-Proverbs 11:29
Ed nodded that he's like to stay. I'm purposely leaving out the name of the play and any of the cast because that's not what matters. What matters is what Ed did and said. After taking some questions, the director introduced the actors and then asked if there were any more questions or comments. Ed raised his hand and was recognized. He slowly stood up. Here's the picture: Ed was about 75 then and had a full head of gray/silver hair. He wore a seaman's cap and his sharp features were set off by his olive skin tone. He looked like somebody.
"You're all very good," he said to the actors and the director. "But the play doesn't say anything. A play has got to say something. This play doesn't say anything."
Then he nodded to me and we exited our theater.
I tell this story because it has helped me many times in teaching a play. One of my favorite plays to teach was "Inherit the Wind," by Lee and? The play, which centers around the famous Scopes
"Monkey Trial" is loaded with meaning. Briefly, it's about change and the battle between those who believe in Creationism vs. those who argue in favor of Evolution. Aside from the obvious religious issues present, the play cleverly dredges up many other types of faith and evolution. That's where social change or even revolution come in.
At one point in the play, Henry Drummond (Clarence Darrow) is talking about the tradeoff that happens when we are in the middle of social change. He says:
"Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there is a man who sits behind a counter and says, "All right, you can have a telephone but you lose privacy and the charm of distance... you may conquer the air but the birds will lose their wonder and the clouds will smell of gasoline."
I'm reminded of this quote every time I think of the dilemma of the cell phone or the consequences we have inherited by our use and dependence of the automobile.
No wonder that living off the grid has become so popular these days.
"Inherit the Wind" is loaded with profound ideas that, if nothing else, it makes people stop and think. And then there is the origin of the title itself. What it means to inherit the wind. Actually the full quote there is:
He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
-Proverbs 11:29
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