DYLAN BOLIN

You know how I enjoy a good debate about theatre. (See the case of Fletch v Dylan Re: The Role of Theater Critics) Having read many of the responses, here is my Swiftian Modest Proposal:

As a perennial fringe player, I have to agree with Jonathon Wainwright’s and Megan Wilkerson’s assessment that the theatre community is very “clique-y.” Sure, this is by necessity; I mean there’s only so much endowment money circulating out there, right? As the economy beats down on Milwaukee’s theatre landscape, and the life-giving income pools begin to shrink, with less and less to go around, it’s natural to yearn for some sort of selection. Perhaps the appropriate conclusion is that, if the competition is becoming fiercer (and to Bryce Lord’s point, there is indeed competition, and to deny it is patently disingenuous), why not make it a production in and of itself by way of an awards ceremony. I say: Go for it!

One result from a good old knuckle and skull Theatre Donnybrook is a shake-up of the status quo. Another will be that of holding a hair dryer over the afore-mentioned, already-shrinking pool (and the further isolation of the already-shrinking, artistic gene pool). The winners will be true local theatre royalty! But, losers don’t despair; while you pull yourselves up by your artistic bootstraps and gird your theatrical loins for the next go round, you’ll have no choice but to stoke the creative fire in your own bellies. It’s win/win!

But I understand that many are squeamish at the thought of competition by way of an awards ceremony. For those who would maintain Community above Competition, I have another proposal: The formation of the Community of Milwaukee Area Theaters, or C.O.M.A.T. Membership is simple: All you need to do to be a Member Theater is agree that every Member Theater will pool their collective profits from endowments, grants, attendance, etc. into a common fund. Likewise, they will pool their common costs. Advertising the other Member Theaters and their upcoming productions within each other’s Playbills is also a rule of membership. At the end of the season, payments and profits of all Member Theaters will be calculated, and monies will be distributed evenly among the members. You won’t find a stronger community than that.

But why pretend that our “community” (quotes by Bryce) is one big, happy family? Why pretend that it’s a Jewish Kibbutz in Repertory? What’s wrong with a little competition? There’s no reason you can’t share a bottle of Merlot, and lift a glass to mutual respect afterwards. And if the proposed award in question is shallow, self-serving and poorly representative of the Milwaukee theatre community, surely it will expose itself as such quickly enough.

What’s wrong with a little entropy? I’m all for revolution, innovation and renewal! Give me visceral passion over status maintenance! What the “winners” will not give, the “losers” will take! That’s the kind of theatre I want to see!

Then again, I’m not your average theater-goer, so take it for what it’s worth.

-Dylan Bolin