Peter Brook: Why and How
In modern theater today, the director is ultimately responsible for the artistic effectiveness of the production. He reviews the script and determines how he wants that play to be performed. In his hands rests the future of the play. Lighting, scenery, costumes, and cast all support and bring to life the productions, under the scrutiny of the director. Modern theater is normally the reproduction of masterpieces of different eras; Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, The Glass Menagerie, and Tartuffe are prime examples of classic theatrical productions. Peter Brooks is a modern director who likes to reproduce classic plays; using artistic license to give them new meaning. Brooks avant-garde techniques, unparelled minimalism, and his own unique directing insights make him a world renown producer. To begin with, avant-garde is a sector of the arts that draws its inspiration from the invention and application of new or unconventional techniques and is on the vanguard or cutting edge of new styles. Some of the differences of a play writer, like Peter Brooks, that use this method are as follows. There is an emphasis on nonverbal theater, reliance on improvisation by performers and directors, definite interest
in ritual and ceremony, stress on the physical environment of the theater, and stress on each individual audience member. (The Lively Art. p 167) Peter Brooks is a modern director who emphasizes his actors and actresses abilities to create a dramatic performance with actions, and expressions as well as words. "Nothing in a theater performance is more important than the people of whom it is composed." (San Francisco Chronicle, June 14, 1998 p 5) In his Production of Hamlet, which opened at the Theatre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, is a prime example of this. In this particular play, Brooks cut out about one third of the original text. Adrian Lester, Hamlet, said of Brooks, "when Peter looked at it (meaning the play), he could see what we were trying to achieve and he could feel that we achieved it. So for him the scene was dead. He would always move the goal posts so that you're always walking towards something that you can't quite get." (The New York Times, Dec. 10, 2000 p 5L) Brooks definitely requests a lot out of his actors, which is probably the main reason why his plays are compelling. The How and Why of Peter Brook. Mary Blume.
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Approximate Word count = 1665
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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