A TIME TO TALK

A Time to Talk    by Barbara Biddison


I attended the talkback after the Sunday matinee for ELEPHANT'S GRAVEYARD'.  Most of the audience stayed for this opportunity, and it was lively and thoughtful and altogether satisfying.  I had seen the show in performance opening night, but we had food and conversation in the lobby instead of talk in the theatre that night, so I returned post-show Sunday to hear what a wide variety of matinee people thought.  This is a play that benefits from some kind of response, and from thoughtful listening.to what others have to say.

The whole cast gathered casually on stage, as is the usual custom, and the director sat to the side making sure that those who wished to speak got to do so.  This is a large cast of actors and musicians, and all seemed quite willing to talk about things as it seemed to them..
And audience members spoke without worrying about "what others would think."  "About 15 minutes" was the expected time allowed, and though I did not time it I think it was more like a half hour.  I love listening to  various "takes" on a show, and thoughtful, sometimes a
struggle to express,  opinions/reactions/explorations.  It is especially valuable to hear different ideas and cast responses about the characters they play.  And these actors have thought about that.

I'm going again next week Friday or Saturday. and maybe to a 9AM special show on Wednesday.  There is that much to ponder.

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