More than you want to know about Dale

Endgame

I stayed late yesterday evening at UALR to watch a production of Samuel Beckett’s “Endgame”. I appreciated the quality of the play, but I’m not entirely sure I can say I enjoyed it. That’s partially because I didn’t really understand it. I knew absolutely nothing about it going in, so experienced it with a fresh outlook. This morning I did a bit of reading and still can’t say I understand it, but at least I seem to be on par with a large number of people. That makes me feel better.

As a person who actually reads the programs, I have something I need to go research (or at least ask questions). The program contained the sentence “The photographing, sound or video recording of any performance of the possession of any device for such recording inside the theatre without written permission of the management is prohibited by law.” While there are some portions of copyright legislation which could apply to video or audio recordings of plays, it would be difficult to apply them to photographs. And I’m curious as to a law which would prohibit possession of recording devices. I’m reasonably certain a majority of the audience possessed such devices in the form of cell phones with cameras, voice recorders, etc.

I also found the latecomers policy mildly amusing: “The curtain goes up on time at this theatre. …” This is an arena theatre with no curtain, and the play started ten minutes late.