Political Theatre
There is a stage of life,
When the connection to it...
Should inspire an acknowledgement.
And those of us blessed to be human beings,
Grow to appreciate being a part of nature...
With expectations to make this quick visit,
As best as it can get.
And then there are those who make manipulation,
As a means to adjust the spotlight.
They want to ensure others are aware...
There is a power they've obtain,
To decide for themselves...
Whose appetites for this life,
Deserves more of a feeding...
And they will choose who shares this light!
It's all political theatre!
Drama to ascertain...
Who amongst them should split the riches.
And who will sit in the audience,
Observing these egos...
At their expense!
It's all political theatre!
A sham representation of a rewritten script.
With no respect for the director.
And terrible performances...
Judge by those who have grown sick and tired,
And have had enough of the fighting that is witnessed.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Distance, Or Connection?
it is time to throw the damned tea into the harbor again!
every thought we have, every feeling we have,
every word we speak, every action we do...
either creates distance between human beings,
or creates a connection!
distance equals death,
connection equals life!
i am sick and tired of the bullshit that says:
we are right and they are wrong,
we are good and they are evil.
our religion is right, and theirs is wrong.
we're going to heaven, they're going to hell...
a damned lie!
every human being deserves the right to be human.
every human being deserves the right to love, and be loved.
every human being deserves the dignity of equality.
every human being deserves the right to work,
to have shelter, to be fed, to dream!
every human being deserves to be free!
i choose connection!
if you choose distance, walk away.
my religion is human interaction.
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Expense Spent On The Hype
Even after all of the performances are done.
And the expense spent on the hype,
Leaves no one in the audience excited.
Or feeling their appetites have been satisfied.
The curtain on the stage will come down.
And the spotlight will be turned off.
As reviews the next day will be read.
Prescriptions will be filled.
And medications will be taken.
Even after all of the performances are done.
No one will be convinced,
Their reality lived has been truthfully represented.
Or the expense spent on the hype,
Will deliver to anyone a dividend.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I've done a lot of costume drama and theatre - the National Theatre and In fact, most of my work at the theatre, at the National Theatre anyway, was period.
quote by Brenda Blethyn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lines in Defence of the Stage
Good people of high and low degree,
I pray ye all be advised by me,
And don't believe what the clergy doth say,
That by going to the theatre you will be led astray.
No, in the theatre we see vice punished and virtue rewarded,
The villain either hanged or shot, and his career retarded;
Therefore the theatre is useful in every way,
And has no inducement to lead the people astray.
Because therein we see the end of the bad men,
Which must appall the audience - deny it who can
Which will help to retard them from going astray,
While witnessing in a theatre a moral play.
The theatre ought to be encouraged in every respect,
Because example is better than precept,
And is bound to have a greater effect
On the minds of theatre-goers in every respect.
Sometimes in theatres, guilty creatures there have been
Struck to the soul by the cunning of the scene;
By witnessing a play wherein murder is enacted,
They were proven to be murderers, they felt so distracted,
And left the theatre, they felt so much fear,
Such has been the case, so says Shakespeare.
And such is my opinion, I will venture to say,
That murderers will quake with fear on seeing murder in a play.
Hamlet discovered his father's murderer by a play
That he composed for the purpose, without dismay,
And the king, his uncle, couldn't endure to see that play,
And he withdrew from the scene without delay.
And by that play the murder was found out,
And clearly proven, without any doubt;
Therefore, stage representation has a greater effect
On the minds of the people than religious precept.
We see in Shakespeare's tragedy of Othello, which is sublime,
Cassio losing his lieutenancy through drinking wine;
And, in delirium and grief, he exclaims -
"Oh, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!"
A young man in London went to the theatre one night
To see the play of George Barnwell, and he got a great fright;
He saw George Barnwell murder his uncle in the play,
And he had resolved to murder his uncle, but was stricken with dismay.
But when he saw George Barnwell was to be hung
The dread of murdering his uncle tenaciously to him clung,
That he couldn't murder and rob his uncle dear,
Because the play he saw enacted filled his heart with fear.
