There are two kinds of theatre, good and bad. Much as I…
“There are two kinds of theatre, good and bad. Much as I should like to see theatre in America, I would rather have no theatre than bad theatre. What we must strive for is perfection and come as close to it as is humanly possible.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker distinguishes between good and bad theatre, preferring no theatre over poor quality, and urges striving for near‑perfect artistic expression.
In simple terms: Good theatre is vital; bad theatre is worse than none.
Aim for excellence in artistic work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- producing plays
- directing
- theatre criticism
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines “good” theatre for you?
- How can we improve standards without stifling innovation?
Perfection is unattainable; compromises may be necessary.