My playwright friend asked me: "So, what did you do in Nashville?"
"I meant to tell you, I saw a play!"
"...What??"
"It was an Ibsen play. A Doll's House."
"...You went to Tennessee to see theatre?"
"Well, I--
"You went to /Tennessee/ to see theatre?"
"Yes. It was community theatre, too!"
"Oh, god."
It's not that my friend's cynicism was totally misplaced. I'd give the production itself 3 stars - the actors lapsed back into a slight Southern twang on occasion, which was distracting. And I personally wasn't a fan of the director's work. I prefer more creative license, thought put into light/set/timing/etc. A play is more than just its script! (Another theatre friend told me: "I've always imagined the set of that play to be just a door." BRILLIANT)
Also, I hated the stadium seating. Heads potentially blocking your view is easier to deal with than having to gaze downward the whole time.
Still, I'm all for supporting local arts, and the theatre and the production company that had put on the show (Act I) are great. We went to a 2:30pm Sunday matinee, because we're old people. Actually, yes, everyone else was a senior, aside from a young woman with a horribly intrusive cough. The theatre space, set in an old creaky church, was probably less than 20% full. The bathroom was pretty ancient looking. We were confused about the parking situation since there was no street parking available and no signage, and ended up in the McDonald's lot around the corner.
Tickets were only $12. Credit cards are accepted; they use the Square card reader hooked up to an iPad. Otherwise, there's a low-budget feel to all of it, and it's really up to you whether to take it as dreary or endearing.
Worth a visit as a tourist? Sure, if you're curious about Nashville's community theatre scene, or if like me you've been starved for theatre for too long in your ridiculously expensive home city. read more