And, in conclusion, I will say without dismay,
Visit the theatre without delay,
Because the theatre is a school of morality,
And hasn't the least tendency to lead to prodigality.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
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X-ray inferno
They called me to be an extra
They did not know I had a camera in my soul
For some all the worlds a stage
For some all the stage is the world
Wonder if the great one knew this
When he shook his spears
I was in between
Neither the real actor nor the real lifer
Perhaps this was each interpretation gave up
The stage I was standing on
I could not grasp the text even though I got it in time
Perhaps it was quite enough for a stage
Certainly not for a life
Act 1 and its main character
He had a face unto which
An invisible hand of law left the visible scars
A quite sufficient number of them for a drama
He had those eyes hesitating between comedy and tragedy
There was laughter in one eye and tears in another
He laughed the way the dramaturge ordered him to do
But he cried quite independently
He had those arms destroyed by uncreation
He never knew the text as he had no camera in his soul
Great words of great minds so frequently he stammered
Little did he understand even less did he rehearse
He was a great actor but on this stage
Under the spotlight all he did was stand frozen
Act 2 The Prompter
He was in collusion with the sky
The Hermes of a contemporary theatre
He flattered all the laws of life
He knew exactly how low to go down into his box
So as to avoid the knocks from the stage
He knew exactly what and when
To whisper the texts into whose ears
He had known the text by heart
Even before it was written
Great words of great minds he recited out of his underground darkness
And he always knew the right moment
Because he knew everything about time
He never acted but he was a real lifer
He made more than art out of whispering
And put enormous effort into his role
Up to the point of having vocal cords damaged
Act 3 Dramaturge
His life role was creating illusion dramat urgent
He lived by apparitions and apparently lived
He was a little god of his own creations
He walked the planks his spirit split
He borrowed life to text without a single doubt
In any single moment
That stage is just an attempt of life
However
He knew how to make other not to doubt that
And that was all his power
With the sword of an illusion he cut the greatest actors
Even the greatest lifers feared him
He never doubted that he was just a slave of an endless creating
Whose purpose cannot be seen due to doubt
Peripeteia
A drunken night officer set fire to this theatre
Burning down deus ex machina as well
AD 2000 copywRITE of DESERT FeARTtre S&M HEARTiculated by M.O.
©Miroslava Odalović
poem by Miroslava Odalovic
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First Encounter - Faridah Merican
faridah merican
her home is where
the theatre is
never liking what some
politicians do to
nation and her brood (people of Malaysia)
premier love
the english language
then theatre that lets it sparkle
every cell comes alive
in the world of dance
and performances
does not want malaysians
to be shortchanged
by crafty politicians
first met at her new theatre in Sentul in mid 2000.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Theatre is expensive to go to. I certainly felt when I was growing up that theatre wasn't for us. Theatre still has that stigma to it. A lot of people feel intimidated and underrepresented in theatre.
quote by Christopher Eccleston
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Politicizing Life, Religiously
Those elected to represent their constituents,
To present their interests politically...
Are being accused of politicizing life,
Religiously.
As if a preference with efforts,
To camouflaged their deeds...
Would be for those delusioned more suitably acceptable,
To relieve them of a feeding on misleading deceptions.
Although not mentioned...
Is the expense of blatant hypocrisy.
Regardless of the process or method of selection.
However...
What part of life lived to be experienced,
Has not been witnessed...
By those observing their quality of life diminish?
As arguments between politicians continue,
Regardless of affiliation, ethnic heritage or creed.
What part of life lived to be experienced,
Protects with a prevention...
A stopping of the increase of taxes,
Attached to everyone who is forced to pay.
If this is not politicizing life,
Than why are those choosing to live as is their right...
Harrassed on a daily basis by those provoked,
Who solicit actively for funds and voters...
To ensure 'politically' with their religious overtones,
That 'all' beliefs should be kept in the best of 'their' interests.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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What Respect Is
have we forgotten
what respect is?
did we ever really know?
every human being deserves
the respect of every other human being,
and should respect every other
human being as well!
it has nothing to do with
color, religion, political views,
or financial status!
respect is a God given right,
and responsibility!
respect is about being human.
treat people the way you wish to
be treated... treat people like people!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A Risk Taken Unforgotten For The Archives
To split or not split wrists...
Seems to be such a self indulging understaking.
However...
It is the taking of risks,
And witnessing others stirred up in fits...
That eliminates the wish to end one's existence.
To privately decide to say goodbye to life...
Is so anti-climatic.
If one is seeking drama...
There is nothing like taking centerstage,
With spotlight.
And giving those in attendance,
The best mooning you can do!
With that done...
Will indeed become,
A risk taken unforgotten for the archives.
And one,
If the spotlight hits right...
Will not offend,
But achieve the attention sought!
And maybe a round of applause...
If what is seen has been deemed attractive.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Judge
Judge is not here to decide
Who is winner and who is loser.
Judge is here to decide
Who is in right point.
No judge is empower to
Pronounced death sentences
No judge has got power
To give life to the lifeless.
Judge can not decide
The synonyms and antonyms
Judge can not say
The right source for right word.
