tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193931307943187752.post5827922637842612964..comments2023-12-14T08:23:14.758-03:00Comments on Idol Thoughts: Theater Thoughts: "His Greatness" at The Fringe FestivalIdol Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09424716624237024086noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193931307943187752.post-33753838585298741542009-09-05T22:32:06.350-03:002009-09-05T22:32:06.350-03:00I once served as Tennessee Williams’ assistant. I ...I once served as Tennessee Williams’ assistant. I met him a year after the Vancouver production of “The Red Devil Battery Sign,” and continued in that position for six months, through the staging of his last new play produced during his lifetime, “A House Not Meant to Stand” at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.<br /><br />Since I now live in Stone Mountain, GA, I have been unable to witness Mr. MacIvor’s play onstage, but some time ago, received a copy of the manuscript. I can say that whatever merits “His Greatness” has, they do not include insight into the nature, life, or poetic core of Tennessee Williams—in his later years or at any other time. I did not recognize Tennessee Williams in Mr. MacIvor’s play. Additionally, the Young Man is not the type “young man” Mr. Williams would have associated with at all—I had considerable experience dealing with Mr. Williams’ “young men.” Whether the Assistant reflects my personal qualities or not, I’ll leave to others to decide.<br /><br />Although I cannot speak for them, the Williams scholars with whom I have been in contact and who have seen or read “His Greatness” are of the same opinion of Mr. MacIvor’s play.<br /><br />My memoir of the six months I worked for Tennessee Williams, "Walking on Glass: A Memoir of the Later Days of Tennessee Williams" will be released by Alyson Books in hardcover, April 2010. I do not mention this as commercial promotion—it’s months too early to pre-order—but to let your readers know that the record will be set straight.<br /><br />By all means, enjoy Mr. MacIvor’s play—as simply a piece of theater—but please reserve judgment on the nature of Tennessee Williams. There must be a reason Mr. MacIvor takes great pains not to mention Tennessee’s name or the titles of his plays. <br /><br />And thanks for the perceptive review--and the grain of salt.<br /><br />Scott KenanScott Kenanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078313537863623197noreply@blogger.com