The 90 Minute or Less Commitment -
Like a free ticket, the 90 minute or less show has become the new safety on the theatrical gun. If you want to play it safe - keep the show short! As flawed as a show may be - if it's less than 90 minutes, audiences excuse it to some point. PLUS it doesn't allow for an intermission. In the days of blogs, (ahem, where any asshole can post their thoughts) it prevents people from posting the ever dreaded and ever so snobby statement, "LEFT AT INTERMISSION" feedback! Therefore, the 90 min or less, intermission-less play has become the norm for playwrights and directors. It's time for a revival of Long Day's Journey Into Night on Broadway, and I can picture it running for years, if the director can just cut it to 85 minutes. So what for sacrificing the story? "The play is overwritten and YOU MUST UNDERSTAND, people don't have the attention span they used to." (Hell, TedTalksBroadway is encouraging people to bring their ipads to the theatre to help pass the time!)
So what is this post about? Storytelling. Contrary to what is taught- it's not a magic formula about moving set parts multiplied by running time - (I've worked with directors whose main concern is getting the show in at exactly 85 minutes - no intermission - at the sacrifice of the story.) Not only are you not trusting the play by doing this, you're underestimating the audience. IF you have a good story, and can tell it effectively, people WILL sit for hrs. I understand the reasoning, it mainly comes out of fear and mistaking quantity (of audience members) for quality. No one wants to put on a flop - And yes, you likely will get more asses in seats if they know it's a 90 minute investment versus a 3 hr one. While you should know your audience, as an artist, you should always be challenging them and yourself. If you take on a 3 hr play, then take it on!
STRIVE to create a unique experience- one that people cannot have without the connection to other people - talented, giving people. We all need to AIM HIGHER. Know your audience, but don't pander to the lowest common denominator. Lift them up. Raise the bar and their expectations. Give them reason to stay, and they will thank you.
1 comment:
It seems so many of the new plays I've been seeing are shorter with no intermission (no drinking before the show!). Don't theaters need to sell more concessions? In hindsight, I wonder, after reading your post, if story was sacrificed for fear of losing the audience at intermission. Have any playwrights seen success with a 90 minute version then rolled out the two act version? Thank you for posting.
Trey Birkhead
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