I'm almost 13 days into the 31 Plays in 31 Days, and I'm feeling grateful for this challenge. It has forced me to allow time for that which I know is part of my calling -- writing plays. As of yesterday, less than half way into the 31 days, there were over 400 playwrights registered. 1231 plays had been submitted! That's amazing. There's still time to register if you're interested. Go to www.31plays31days.com.
The other night, silly post-dinner conversation with friends led to the idea of "Positive Spheres" -- creating protective orbs of positivity around us so that the forces of negativity cannot enter. When I thought about this in terms of writing plays, I realized that plays usually do not exist in this kind of vacuum. In fact, dramatic literature for thousands of years has arisen out of negative spheres. Something is wrong. Something is out of balance and needs to be righted.
"Something wicked this way comes."
"... by the doom of death end woes and all."
"Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child."
It is a part of human nature that attempts, either for selfish reasons or grand humanitarian purposes (or something in between), to bring balance to that which is skewed.
States of absolute positivity do not really exist in the realm of human experience. You're having a good day. But things could always be better if... Of course, you love your mother. She's your mother. But if only she wasn't this way or that way. And if only our father were completely out of the picture, everything would be better. These are the seeds of great drama.
Drama reflects human nature. Maybe this seems like a no-brainer. But it's easy to get caught up in the theater of spectacle, of blood, gore, and sex, of obtuse ideas, and philosophical conundrums. If the reflection is marred and seems unreal, then all we have is fluff.
The other night, silly post-dinner conversation with friends led to the idea of "Positive Spheres" -- creating protective orbs of positivity around us so that the forces of negativity cannot enter. When I thought about this in terms of writing plays, I realized that plays usually do not exist in this kind of vacuum. In fact, dramatic literature for thousands of years has arisen out of negative spheres. Something is wrong. Something is out of balance and needs to be righted.
"Something wicked this way comes."
"... by the doom of death end woes and all."
"Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child."
It is a part of human nature that attempts, either for selfish reasons or grand humanitarian purposes (or something in between), to bring balance to that which is skewed.
States of absolute positivity do not really exist in the realm of human experience. You're having a good day. But things could always be better if... Of course, you love your mother. She's your mother. But if only she wasn't this way or that way. And if only our father were completely out of the picture, everything would be better. These are the seeds of great drama.
Drama reflects human nature. Maybe this seems like a no-brainer. But it's easy to get caught up in the theater of spectacle, of blood, gore, and sex, of obtuse ideas, and philosophical conundrums. If the reflection is marred and seems unreal, then all we have is fluff.