Dreams

One of the most common themes in Theatrical productions, Movies, and TV shows are dreams. Characters striving for some goal or searching for something that makes them complete. Most fail a couple of times; they may get sidelined by something then comes some defining moment where an inspiring song plays and the person gets better at what they are doing or just closer to what they want. The Mom, Dad, teacher, or coach has a heart to heart chat with the person and at long last comes the TADA! moment when they achieve what they had been fighting for. The audience is supposed to get inspired by the story and get motivated to achieve their own dreams. The point I am trying to make is we are all suckers for these types of stories and that's why the theme is so common.

Now there is a dark side to this type of entertainment and I believe the problem that now develops is that people get lost in those stories and they keep watching them over and over again because it's better than their real life. They get a sort of high from watching it because the brain produces endorphins that put them in a happy state. You might be asking yourself why I would be so against the happy state. It's just because the "happiness" is not real; it is not their own achievement people just take on that elation from the fake moment. See in real life Mom and Dad are so consumed by their own lives they don't pay attention to little Timmy's wish to go to an elite acting camp. In real life practicality has to win out most of the time and for this very fact the dreamers of this world are a dying breed. It's sad that people turn to false entertainment happiness and do not strive for what will make them truly happy.

Reality can really be heartbreaking...and that is why there should be more shows like Next to Normal in the theatre world. Shows that are real, gritty, and will break your heart that is what we need. Producers can't give this to people sadly because the thing is Dreams are mass appeal and reality is a bit more off the beaten path these days. I hope that we’ll see more shows out there that are real and that dare to be different.

In the meantime go see Next to Normal

Quote of the Day...

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson