What is the function of theatre?

Philip Goh (8)

3.9 Zephaniah

8 Aug 2005

Language Arts A – Term Three Reading Assignment

Question: What is the function of theatre?

Firstly, I feel that the question is quite broad in its wording, and the answer to it is likely to change case by case. Theatre is able to transport viewers into a different world and also feed their unconscious mind subliminally rather than explicitly. Even though theatre usually contains some political elements, whether it is revolutionary or serves as propaganda, I feel that the main function of theatre is to comprehend, examine and honor human nature. However, as stated earlier, I do not believe there is a cut-and-dried answer to the question and hence, I believe that there are also many other possible functions of theatre including entertainment, story-telling and politics. In this essay I will attempt to focus on what I feel are the five most important features of theatre and how they relate to my two selected plays, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov and Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Finally, I feel that the topic question refers to the function of theatre in a community or society. This community here can refer not only to our community, but rather to any community in the world.

Theatre can be loosely defined as “the branch of the performing arts concerned with acting out stories in front of an audience using combinations of speech, gesture, music, dance, sound and spectacle”1 It can take on a wide range of forms, including narrative dialogue, opera, ballet, mime, and so on. Theatre is also a “major form of human expression, taking place in the present, but connecting us to other times and places”2 Using the elements of characterization, design, and technology, actors and actresses are able to provide insights into the human condition. Theatre contains both visual and audio elements, and is “a shared experience between audience and performers.”2 Overall, theatre is a dynamic and vibrant art form, which is constantly changing to include current affairs and new media.

A closer look at the mission statements and main objectives provided by local theatres reveals several recurring phrases that, surprisingly, have very little or nothing at all to do with the art of theatre. Several examples of these claims include the “presentation of original works”, “benefiting the community”, and “providing fresh insights into our world.” However, I have never seen a theatre company which provides their beliefs in what elements make up theatre itself, or even what makes a good show.

I believe that it is possible to derive the various functions of theatre by simply examining a number of good plays, and considering what made them great. For example, I feel that one of the reasons why I liked Waiting for Godot was due to its apparent simplicity of the plot, while simultaneously providing many layers of meaning beneath the surface. The various functions of theatre which I have derived are listed and explained below.

Firstly, most, if not all, forms of theatre provide entertainment. This function is also the only function which is widely shared by the majority of ...

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Firstly, most, if not all, forms of theatre provide entertainment. This function is also the only function which is widely shared by the majority of good shows, for without the element of entertainment, most plays would not be very fun to watch at all. Entertainment is not entirely limited to comedy, as one might be inclined to believe from the usual connotations of the word. However, entertainment in this case could be more accurately defined as being able to capture the attention of the audience. I feel that most playwriters have failed to fully entertain their audience, as they mistakenly expect the viewers to understand everything they want to convey without first properly expressing it. Conversely, all great plays have more or less fulfilled this element of theatre to a large extent, as they are able to captivate and enthrall the audience completely. I found The Cherry Orchard to be a very intriguing and interesting read, and it never ceased to entertain and capture my attention.

Next, theatre also functions to portray life outside the community or society of the audience. In this aspect, theatre is similar to books and movies, in that good plays transport the audience into another place. However, many theatres instead focus too much on trying to get the audience to relate to the characters, by making the experiences of the characters something the audience can easily identify with. This in itself is quite futile, as while the audience may never understand what it is like to be an orphan who later becomes a hero, it does not mean they cannot be entertained by the show. Just because they cannot relate to the main character does not mean that they cannot enjoy the show for what it is. This point is excellently illustrated in musicals, one of the most popular types of media presentations. Most musicals tend to take place in faraway environments, which are usually alien to the audience. The main point here is that good plays tend to show something new, and to portray life outside the viewers’ community. My point can be illustrated using both The Cherry Orchard and Waiting for Godot. The Cherry Orchard takes place in Russia, and Madame Ranevsky has suffered for five years through the deaths of her husband and young son, as well as falling into debt. Similarly, Waiting for Godot brings the audience into the lives of two tramps, and their comical wait for M. Godot. Hence, we can see that these plays bring the audience into somewhere new, to provide them with the life experiences of fictional characters outside of their community, and this is one reason why they are so great.

Thirdly, theatre should also inspire viewers by providing the audience with thought-provoking ideas and questions. The audience should be drawn into the play, to the extent of constantly asking theselves, “If I were in this situation, what would I do?” All great plays have to some extent fulfilled this condition. Instead of merely presenting a series of events, they have tried to make the audience imagine themselves on the stage instead.

Next, another function of theatre is to tell stories. This is an often-neglected side to theatre, with most directors preferring to concentrate on other less important issues, such as trying to attract big names. I am sure that most viewers would prefer to watch a play with a good plot and developed storyline over a play with famous actors and amazing special effects. Again, this point can be illustrated in Waiting for Godot. As mentioned earlier, the plot is deceptively simple, and while it can be interpreted more deeply, its apparent simplicity is due to the fine way in which Beckett has managed to tell the story.

Finally, theatre also serves to ask questions about ourselves and the society we live in. It does in some cases provide the answers to these questions, but at other times, it leaves these questions unanswered. Again, most great plays have the ability to ask questions which will leave the audience somewhat clueless, while possibly providing suggestions as to their answers, if there are any. Waiting for Godot is full of tricky questions with various social implications, and while these answers are only slightly hinted at, nothing is ever clear. No answers are spelt out, but at least the audience has been given a clue as to which direction the answers lie. Similarly, The Cherry Orchard also sought to ask questions concerning the society present in Russia at that time, regarding the modern context against the old Russia. In the same way, it asked many difficult questions without providing any concrete answers, although more clues to their answers were given when compared with Waiting for Godot.

In conclusion, I feel that theatre has numerous functions, and can be used to provide entertainment, tell stories, and ask important questions about life and society. These functions have been expounded upon in the two plays, The Cherry Orchard and Waiting for Godot.