I have just learned of the demise of the California Cabaret Theatre, a two year old project that did not suffer from bad reviews or weak houses, but in fact suffered from terminal theatiruim businessitis. In short, the folks involved were talented, creative, and wonderful people......but standing on both sides of the business made them wonder why anybody would do it in the first place.
Truly, the business of the business made them begin to hate to project. And so, they pulled the plug.
It's a shame, really.....the cast they put together were all friends of mine, and they all shared equally in the success or failure of the endeavor. It was truly communal theatre, and I would have killed to be a part of it.
We all had the dream, didn't we? That belief that our lives would be good if we could just run a company the way we wanted to; that we would bring something new to the carnival that is the American Theatre. We would do classic plays; we would do original works; and we would attempt to shun a production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL until it became imperative in order to survive. And the knowledge that we would never net dime ONE didn't deter us.
They did it; and found that Pandora's box contained frustration and tedium as well as evil.
Still, for two years, the central coast of California had this jewel: a jewel that no pretension to grandiose production, but in fact did charming little productions for the audience in which they were given....and it worked. And it will be missed by everybody with a kind of artistic awareness.
And it sure beat the hell out of community theatre Shakespeare.
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I hate to hear that...every time I hear that. At least they gave us all 2 good years. I hope the next good thing is good for them.
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