Monday, October 12, 2009

*Do* talk back



They've been holding more and more talk-backs on Broadway. It's a post-performance way of rounding out the experience and perhaps spurring the word-of-mouth on plays that aren't playing to capacity.
But it's not as simple as just lining up chairs and parading out the cast. Note how Oleanna has brought in lawyers, activists -- relevant non-theatrical professionals, in other words. And how the LaBute play got people to text-message opinions so as to remain anonymous.
Bobo's often wanted to engage the couple in the adjoining seats in conversation -- that is, in small-group conversation. Sixty-person discussions don't usually flow well, and can lead to the five-minute-speech-that's-not-really-a-question which annoys all those who actually possess social skills.
Interplayers, to take just one example, is at least trying -- by inviting folks to meet the actors in the Gellhorn Gallery after the show. Those work well.
Phony, immediate reception lines, not so much.
Just a thought on how to generate discussion and word-of-mouth.
[photo: shanelyang.com]

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2 Comments:

At October 12, 2009 6:29 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

ARt used to have talk-backs after every Thursday show. I stayed for several and they were great! Entertaining and very informative. Is any theatre in Spokane currently doing talk-backs?

 
At October 15, 2009 10:51 AM , Blogger Bobo the Theater Ho said...

Bobo is hearing that *Doubt* at Interplayers will run 90 mins., no intermission, and then, on two Wednesdays, they'll have talkbacks after with Catholic priests in attendance.
The dates are Wed. Oct. 28 and Wed. Nov. 4; the show closes on Nov. 7

 

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