Evan Koehler. Why Read Plays? blog

Performance can ruin most art. Frequently, I'm disappointed by a work's interpretation (be it a novel to film adaptation or play to performance. I do not want to say that the middle party--director--always fails to achieve the work's intended representation, but I very rarely find myself more impressed with a theatre performance than the original source. I read, or heard, that nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it and, in this scenario, especially for me, I think that's relevant. When I read a play firsthand, all the information is available to me uncut. Stage direction, how the author wanted to describe people, every nuance. The physical play is what the author wanted to communicate. With a director, a new aspect is added. I love reading and understanding something for myself, because, well, that's what art is for. You. I, however, don't want to take away from how amazing a performance can be. Shakespearean performances can be almost breath-taking; the memorization, research, and preparation of the best performances are truly something to marvel at. Interpretation, in that way, is it's own art. I want to call them two arts because they largely are. In the beginning of the article, Albee says plays are literature. However obvious that is, it's important. You have to read plays before seeing them. First, it's respectful; telling someone a play you saw is horrible closely ties that performance to the play. That will discourage the person from reading the actual play, the event of which could easily impress and provide joy to the reader. Second and lastly, you're more cultured and educated for doing so. Reading first and seeing after enriches your experience; you're privy to more and the play will be a more active, enriching experience for you. I'm never impassioned about something like this, but I do tell people to read the 'original'. I keep wanting to refer to the book-film-adaption, which probably is blasphemy for play critics, but it's very analogous and where I draw my sentiment. Trying to explain to someone why a book or play is better than the movie or performance is impossible; and, in that, I think lies how special the two former are.