"In the past ten years, I've encountered a lot of very anxious young actors: When a play asks for ugly things, they balk. The veil between character and self has frayed - bad behavior, even on stage, carries a frisson of shameful unease."
"No wonder Gina Gionfriddo all but disappeared from the theater. In the aughts, the playwright was collecting prizes and fellowships; by 2013 she had her second Pulitzer nomination. Then, after 2017's critically unloved Can You Forgive Her?, she seemed to vanish."
""Love is a happy by-product of use"; "Goodness and incompetence too often go hand-in-hand in men"; "I would like you to try harder the next time you attempt suicide." That's just a smattering of how the characters in Becky Shaw talk to each other."
In recent years, American theater has shifted towards a more empathetic approach, often avoiding harsh or uncomfortable themes. This trend has resulted in young actors feeling anxious when asked to portray unappealing aspects of humanity. The fear of being mean has overshadowed the importance of exploring complex emotions and behaviors. Playwright Gina Gionfriddo, known for her incisive and challenging works, has seen a decline in her presence in theater, possibly due to the discomfort her plays evoke. Her work often delves into themes of manipulation and transactional relationships.
Read at Vulture
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