The Deadly Theatre, part 2 (p. 30-46) Summary and Analysis

The author discusses the role, responsibilities, and impact of the actor, critic, dramatist, and director in both the creation of theatre in general and the creation of deadly theatre in particular. The actor is often a "deadly" actor by the very nature of his profession. Typecasting, the actor's fragile ego, the nature of the acting process, and limited opportunities for actors to actually practice and/or update their skills create "deadly" actors.

The critic has a more important and positive role in defining theatre than he is given credit for. The critic must call for competence and guide the way to theatre's evolution, thus steering the theatre away from deadliness. The critic must love theatre, be critically clear about what theatre must do, and be prepared to examine his/her own...