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T. James Belich
01/16/10

Ups and Downs

The writing life is filled with them. At last night's wonderful opening for Doubt I was talking with our director Kevin T. Houle about the 10-minute play festival that Lakeshore does each spring and that I had a script entered. If it made it in, he wanted to direct it, sight unseen. That was incredibly flattering and made me want all the more for Circus of Fate to make it. Today they announced the semi-finalists: I was not one of them. Both of the other times I've submitted I at least made it that far. This script is better than either of them, and it didn't make it. Why? Who can say. The scripts are blind for this first round and so it had to stand on its own. Why they didn't like it, I don't know, but I find it incredibly disappointing. Maybe next year.

3 comments

# Lindsay Price on 01/17/10 at 10:05

It's maddening isn't it? The subjective nature of theatre is necessary and yet sometimes I just want to say 'What do you MEAN you didn't like it?' :)

# T. James Belich [Member]

on 01/17/10 at 13:13

It is indeed! And I have to constantly remind myself that it IS subjective and not necessarily a comment on the piece. Maddening though when a piece doesn't do as well as other pieces that aren't as good (this is my third entry, and I think the best, in Lakeshore's contest over the years, and yet it is the first time I didn't make the semi-final cut). But as always, nothing to do but keep plugging!

# Claudia on 01/18/10 at 21:27

I wound up reading very few of the plays (and not yours) so didn't give iany nput. Committee means varying people with wildy divergent tastes weigh in. And there are different people each year. It is indeed maddening to see the different reactions to one play of mine. As I struggle with the Brothers Grimm play ... really struggling... it always comes down to "write what you want to write." When it's good, it finds it rightful home.

After getting into festivals all through the USA, I finally get one in the Twin Cities - and then what happens? They want to change 75% of the play. (And you picked it, why???) So while it's "nice" to have a production close to home - it's better to find the right home for your play.

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