November 1, 2007
The Trib Thinks You're A Homophobic Imbecile
Want to go to a play--but you don't know how? The Trib has you covered. This "Theater 101" article is full of such helpful tips as "If the show starts at 8:00, get there at 7:50." Honest to God, we can't tell if the item "Applause: When the play ends, there's a blackout, then the lights come back on and all the actors come on stage to take a bow. This is when you should clap" is meant as joke or what. We're just an unfrozen caveman lawyer, Tribune. Your idea about turning cell phones off frightens and confuses us.
That rampant stupidity is annoying enough, but then we get to the homophobia. Section Five is called "Theater Eye for the Straight Guy," (scroll down) because duh, theater is for the gays, and oh man, do you not want to do anything kinda gay, ha ha. The Trib has its panel of theater experts, critic Chris Jones, Deb Clapp, a former director of management at Goodman Theatre; and Nathan Allen, artistic director at The House Theater, suggest shows to four "real-live Chicagoland residents"--no gayness necessary! Hey, tow-truck driver, you're gonna love Jersey Boys. It's totally ungay. Also, two of the four people given show suggestions in this section are women.
This article really gets under our skin because there's actually a need for a good, smart version of this story. The Chicago theater world can and often does seem extremely insular, and the Trib reaches plenty of people who could use a hand bridging the gap. But rather than demonstrate that local theater fans are a welcoming group, or that any small theater company would effing kill to reach a new audience, this story figures that people who don't already go to shows have no idea when to clap or what an intermission is.
Cool shot from the LaSalle Bank Theater by 24gotham
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i couldn't agree more on this. my father's the president of the board at chicago dramatists, and as such i've been lucky enough to get exposed to the city's theater.
i'm a 27 year old single guy, and i can say this...i'm the only one at these shows. in addition, i'm usually one of very few young adults at these shows. when i mention the great ones, everyone in my social circle is very positive about going to theater...but there's this curtain that seems to keep them out.
now we have the trib treating them like children.
i wish a major outlet like that would take a step in the right direction...help cross the barrier to bring young audiences (especially male) into theaters around town. it'd be a long time coming.
you tell 'em, margaret! while i don't quite agree totally with your headline, every word you wrote was spot-on. maybe you should add another line to your headline, which would read, "and the Trib thinks theater is like, sooooo gay."yeah, because truckdrivers and people who ONLY read the Bible are REAL Chicagoans. Or, maybe, "The Trib thinks you are all Philistines." But that's probably too high-faluttin' a word for the reader they were reaching for in this article.
You know, come to think of it, as long as the Trib is dealing in stereotypes, the "Real Chicagoans" in their article, with the exception of perhaps the Trixie, are stereotypical Sun-Times readers.
Unfortunately, the way the Trib did the story, it only served to reaffirm those misconceptions about theater.
been;
so you are mad at the trib for categorizing theatre going men as mostly homos, but you want to categorize a set of (dumber) people as sun times readers??
The Trib article is easily the worst arts-related piece I've ever read. A lot of wrong information, bad writing, bad concept for the point being made, offensive. I'm just surprised we didn't get any Jew baiting and ageism, since both Jews and older people tend to make up larger parts of the theatre-going community.
"...since both Jews and older people tend to make up larger parts of the theatre-going community"
I'm assuming this is a sarcastic comment?
No, it's true. I'm Jewish, and theatre is a very big part of our culture. I go see a lot of theatre, and it's hard to find someone under 45 in the audience.
More outrage! javascript:popUp('/slideshow/news/13648473/detail.html','width=1024,height=750,top=0,left=0,scrollbars');
I can't believe they would stereotype men like this! This is an injustice! Let's all overreact!
"...since both Jews and older people tend to make up larger parts of the theatre-going community"
Guess that has something to do with being the chosen people, being the most cultured as well. How typical. But I'd better stop before I get called an anti-semit.
Spook - Get the stagebill out of your ass. It's just something we do, like you complaining about The Man at any moment of the day or night.
So, its not ok to imply that homos like theatre, but it IS ok to say that jews and old people like the theatre?? If you asked me I would say all three like the theatre and I would be both right and ridiculed for a number of offenses! Go figure.
I don't think there's anything wrong with pointing to a gay demographic as part of the theatre-going audience--though I question whether it's really true. Theatre has its niche audiences who only come out for plays related to their communities.
