Guthrie's theatre.

As you can see by the titles of the books that I am currently reading, tops on that list is Tyrone Guthrie's A New Theatre.

First, I'm enjoying the book immensely. I didn't have to get very far in to the book to realize just how little I knew about how and why the Guthrie theatre got its start.

Second, I've found Guthrie's notes about what is wrong in New York theatre of particular interest.

Guthrie bemoans the lack of imagination in the New York theatre community. He fears the death of theatre due to the over-empowerment of the various unions, and he wonders at the fact that any work can get done at all in the cramped city and with the various departments (scenic, lighting, sound, costume) scattered about island Manhattan.

I, and so many others, have said and written the exact same things.

So what does this mean? That theatre in New York is going to hell in a handbasket?

No. I think that if conditions haven't changed in the forty plus years since Tyrone Guthrie wrote about it, they aren't going to change much in the next forty plus years either. Sadly. If I've ever spoken to you about my experiences in New York, then you know that I can't figure out how anyone can possibly make money producing theatre in the Big Apple. My biggest complaint is with the unions, and I actually laughed as I read Guthrie's first chapter and his wonderment at how the unions got so strong. Hire two men to bring on one chair, in a rehearsal, which not only COULD the actors do, but DESIRED to to do. And of course there is the four hour minimum!

What has changed in the world of theatre in the past forty years is the fact that Broadway is no longer the be-all and end-all of American Theatre. It may still have the glitter and charm and it certainly sells itself as the place to see theatre, but the fact is that it is the theatres around the country which are producing the new and exciting works, along with the classics that we might not otherwise get the chance to see.

And this is due, in large part, because of Tyrone Guthrie's vision and plan. Had Guthrie and his partners not only felt the strong desire to get out of New York and then actually worked on finding a new place to produce live theatre, the theatre community would most certainly be decades behind still.

There is a lot more that can still be done, but The Guthrie Theatre is a great foundation on which to build upon.