Seeking Wild

Another classic play, except the playwright himself is messed up.

This is one of the central problems for a Muslim trying to do oral interpretation: is it possible to separate a text from its author? If so, then how is that done? From our perspective, there is no deed without intention, a vessel does not pour out except that which is inside it. So how could a morally bereft person ever produce a literary text that actually has some merit?

I think that it should be clarified that when we perform something on the stage, we are not condoning it or becoming it. Often times the playwright is actually trying to achieve the opposite. For example, in a play like Volpone, Jonson is satirizing society and its deceitfulness.

This is not to say that it is okay for obscene things to occur on stage. Openly flaunting obscenity doesn't serve any purpose except to spread immoral things throughout society. But trying to show our inner flaws, to show us different angles of humanity, that's the purpose of performing.

Acting today has been so tarnished by Hollywood and co. that it is almost impossible to think of performance has anything but that. That's why we maybe need to produce a Muslim perspective of, oh, Macbeth or something. I think that would be cool.

Note: I am not talking about the Mosquers. It's a good idea, but I want to see some solid acting. For real.

"Of course, if they hit you with the bicycle the glass will not be half full or half empty, it will be shattered to pieces and you'll be dead or in the hospital."