Anne Bogart: Viewpoints (Career Development Series)

I hadn't intended to respond, but when I read the review below I felt I must try to explain NY reader's misconception about Anne Bogart and her attitude toward the audience. In the opening essay of this book, Bogart retells one of her first experiences with the theatre: she was fifteen years old, and she attended a production of Macbeth at the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island. She writes that she was confused and disoriented by the language and staging, but that she left the theatre with a realization that she follows to this day: "Never talk down to the audience. It was immediately clear to me that the experience of theatre was not about us understanding the meaning of the play or the significance of the staging." Instead, she was able to experience the play "directly, in a visceral and fantastic manner."So, yes... Bogart does insinuate that the audience won't understand every play she directs--but she doesn't say this contemptuously. Even now, Bogart admits that she is often confused by productions she sees, and she writes that this feeling of confronting the unexpected and confusing is essential to quality theatre. She acknowledges that not everyone in the audience will understand because not every human can understand everything; indeed, not even one human can understand everything. The opportunity to reach beyond your boundaries, to traverse places where you aren't entirely comfortable--that is one of the greatest assets of the theatre. And that devotion to the challenge of understanding characterizes every aspect of Anne Bogart's work. Bogart is an intelligent, creative, talented director--and this book is an excellent introduction to her poignant process.

This short book gives a view into the methods of Anne Bogarts visionary style. Although no book can do Ms. Bogart justice, VIEWPOINTS allows readers to understand how her presence is effecting American contemporary theater. Her compassion, love for theater, and energy pervade every essay. Ms. Bogart's work is in line with Brecht and Stanislavski and this book is an insight into her brilliance.

This book has changed my artistic and intellectual life forever. Have no doubt, Ms. Bogart is the most brilliant artist working today. This book only scratches the surfce, but what it reveals will open new worlds to you. If you work in, or study, or love the theatre, you MUST read this book.