The problem is that the Trib assumes that people who don't go to the theatre are homophobic. They're a bunch of idiots to think that.
I wouldn't say the trib is implying anyone is homophobic, just that your typical blue collar straight chicagoan male doesn't appreciate theatre like a gay male does. I don't think that's a wrong assumption either.
It'd be like having a little guide "how to operate heavy machinery, for small gay men." of course you will get your pissed off people that are mad about it, but in all reality little gay men typically don't operate heavy machinery. Unless its a backhoe.
Hey Ferdy, you're the one the stick up your rear, cause that's what you do on Friday nigths, you old sour puss
To say "...Jews.. tend to make up larger parts of the theatre-going community"is typical,
Miss "We are the majority of the theatre
going crowd in the world cause of our culture"
Yea Granny, you're smart enough to pull some elitist jewish religion sh*t, but stupid enough to play the race card to say I talk about "the man" as oppossed to class,gender, and race issues" Go listen to NPR and put some wrinkle cream on.
P.s at the next threatre production I'm at I hope I remember to check for the star of david. Is that how you keep track?
p.s and if they are saying the same thing about Gay's. That's wrong too
Spook - Don't you have a wife to beat or a fly whose wings need to be pulled off? YOu need a shot or two of Mogen David, you tightass.
Mogan David? Never heard of it, but let me guess
is that must some cheap wine that Black Folks drink? Just like Jews "make up larger parts of the theatre-going community"
So now that Ferdy has got Jews, and Black folk down.....what about Mexicans? You're on a roll now, don't let me stop you and I'm sure you have some "editors" pulling for you too!.
p.s I'm not married, I think its too patriarctical in America, its called being progress as oppossed to being liberal. That's why I'd rather drink with republicans, at least they are honest.
I just KNEW you weren't married!
Are you single too, Ferdy? Maybe you and Spook can go have dinner at Sabatino's and make up.
This Theater 101 piece is a waste of newsprint. I think it's terribly unfunny, uncreative, condescending, and ignorant. As a passionate Chicago theatregoer, I find it really appalling that someone at the Tribune felt they needed to explain what an intermission is and when to clap for the actors. If this is supposed to be satirical writing, it's a failed one.
Alas, Guest #2, I am spoken for. It's too bad, because obviously Spook is hot for me. But they wouldn't let him in because they're all racist, remember?
New Guest number two
Thanks for your mediation attempt. But as you know I'm all about going deeper, as in the being socratic and all that. So your first suggestion would not work. See Ferdy and I keep different hours making dinner problematic. Fedry is an early rise at the crack of dawn wild life birder.
I, in my none work hours, am a degenerate artist and activist up all night. Perhaps you should suggest we exchange peace gifts to support our above activities, close to our hearts. I’ll send some bird seed and in return, I’ll take a bottle of or Hendricks Gin or Jameson whiskey.
p.s Francis are you surprised? The trib critiquing Theater is like that NBA foot ball player who fought dogs and is in( I hope at this point) jail critiquing the late great August Wilson
First- i would love if Ferdie and Spook got together at the flagpole after work and took eachother out; Chicagoist would be better off without either one of them. Second; Spook- what in the hell kind of a paragraph is this "p.s Francis are you surprised? The trib critiquing Theater is like that NBA foot ball player who fought dogs and is in( I hope at this point) jail critiquing the late great August Wilson"
What is an NBA foot ball player? Its the NFL that plays football, and the NBA basketball- and his name is Michael Vick. To top it all off that analogy barely made any sense, even after reading it several times.
And Third; It's a freaking article. Yes, gays like theatre more than straight men! This should not be earth shattering for you whether you are gay or straight. Get over it
Opps NFL
My point was/is Hucker, is that the foot ball player "Vick is his name?" has as much ability to a critique a great play write- like August Wilson- as the Trib has to write about theater
But I'm well, kinda hurt by the rest of your statement Huckey, as I always thought that I was one of your favorites and that you'd leave me a little something in your will. :-(
May I ask, that if it is fact that Jews make up larger parts of the theatre-going community,
what is the order in perspective to other communities? Do you mean all communities including religious communities?
Thank you
Fydor, according to the comments above the order is apparently:
Jews
Elderly
Elderly Jews
Gay men
Women
Straight men dragged there by their wives
Tourists
Truck drivers that lost a bet
Other
Spook
I am laughing because it is funny to me
Thank you very much