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Theatre
is the
closest
art form
to
reality
storm had hit yesterday. It was deeply emotional,” she said. “But theatre can
speak to people, and in the aftermath, there were manifestations of theatre
everywhere. You would see, for instance, a coffin labeled ‘New Orleans’ being
carried in a mock second line for the city, a dummy propped up in a front yard
with a ‘FEMA where are you?’ sign. These were popular displays, where people
were finding an outlet to express their sadness and rage through these natural
channels.”
Like the improvisations of her hometown, Stanley’s own work in theatre
hews close to the bone. She has directed several plays written by Neil LaBute
-most recently last October, when she directed “The Distance from Here” at
the Welch-and published a scholarly article on his work. LaBute’s plays are
frequently controversial and part of the reason is that he has a penchant for
slipping a cold blade into the soft tissue of society. “It’s part of my makeup to
ruin a perfectly good day for people,” he once said.
“LaBute has absolutely fascinated me for more than a decade. His
willingness to attach himself to subjects we don’t want to talk about, his
obsession with exposing the dark side of human nature and the underbelly of
America are deeply powerful,” Stanley observed.
“Listen, I go to theatre to be moved,” she continued. “I’m personally
attracted to serious work that stimulates audiences to think and look at our
world in new ways. When I teach undergraduate theatre, I talk about Aristotle.
He was the first to analyze and examine what makes theatre tick. When
he discusses the great tragedies, he speaks of catharsis. The great buildup
of emotions that can happen in a play and the release- laughter, tears, the
purging of all that emotion.”
Speaking at an accelerating clip, Stanley’s voice rises as she rounds to her
own peroration. “I’m passionate about every play I direct, but I am totally
committed to the themes and messages of plays that have an impact like this
on everyone who sees them and performs them. Theatre is the closest art form
to reality. I’ve spent my whole life devoted to it, and found it to be the most
complete expression of humanity.”
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