tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post8784383167310606128..comments2024-03-11T14:20:21.265-04:00Comments on Rick On Theater: Is 'Waiting For Godot' Trash?Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-39319214747696059562023-05-04T15:00:28.793-04:002023-05-04T15:00:28.793-04:00On 4 May 2023, the New York Times published the ob...On 4 May 2023, the New York Times published the obituary of playwright Robert Patrick, who died at 85 on 23 April in Los Angeles, where he had been living since the 1990s.<br /><br />The cause of the prolific dramatist's death was given by the paper as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.<br /><br />The Times characterized Patrick as "a wildly prolific playwright who rendered gay (and straight) life with caustic wit, an open heart and fizzy camp."<br /><br />In its beginning, Patrick's theater career was "intertwined with that of Caffe Cino, the West Village coffee shop that was the accidental birthplace of Off Off Broadway theater," wrote Penelope Green.<br /><br />(See my posts on the early Greenwich Village theater scene, 12 and 15 Dec. 2011, and the Caffe Cino, 11 and 14 Sept. 2018.)<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-22912171660731859432021-12-16T15:15:44.256-05:002021-12-16T15:15:44.256-05:00Tristan: I apologize for this, but I seem to have ...Tristan: I apologize for this, but I seem to have deleted your follow-up Comment before I read it. <br /><br />(There were an extraordinary number of spam comments this time and I went too fast in deleting them and accidentally caught yours as well.)<br /><br />Sorry!<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-16931794817952306032021-12-09T04:18:28.109-05:002021-12-09T04:18:28.109-05:00I'm sorry, Tristan, but I'm not sure what ...I'm sorry, Tristan, but I'm not sure what you're referring to. I appreciate that you've taken the time to respond to this post or one of the comments on it, but I guess it's been so long since I revisited all of this that I can't see where you're coming from anymore. It's been over a dozen years since this post went up--and I'm pretty old now! <br /><br />I said that I thank you for your comment. I just wish I could reply cogently.<br /><br />~Rick Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-37613204642131560032013-11-26T02:58:41.137-05:002013-11-26T02:58:41.137-05:00On 25 Nov. 2013, Ben Brantley's review of the ...On 25 Nov. 2013, Ben Brantley's review of the Broadway revival of 'Godot' appeared in the New York Times. Calling the play "arguably the most important play of the past 100 years," Brantley goes on to pronounce of the rep, which includes Pinter's 'No Man's Land' as well, "These shows allow us to appreciate the great paradox in some of the best dialogue ever written, which uses eloquence to plumb the futility of speech." <br /><br />In the same edition of the paper, Brantley also reviewed Richard Nelson's première of his fourth Apple play, 'Regular Singing.' In that notice, the reviewer commented that 'Godot' and 'Land' are "works in which even the most banal talk comes to seem like a sad, funny, futile and magnificent affirmation of existence."<br /><br />Enough said? <br /><br />Probably not.<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-8476447132076041282013-11-14T00:37:36.266-05:002013-11-14T00:37:36.266-05:00The week of Veterans Day 2013 has been a week for ...The week of Veterans Day 2013 has been a week for Beckett. With an all-star revival of 'Waiting for Godot' about to open (in rep with Harold Pinter's 'No Man’s Land') on Broadway on 24 November and an Off-Broadway staging of Beckett's 1957 radio play 'All That Fall,' which opened on 12 November, it's worth noting some of the encomiums aimed at the playwright—as if to contradict the claim that Beckett was a hack foisted on naïve audiences by critical skullduggery. <br /><br />On 12 November, the New York Times ran an article on 'Godot' about the debate over the correct pronunciation of the title figure's name in which David Itzkoff quotes New Yorker reviewer John Lahr (whose father happens to be Bert Lahr, who played the original Estragon in 'Godot' in Miami and New York in 1956) saying that Beckett is "elusive and poetic" and when it came to symbols like the name Godot, he wouldn’t "hit it on the head" in an obvious and blunt manner. Reminding us that the playwright was a Nobel Laureate (Literature, 1969), Itzkoff observes that Beckett's "work embraced ambiguity and resisted easy interpretation." Those aren't the hallmarks of a hack, I suggest.<br /><br />In the next day's paper, Charles Isherwood reviewed the revival of 'All That Fall,' writing of "the dirtiest joke of all time. I mean life itself," that "No playwright of the 20th century, and quite possible ever, has told this joke with the clarity, simplicity and richness of Beckett." If that weren't praise enough for the depth and honesty of the Irish dramatist’s writing, Isherwood also invoked Beckett's "fathomless sense of humor," the "salty" and "succinct embodiment" of which is on display in the 'All That Fall' revival.<br /><br />Of course, if you buy the conspiracy of critics and academics that made Beckett an important cultural and theatrical figure . . . .<br /><br />~Rick<br />Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-1044394806833380142012-08-30T14:40:06.463-04:002012-08-30T14:40:06.463-04:00Mr. Patrick--
