Essay On 21st Century Theatre

For many people, the theatre is more than a Friday night at the Fox, or an eighth grade hobby; for many, it lifts spirits, enlightens the mind, and enriches lives. The 21st century is one of technology, innovation, and politically incorrect comedy, but continues to maintain the patronage to watch a very human production, as is given in a theatre. The originality and referential humor of our time period are exemplified in The Producers by Mel Brooks.

To understand why 21st century theatre is the way that it is, one must look at its origins. Themes from all the way back to the twenties are still prevalent in today’s theatre. These include the use and proliferance of previously unorthodox dances, styles, artistry, and socialization. An example of one of these would be the swing dance, as it has greatly impacted the growth of future dances and styles. Some lasting impressions it left, can be seen in productions such as Grease. World War II was another profound influence on both the style and true meaning of theatre (Bordman 503). It gave people hope, and got their minds off of the horrors occurring across the globe, especially during the Great Depression. (Bordman 503) People began becoming socially self-aware, meaning they parodied everyday interactions between themselves, and, “ Artists are devising new ways of using theatre to expose corrupt governments, educate young people, and improve literacy efforts” (Eyring)

There were numerous inventions and innovations in the twentieth century which allowed theatre and the arts to reach those not in major modern city centers. Some of these include the internet, and other such communicatory assets; as said by Teresa Eyring, in a summary of the 21st century, “As copy machines, cell phones, f...

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...326). Infact, it was Broadway's hottest ticket for two years (Bordman 512).

Numerous nods to the theatre of the past can be seen in The Producers. It's a comedy in “old style tradition,” with excitedly energetic motions and fantastic songs (Bordman 512). The human element previously mentioned is present as well; The producers in the play are only human, and want to scam money out of people for effectively free, which can be seen as envy, a natural human emotion (Green 325). While part of the audience wants the producers to be able to get away with it, the other part of them wants everything to be fair, especially for the actors. This creates a very genuine and enthralling experience for the theatre-goers. And that is what theatre means. It's both an escape from everyday life, and also a look into what it means to be human and to desire real connections to people.