Judge is not judge
So long as the judge is mortal
Judge is judge
If judge is eternal.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
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Something Theatrical
Come to the theatre, discern the actions, there on the stage,
With actors giving you their all, your interest to engage,
The light, scenery and music, the atmosphere is great,
There's drama, and there's comedy, it's a chance to celebrate.
Such power in the performance, which can always mesmerize,
The colour and the spectacle that unfolds before your eyes,
The musical and the pantomime, are all such fun to see,
The songs are awe inspiring, 'Cinderella' is for me.
A story of love and romance, with a happy ending too,
Also 'Aladdin and his Magic Lamp', with a genie spot on cue.
From Shakespeare, to playwrights new, they're there to entertain,
So venture to the theatre, your trip won't be in vain,
The costumes are fantastic, the settings are just right,
I know you won't regret it, so go and have a super night.
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Too Much Of That Has Already Been Approved
I am very much a part of nature.
It is there to be enjoyed.
Some believe it can be inspected,
With a manipulation of it done.
But a waste of time is all that occurs.
Since nature is a product of Earth.
And none of it is a creation,
Made from the limitation of a human mind.
That's why I choose to be observant,
And less tolerant of the feeding of ignorance.
Too much of that has already been approved.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Something for the weekend? (2)
Friday mornings:
As I follow Eric the barber to the pay counter,
feeling scraped and trimmed and scented and almost younger,
we slip into a familiar ritual,
a little touch of theatre
which takes us briefly out of ourselves
or perhaps even into ourselves a little,
come to think of it:
'Something for the weekend, sir? '
He doesn't say this sotto voce like the other barbers,
but rather louder than normal
in his ex-actor's voice
to draw the whole shop into this moment of performance
and assure any new customers
that no offence is intended.
The joke is of course my advanced age.
You might call it post-everything irony.
But there's just a touch of respect there too.
His young assistant Rob
who's giving expert attention to the young guy in the other chair,
with that intimate proficiency which the young
now bestow on the grooming of their peers,
but who doesn't miss a beat,
rolls his eyes heavenward at this sally
though this stale camp mannerism
can't quite hide his affection for his employer.
He gives me a quick glance of acknowledgement
across the chasm of age.
These little routines and rituals and performances
give shape to the week.
But hanging unvoiced in the air
is the knowledge
that one more rent rise and it's curtains for this establishment.
That is the stage direction
that is not spoken in the script.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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On the last day of our five-day work week, we did two performances and we had an audience. It was similar to theatre; we went from beginning to end, and it was very pleasing.
quote by Jean Stapleton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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House Is Not My Home
Well I'm tired, so tired of getting up and wasting another day
I wish the picture on the wall would still say it all
But now yesterday is so far away
And I would give anything, say anything
To keep it all like it was
But you just throw it all away
And I think this house is not my home
I think that I'd rather be alone tonight
I'm trying, trying to fake it
I'm tired, so tired, of giving up and taking all the blame
I wish the shouting and the fights would stop for the night
Can't close my eyes and make them all go away
And I would give anything, say anything
To keep it all like it was
But you just throw it all away
Repeat Chorus
This is the part where you say
You can't stay together just for me
This is the part where you make me choose
On whose side I want to be
This is the part where you decide
What's going to be best for me
This is the start
Now we grow apart (x2)
Repeat Chorus
song performed by by Zebrahead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I grew up in the theatre. It's where I got my start. Writing a television drama with theatrical dialogue about the theatre is beyond perfection.
quote by Aaron Sorkin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What draws me to the theatre, and what appealed to me about Too Much Light, is that you have no idea what's going to happen. That's the most exciting part of theatre, it's never the same. If it were, it would be like watching a movie.
quote by Lusia Strus
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There's a tradition in British intellectual life of mocking any non-political force that gets involved in politics, especially within the sphere of the arts and the theatre.
quote by Harold Pinter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Children of Our Age
We are children of our age,
it's a political age.
All day long, all through the night,
all affairs--yours, ours, theirs--
are political affairs.
Whether you like it or not,
your genes have a political past,
your skin, a political cast,
your eyes, a political slant.
Whatever you say reverberates,
whatever you don't say speaks for itself.
So either way you're talking politics.
Even when you take to the woods,
you're taking political steps
on political grounds.
Apolitical poems are also political,
and above us shines a moon
no longer purely lunar.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
And though it troubles the digestion
it's a question, as always, of politics.
To acquire a political meaning
you don't even have to be human.
Raw material will do,
or protein feed, or crude oil,
or a conference table whose shape
was quarreled over for months;
Should we arbitrate life and death
at a round table or a square one?
Meanwhile, people perished,
animals died,
houses burned,
and the fields ran wild
just as in times immemorial
and less political.
poem by Wislawa Szymborska
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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