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The Morning Rant: Minimalist Edition

American Theater is in the doldrums. Sure, if you want to spend $200 you can go see one of 87 cookie-cutter musicals, complete with forgettable music. Or several comedies, which aren't all that funny, or even a few serious plays, at least one of which will be guaranteed to set your teeth on edge!

Why?

Here's why.

George Bernard Shaw is one of the great playwrights of the West. You might not like his politics, but the man could write! His work used to be a fixture in NYC, but he seems to have fallen out of favor, undoubtedly because he used big words that current actors can't pronounce, and big ideas that directors can't understand.

Never fear! The Woke insanity has come to the rescue of Shaw! One of his better known plays, The Devil's Disciple, is coming to Broadway! I got the mail blurb yesterday and was pleased. I like Shaw very much, I saw TDD when I was a wee lad, and would love to see it again. But looking more carefully, I noticed a few oddities...an all-woman cast? What the hell!

And then the zinger:

In this new adaptation, female ferocity rules as this legendary and almost true historical adventure comedy by BERNARD SHAW is told by five power-house women!

Ah yes...I am Woman...Hear Me Roar! Except it simply does not make any sense with a cast consisting of only women. 1777 America had a social structure that makes a woman playing the lead absolutely nonsensical. Flipping the story on its head may be satisfying for the director and his desire to subvert the dominant paradigm, but the wit of George Bernard Shaw was heavily dependent on the interplay between men and women. Socially, sexually, legally.

It's as if traditional society recognized the differences between the sexes and embedded them deeply.

Who knew!

here's someone who knew...

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.

There is a very good reason to respect the original play or book or movie. They are reflections of the times in which they were created, and when done well, are a glimpse into the human condition that is common throughout our history. Changing that condition is impossible, no matter how many gender-bending or culture-twisting contortions are inserted.

Our literary traditions expose the universal truths of human (really...Western) culture, and the differences between the sexes are structural, and cannot be changed without bringing down the entire edifice.

Which is their goal.

[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter]