Clever Quote by Terry Teachout
“If I ever see another Shakespeare production where somebody drives a Jeep on stage, I'm going to run screaming up the aisle. These tend to be matters of design. I mean, we're seeing a lot of - it's very common to see Shakespeare with automatic weapons, things like that. They are clichés. They're new clichés, but they are clichés. And they're provincial. It's not clever to do Henry V, and have everybody dressed in United Nations soldier's costumes anymore. I've seen that one too. That kind of thing irritates me.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New York Times, 2015
The author criticizes modern, anachronistic productions that replace classic elements with trendy, cliché props, arguing they dilute authenticity.
In simple terms: Modern twists can cheapen classic works.
Key Takeaway
Preserve original intent.
Themes
theatre
authenticity
modernization
Mood
frustrated
critical
Type
critical
observational
When to use this quote
- directing
- stage design
- audience expectations
- production planning
Key Concepts
cliché
provincialism
design choices
Questions to Reflect On
- How can directors balance innovation with respect for the original?
- What defines a respectful adaptation?
A Different Perspective
Risk of alienating traditional audiences.
![“There was another reason [she] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar voices, friends that never quarreled with her, clever, powerful friends -- daring and knowledgeable, tried and tested adventurers who had traveled far and…” quote by Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/639/cornelia-funke-908_adventurer_there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-bo_3074.jpg)
