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Intellectual Plays

ON MODERN PLAYS - by G.L. Horton

I suspect that "intellectual" plays continue to be written, but are dumbed down or souped up during the path to production. One of the maxims of contempory dramaturgy is "audiences don't go to the theatre to think". Frayne's "Copenhagen", which is the most exciting piece of theatre I've seen in a decade, is about intellection-- it is nothing but thought. And yes, even though the play's blurbs make it clear that the audience will be in for a mental workout, a certain proportion of them don't enjoy it enough to come back for the second half. But enough stay and enjoy it and praise it to their friends to keep it running-- and if "Copenhagen" is successfully produced in the US, maybe that success will break the unwritten law against intellectual scripts.

Anybody in London--see "Copenhagen". Not only is it enthralling, the mystery of its construction is astonishing. How does Frayn keep you intent on every word when he's made it clear that nothing will-- or can-- happen? Examining motives that by definition are opaque?

Also-- seats on the stage are only 10 pounds.

 

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