When I was directing Betty’s Summer Vacation (pictured here) by Christopher Durang, my MFA thesis production, I was in a panic in the days before opening night; we had a good show, but it was on the verge of being great. Like a coach before the big game, I sat the cast down for notes and energetically implored them all to “take the kinda out.” In Durang’s work, as in most theater, the characters are extreme—truthfully so, but extreme. As I said during that session, Mrs. Siezmagraff is not “kinda” a woman with a drinking problem, she is a full on abusive alcoholic! That’s what makes her comically wonderful and what makes her story poignant at the same time. Likewise, Keith is not “kinda” socially awkward, he decapitates people. (By this point I imagine that some of you have stopped reading and others of you now want to read this play…and I recommend that you do.)
While drinking and violence do not have a direct connection with my work, the taking the “kinda” out does. When articulating goals for myself and for the program, I strive to activate the language in order to take the “kinda” out. In an ideal world, in this process the gentle, passive goals become virile and aggressive (in the best sense of the word). The goal “to create opportunities for teachers to use theatrical teaching” becomes “to build capacity in teachers to use theatrical teaching.” As with theater, I hope that the result of taking the “kinda” out of the mix is a more satisfying experience for everyone involved. We are rarely proud of what we kinda did.
What are these Radical Rules? Read the introduction to Radical Rules.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Phil // Jan 18, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Once again David, I find ourselves on parallel tracks. At the meeting we both attended this week, I made a passing reference to my nascent “theory of masterpieces” which has to do with the idea that art can impact us in different degrees. Some works are interesting studies of a medium or a challenge. Other works combine multiple layers of investigation, pleasure, discomfort, formalistic design and culturally specific elements.
I think most working artists are constantly engaged in this dance between something that is (merely) artful and a completed art work. To work toward the completed work of art, we need to make strong choices. A weak choice results in an art work that is, well, unsatisfying.
The parallel to education? I think educators need to establish situations for their students to be able to make strong choices. Yes, this involves some risk-taking, and I think a good educator provides some training for her/his students to understand the risks and to appreciate the power of risk taking.
When students have the opportunity to take real risks, and get out of the “kinda” mind set, they might take a really big fall, it’s true. But it’s also true they might take flight in ways no one anticipated. Either way, they will have had one powerful learning experience. Nuthin “kinda” ’bout that!
2 Hawley Hussey // Jan 19, 2008 at 3:52 pm
David I think it’s interesting that our last two bits of writing include stories about personalities and in particular…alcoholic personalities. As you are taking the “kind of” out of the author’s depiction of this…I tell the tale of the most profoundly interesting person I have ever met: My Mother. Some spend their lives speaking only and expressing only negative dysfunction in their lives. Many connect on a level of negative language or what Carolyn Myss refers to as “woundology”. In my art form of choice..art education, writing and performing I re-connect with what many would see as completely alarming: A ten year old girl making the perfect martini for her bohemian mother night after night…year after year. I finish that tale with a quote from “The Redneck Way of Knowledege” the part about how regardless of the TRUTH of our familial beliefs, every one of them directs a measure of our energy into an act of creation. THAT I believe is how we live past debilitating moments in life that cripple our ability to learn, become, flourish, CREATE! I meet kids , as we all do, with horrific tales. I’m thinking about a current conversation between a Rotunda Artist Teacher and a student in her portfolio class who’s siblings and he have been bounced to THREE horrible foster care situations this year alone. NO KINDA IN THAT. I believe it is radical to help these kids transform that energy into an act of creation over self destruction. The best part of this student’s whole day is when he is painting and sitting side by side with this empathetic, inspiring Artist Teacher. NO KINDA IN THAT!!!
3 as // Jan 19, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Excellent commentary. “Kinda” is akin to “trying” to do something rather than “doing” something.
Doing something will lead to something. Trying to do something can go around in circles without much happening.
I like getting rid of the “kinda” mindset. In theatre, teaching and life.
4 Gen Berretta // Jan 20, 2008 at 8:25 am
I think we should make a new expression: “no and, ifs or kindas!” If we want to be our best in any arena there is no room for kinda or sorta and yes we have to take risks.
Leave a Response here