Thanks again for commenting. I reg...Mr. Patrick--<br /><br />Thanks again for commenting. I regret that if my ignorance of unpublished information has made my response to your crticism of "Godot" and Beckett inaccurate, but I had only what was published to go on--and as you see, it exercised me a little. If your statements or mine needed any explanation, I think you've provided it adequately.<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-16262926158391547092012-08-29T06:16:44.424-04:002012-08-29T06:16:44.424-04:00I never got around to telling you that the article...I never got around to telling you that the article was written to promote a playwrght named Steve Nelson, now deceased, whose work I was producing and directing. When the Times contacted me asking me to write the article, I focused it on Steve (whose then-current play was an ideal vehicle for Steve Martin and Robin Williams, whom he had no way in the world to reach with it). The Times chose to remove all references to him and his work, leaving the article open to your criticisms. I was at that time quite happy with my career, which ironically enough collpased two years later. Coming across your article tonight, I can see why, with my article printed as it was, you would have your very understandable misconceptions of it and of me.Robert Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04267365445662336198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-88978760823219592172012-07-06T16:03:00.396-04:002012-07-06T16:03:00.396-04:00akmediascope:
Yes, Mr. Patrick is entitled to his...akmediascope:<br /><br />Yes, Mr. Patrick is entitled to his opinion. But I'm entitled to say he's wrong and to present my opinion. (Just as you're entitled to present yours, as you've just done.)<br /><br />I actually agree that all theater--all art--is worthy of existence, that anyone who calls her- or himself an artist should be free to express ideas and show work. That, however, doesn't mean that all art ends up being any good, or that viewers and consumers can't have opinions on it and express that opinion. This is a blog--my blog. It's not a government document or an academic treatise. It has my name on it, implying that whatever goes on this site is my opinion (leaving aside those pieces I publish with other people's names on them). I don't have the power of censorship, even if I wanted it. If a reader agrees with me, fine. If not, also fine. I don't delude myself that 'ROT' can start a groundswell of opposition or support--I'm just presenting my own thoughts.<br /><br />Elsewhere on 'ROT,' I've said--several times, actually--that I'm a First Amendment absolutist. Aside from the exception of falsely shouting "Fire" in a crowded theater, I firmly believe that we all have the right, even the duty, to say what we think. You cannot out-argue me when it comes to freedom of speech and freedom of thought. <br /><br />But the First Amendment doesn't protect people from responses to their ideas. You can say what you want--but I get to reject it and call you on it. You and I aren't indemnified against disagreement--the Patriot Act notwithstanding.<br /><br />Believe it or not, I appreciate your comments, especially the fact that you took the time to write them.<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-25964888784467622302012-07-06T15:38:06.599-04:002012-07-06T15:38:06.599-04:00Mr. Wittman:
Actually, I wrote this response to M...Mr. Wittman:<br /><br />Actually, I wrote this response to Mr. Patrick as soon as I read his column. I just decided to publish it on 'Rick On Theater' soon after I launched it, so that accounts for the passage of years. (A production of 'Godot' was being mounted when I started 'ROT' and since that play is a great favorite of mine, I devoted several early posts of my new blog to it, as you can see.)<br /><br />I'm sorry you feel the article is so long. It's actually not longer than several other posts on 'ROT,' tho'; there are even a few that I published in two or more parts. I guess I just don't have a sit-com attention span. I won't apologize for that.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting nonetheless.<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-47205157260841798532012-07-06T15:27:43.177-04:002012-07-06T15:27:43.177-04:00Mr. Scott:
I don't know what I could be jealo...Mr. Scott:<br /><br />I don't know what I could be jealous of. I'm not a playwright and never aspired to be, so Mr. Patrick and I aren't in competition for anything. His success on any level takes nothing from me. It's not a zero-sum proposition.<br /><br />I should note, tho', that prolific publication is a statistical designation and says little or nothing about quality or worthiness. If we made judgments based on success in the marketplace, Van Gogh would be a failure since he sold only one painting in his lifetime. I count him as one of the greatest artists of all time, however.<br /><br />I'm sorry that my argument has left you so distressed. (A hairshirt? Really?) I won't change my opinion, however. Not of 'Waiting for Godot' nor of Patrick's dismissal. (I'm not sure I'd disagree very strongly about 'Murder,' tho'.)<br /><br />If by my "theatrical oeuvre" you mean this blog, I welcome you to browse. If "Is 'Waiting For Godot' Trash?" is your first and, so far, only contact with 'Rick On Theater,' I think you'll find it's a varied and somewhat peripatetic site. (Not all the articles are mine, either, so there are a few other voices here.)<br /><br />Thanks for commenting, in any case.<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-16111041333137364202012-07-06T15:07:44.235-04:002012-07-06T15:07:44.235-04:00My Times article referred to above may be seen at ...My Times article referred to above may be seen at http://caffecino.