Modern writing |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Dec 17 2006 at 4:25 PM |
As a theatre reviewer and critic I often wonder what has happened to good writing. I have sat through hours (if not days) of dreary, self-important post-modern tosh that (at best) seeks to emulate the avant-garde movement of the 1950s. Maybe it's a generational thing, but so many young writers want to be the 'New Beckett' or the 'New Pinter'. They often provide us with mind-bashing polemic and forget about the basic tenets of good dramatic writing: characters that seem to live, characters we care about, narrative (i.e. plot and development) and an engagement with the audience that keep us on our toes.
I have seen some excellent contemporary drama but much of what we get is derivative and dull. So, let's hear for story, three cheers for clever structure and please let us welcome back those three key players on any stage: the beginning, middle and end.
If you have seen something that really speaks of quality, please let me know and I will share your thoughts.
Mike