To Read or Not To Read

[hal9000]

Would you read a contemporary play you have never seen before going to the theatre?  Not a Shakespeare or reasonably unfamiliar in language or cadence that a touch of research into the work may aid your understanding, but, say, a McDonagh or a Stoppard?

[Deleted]

Depends if there was a production or not. I've read contemporary plays without seeing a production first because I liked the sound of the play but there was no production around. But if there is a production coming that I plan to see, I won't read the text first. This is mostly for practical reasons though, I usually acquire the playtext at the theatre itself (which is something of a giveaway as to where I'm most likely to see a new play).

[hal9000]

In this particular case it is prior to a touring production. As a contemporary production it is not like a Shakespeare or an Ibsen in which adaptation and presentation is an art unto itself. I just happen to have a copy of this play from my uni days (it remains unread!) and there is a devil on my should suggesting I read it...

I saw GOD OF CARNAGE and the Lincoln Center SOUTH PACIFIC on Broadway before the former had its national premiere in Australia and the latter toured the same production with a new cast. Both were a disappointments - the acting and direction in CARNAGE and the singing in the SP. Perhaps reading the play would set me up for another misery.

[Deleted]

Well now I'm intrigued, which play in particular are you looking at? I mean, I think you're right, in that Shakespeare can really benefit from familiarity before going in and that contemporary plays are more immediately accessible without any prior knowledge, but there's no reason it can't go both ways, given the right (or wrong) production.

[hal9000]

The play I am interested in not coming my way, rather, I will be in town when it is on:
www.gaietytheatre.ie/index.php/whats-on-buy-tickets/calendar/the-beauty-queen-of-leenane/630

This is on at the same time, so it's one or the other:
www.gatetheatre.ie/production/TheFather2016 -

[Deleted]

I read a good 2/3 plays a week for enjoyment. Randomly I read Beauty Queen the other day as well as The Pillowman.
Currently reading Absence of War thenRock n Roll up next

[theatreliker]

I really enjoyed The Absence of War when I read it. I saw The Homecoming last year and was wondering if I should read it before hand or not. I didn't but thought I might get more from the play if I did read it before. Thinking the same for when we see No Man's Land. If you're interested in reading plays though, there's a certain theatre blog that does a recommendation feature.

[joem]

I would only consider reading a play not known to me before watching it (if I know I am going to get the chance) if I happened to be studying it and even then probably wouldn't.

For me theatre first and foremost has to be about entertainment and plays are written to be seen in stage - there seems to me little point in taking away the element of surprise unless you have to. I would say read it after you see it.

I do read plays and have most of my life but it's a substitute for watching them. With Shakespeare, or other older dramas, you gain more understanding because basically the language is so different to ours that few people would understand 100% of it without having done a little work. Even then I always preferred to watch them first.

[hal9000]

Update: I didn't read The Beauty Queen of Leenane but upon reading the first paragraph of the synopsis on Wiki I knew it wasn't for me; furthermore when discovering the playwright was 23 when he wrote it my decision was solidified.

[mallardo]

You made a bad decision. It's a wonderful play. 

[Deleted]

The Beauty Queen of Leenane gives me shivers because I find it all too easy to read it as a possible future for myself (maybe not the later scenes so much, but certainly the everyday reality). Still, the text will always be there if you do change your mind and decide to give it a go at some point in the future. You can't miss an opportunity to read a text in the same way you can miss an opportunity to see a play after all.

[Deleted]

Yes, u have deffo missed a trick there, really good play. I read it the other week thinking I'd hate it but it was well mint! And remember Shakespere was 24 when he wrote Richard 3, age can make u spunky!