A Few Thoughts on Rebuilding the Playwright's Role in American Culture

It’s often said that theater can never compete with film, TV, or music in terms of popular culture and bringing in younger audiences. I’d like to suggest the theater should try. It can’t hurt can it? It’s not like trying will cause even fewer people to show up opening night? Theater can and must compete in every arena of national consciousness.

There should be a playwright’s version of the Fifty State Strategy: Contest every aspect of showmanship and hype. Here are a few suggestions, in no particular order, to start moving theater – and playwrights in particular -- back to cultural prominence:

Playwright’s should build their mystique and cultivate a compelling image with outrageous fashion and style. Think about how many ass-ugly rock stars are out there. Mick Jagger, honestly, is an ugly, ugly man. Or how about Beck? You’d pass him fifty times on the street if he was just schlepping around. If these guys can look cool by drenching themselves in wild style, playwrights should be able to do the same. Take your typical dumpy author, shave his head, slap a wild kimono on him and you’ve got the Billy Corgan of playwriting. Add some blue hair or black leather, or even an assless jumpsuit, and you’ve got a look that demands attention and creates excitement. Am I asking for Neil Labute to show up to his next play wearing eyeliner and a Marilyn Manson codpiece? Well….yes.

On the female side, I know I’d be much happier if there were female playwrights who dressed like Pink or Icelandic Pop Star Bjork. Even the older crowd could pimp-out a bit. Annie Lennox is in her fifties but she still looks sexy and cool.

Bitchin' stage names should be common practice for playwrights. How great would this look on a poster: How I Learned To Drive by Ol’ Dirty Bastard? Or maybe playwrights should give themselves names as if they were a one-man-band? Can you imagine, say, Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Nine Inch Nails? Rabbit Hole by Hole?

More tragic deaths. We need that whole Elvis/Jim Morrison/Janis Joplin thing going. Start with the classic OD. Would it kill a major playwright to be found face down in a bathroom with a syringe sticking out of an arm? I’m talking to you David Mamet.

Finally, and most important: Less respect for your audience. I actually think this is the key reason theater has wilted as a factor in the modern world. Look at the disdain all the other major forms of entertainment have for masses! Key words: Human. Sheep. Give them hype! Make them feel like shit for not coming to your theater! Suzi-Lori Parks understands this. I mean, what was 365 Days/365 Plays? A brilliant bit of hype. Parks understands almost all the principals I’m talking about – she’s got a look, cool name, and knows how to market herself. Do likewise playwrights. Make a scene. Change your name. Dress like you own the world.

Matt Pelfrey is the author of PURE SHOCK VALUE, and lives in the United States of America. His play, AN IMPENDING RUPTURE OF THE BELLY, is currently burning its way across the nation at various theaters. In 1999, Mr. Pelfrey held the entire Humana Festival in his icy grip when his short play, DRIVE ANGRY, dominated their usually quaint evening of short plays. Mr. Pelfrey is the unruly and trash-talking playwright-in-residence at Furious Theater. Fan mail should be sent to Daspelf@yahoo.com

NOgoodDEED @ Pasadena Playhouse

Dig: A stage reading of my fallen hero opus NOgoodDEED will be a part of the HOTHOUSE reading series at the Pasadena Playhouse -- Check it out if you can. Furious Theatre will be coproducing the action, and, in fact, COMMISSIONED the play...it should be fun. Dates are November 11th and 12th, 8pm, in the Upstairs Theatre @ the Pasadena Playhouse.

STEPHEN KING'S STORY

Do yourself a big favor, buy Mr. King's book on audio book -- he reads it himself. Feels like you're in a class with Professor King. Great advice -- unpretentious and on the mark. DO IT.

Steve Barker's OUTPOST

If you're looking for a decent grue-fest, dig on OUTPOST -- it has all the basics: mercenaries, Eastern Europe and horrific Nazi-experiments that JUST WON'T DIE. Well directed, surprisingly good acting, a noticeably good score...I Netflixed it randomly and was well rewarded.

PUBLISH OR DIE SCREAMING

My creepy play FrEAk STOrm is now published and ready to be both purchased ($12.95 -- HELP ME OUT: buy one so they publish my next play!) and produced. Check it here:

http://www.broadwayplaypubl.com/FREAK%20STORM.htm

Seriously, buy a copy. I know it seems crass, but I don't care -- Remember: Armatures dream of art, artists dream of money. And I'm not even dreaming of the cash -- I just know to have any kind of national presence, YOU MUST GET INTO PRINT. And plus, 12.95 plus a little postage? You spend more at Starbucks in one trip.

A NOVEL RECOMMENDATION

Read A DISORDER PECULIAR TO THE COUNTRY by Ken Kalfus while hanging in NY to see my adaption of THE BASKETBALL DIARIES...Read it. Has the saddest and strangest "happy ending" I've read in a while...I won't ruin it for you...but grab it. Was a National Book Award finalist. It's about a divorce right around the time of 9/11.

What is PELFCORE?

PELFCORE (P-ELF KOR)
Adjective

A style of playwriting that values intensely visceral confrontation, hallucinatory plotting, wildly relevant metaphor, a strong and valiant stance against all things "whimsical" or "precious," and the nerve to go that wild step further than the rest. The cajones to bring the play into a cold-blooded climax that goes "too far," and yet, feels oh, so right.