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/my-beckett-article-from-the-new-york-times/<br /><br />The scene from HELLO BOB described above may be seen at <br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56emAQMdQAk<br /><br />The production of HELLO BOB in its entirety may be seen at <br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ1K8wNcNmI<br /><br />ROBERT PATRICKRobert Patrickhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Patrick_(playwright)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-33200165526221232182012-07-06T15:07:30.468-04:002012-07-06T15:07:30.468-04:00I'm not on Facebook. I don't use that sit...I'm not on Facebook. I don't use that site for anything. Too much of a Luddite, I guess.<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-4599474050114530592012-07-06T15:05:10.588-04:002012-07-06T15:05:10.588-04:00Mr. Patrick:
Thanks for (all) your comments. I...Mr. Patrick: <br /><br />Thanks for (all) your comments. I appreciate that you took the time to say something.<br /><br />I don't own a copy of "Socrates," but I have read it--tho' it was some time ago. (It was in typescript, so it may have been before publication.) I even still have my notes on the script, I believe--somewhere in my computer files.<br /><br />~RickRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164037407475532693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-81390634142388354592012-07-06T14:37:22.244-04:002012-07-06T14:37:22.244-04:00“Those working outside the canon are denied space ...“Those working outside the canon are denied space or are defused by being placed among the space junk.” I think PATRICK was right on this. Critics were viscious in that era and they had power to make or break-- they don't now. People think for themselves. The critics job is not to promote or destroy, it is to help, educate and entertain people, to be an addional source of theatre information that adds to the experience. I would never be an old school critic and I would never hire one. All theatre has its place. ALL THEATRE! That is why there WAS /IS OOB.That is why there is Regional theatre , community theatre, childrens theatre, guerilla theatre . . . I do not think you succeeded in remaining objective or impartial at all regarding Patrick's opinion of Beckett. He was speaking from his perspective at that place in time. It really made sense to say what he felt and yes he does get to "proclaim that it’s [Beckett's Godot] “meaningless muck,” its creators are “charlatans,” and its supporters “hardboiled careerists and the art they praise as “space junk.” That was his opinion and he wouldn't be him without it. You can't take that away from him with academic argument and that fact that you try is peculiar and not excellence at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-34908251117483907262012-07-06T13:16:51.868-04:002012-07-06T13:16:51.868-04:00That is about the longest blog posting I have ever...That is about the longest blog posting I have ever read, although considering you have been writing it for over eleven years since Robert's piece was published, I guess it really is quite short.Jason Wittmanhttp://mycoachjason.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-2395845544973756642012-07-06T11:23:03.912-04:002012-07-06T11:23:03.912-04:00Dear Rick,
Reading your tirade was much akin to si...Dear Rick,<br />Reading your tirade was much akin to sitting through Elliot's 'Murder in the Cathedral' on a stone bench stuffed between a chattering Didi & Gogo while wearing a cilice. Lots of pomposity and very little substance. You seem to be showing a bit of your own jealousy in your belittlement of the man Samuel French once referred to as the 'most published playwright in America.' I shall attempt to wade through your theatrical oeuvre and prove myself wrong. - TF Scott-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-34292358379940388692012-07-06T03:01:02.199-04:002012-07-06T03:01:02.199-04:00kwdwd - am I to take it, then, that you liked my p...kwdwd - am I to take it, then, that you liked my play, "Hello, Bob?" That's always good to hear. I am on facebook as ROBERT PATRICK PLAYWRIGHTRobert Patrickhttp://caffecino.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-1419014842058526192012-07-06T02:58:52.122-04:002012-07-06T02:58:52.122-04:00I don't find your full name here on your blog....I don't find your full name here on your blog. Are you on Facebook? I am, as ROBERT PATRICK PLAYWRIGHTRobert Patrickhttp://caffecino.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-49497201533483000852012-07-06T02:55:17.291-04:002012-07-06T02:55:17.291-04:00I just discovered your article. Very interesting i...I just discovered your article. Very interesting indeed. I wonder if you have a copy of my "The Trial of Socrates." Robert Patrick rbrtptrck@aol.comRobert Patrickhttp://pointlessplea.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/online-videos-scripts-of-my-plays/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641398182926491003.post-64454011806362315982009-04-24T09:03:00.000-04:002009-04-24T09:03:00.000-04:00I'm amazed that "Hello, Bob" didn't have a longer ...I'm amazed that "Hello, Bob" didn't have a longer life!<br /><br />But seriously... the examination of Patrick's article from a structural point of view seems to me to be a valuable example of how to analyze arguments, if that's the word, of his sort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com