What happens when one of the most respected theatre critics of our time steps on some toes? This, I suppose.
By Ali Gordon
I'm in no position to call myself any sort of expert to weigh in on this situation, but I am a young artist, and a creator, so this matter concerns me. I am highly ambitious, but admittedly green. I try to understand and feel things on a universal level (as all writers must do) but sometimes, I fall short. I'm young, and I'm trying. I'm learning every day, but can't look back on what I created in the past and choose to resent it just because I may know and feel more today than I did yesterday. I want people to love what I make, and what I have to offer. And I invite people to hate it, too. But, I suppose, my greatest fear is for someone to look at what I've done - what I've poured my whole heart and soul into for a certain amount of time - and say "Eh, what's the point of it all?" Or, more simply (and as Times reviewer Ben Brantley said) "Why bother?"
Alec Baldwin has released an article entitled "How Broadway Has Changed" in response to the review Ben Brantley gave the current production of Orphans (which Mr. Baldwin co-stars in).

The production has been trailed by drama, starting with the quitting/firing/who the hell knows of its original star, Shia LaBeouf. Then, by means of twitter, he released personal emails between himself, Mr. Baldwin, and the director, Dan Sullivan (among others). Gossip sites jumped on this juicy drama in a heartbeat, and even I kept up with all the new tidbits fastidiously (though a bit shamefully). Then, apparently, his "heartfelt apology email" was mostly plagairized??? Oy, vey. It's all too much. So firstly, the drama mostly eclipses any notice of the, well, actual PLAY-drama. Then, Brantley writes a review that is neither praising nor scathing, calling it a "dispiritingly pallid show" and saying, essentially, "why bother?" And, in Baldwin's words,
"In the case of Orphans, Brantley wrote "Why bother?" [...] If it's trash, then call it. But is it good trash or is the bar too low? Then call it. Is the piece ambitious and groundbreaking? Factor that in. But never say "why bother?"
And, as I previously stated, I'm no expert. I'm a wanna-be actress with great aspirations, and not a lot to show for it. Yet. I'm a writer, and I want to do sketch, short fiction, plays, one-person shows, musicals, short films, writing for television... you name it. And once again, I'm working on it. But I'm still green. I won't always be, but right now, I am.

So yes, when I really dig deep... what is my greatest fear as a young creator?
That someone will look at my work - at my countless sleepless nights, my palms sweaty as I sit in the back of an audience watching people see my work for the first time, my butterflies as I stand in the wings waiting to go on stage - and they'll say, "Meh." They'll say, "fine." They'll say, "I guess it was okay - but not worth the effort."
And I will also admit to admiring the hell out of Ben Brantley, so I certainly don't want to put myself in a position of claiming a loss of respect. I think he's remarkably good at his job, and there's an awful lot I agree with him on. But yes, I do have to back Alec Baldwin here. You can't say "why bother." It's hard enough for people to have to bother in the first place. We live in a culture where now we aspire to be too-cool-to-care, but artists do exactly the opposite. We constantly put ourselves on the line. We scream, we care! we care! into the void, hoping someone - anyone - will care to listen.
So please, hate it. Or love it. But at least pick up the signal.
I've never been to a show and regretted going. Sure, I may bemoan spending my hard-earned cash on seeing something I didn't enjoy, but the experience is never wasted. No matter the show, everything created is worthwhile. It adds to the education and the long-lasting canon of this very difficult, ever-changing medium of entertainment. Baldwin writes, "Brantley says we were wrong-headed to have even tried. Where would the theatre be if that was the prevalent thinking?"
And you know what?
I couldn't agree more.
(Sorry this time, Brantley.)
ALI GORDON
is an actress, writer, comedian, optimist, and waffle enthusiast. Most frequently she can be heard doing funny voices. www.ali-gordon.com
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