We just completed a staged reading of my latest play, Pas de Dieux: A Dance of (no) Gods for the Fertile Ground Festival of new plays here in Portland, Oregon.
I have to say, I was terrified to bring this to the stage. I felt scared to bring something so dark to the public. I felt vulnerable to expose such an emotionally raw part of myself. And I was sure that audience members, especially friends, would feel blind-sided by a play that is unflinching in its depictions of a failing, flailing world.
Who knows? I may be right. But what I think is more interesting is the variety of responses received from the very same show. The following is a short list of words used to describe it:
- intense
- tender
- so depressing
- beautiful and full of warmth
- warm, funny, and clever
I'm choosing to believe that, like the best of all art, people bring their own experiences to it and make it their own. I hope to see where this play goes and what other reactions I may get from it in the future.