The Idealism of Arts and Politics

American voters head to the polls in November of this year, voting for a President, Representatives and some Senators, as well as state and local officials. We're a politically active family, regularly voting in elections, even when the only items on the ballot are small, local measures, the kind of measures that typically result in low voter turnout. We pay a lot of attention to political ads and issues, and we also have a strong body of ideals about what America should be. Given all that, it's probably not surprising that, yet again, we're re-watching "The West Wing" on DVD.

Of course, part of deciding to revisit the saga of the Bartlet administration is because I recently finished reading Stories I Only Tell My Friends, the Rob Lowe autobiography. Mr. Lowe's early films were touchstones for my generation, and my interest in his career was rekindled by his stellar work as Sam Seaborn, the idealistic young speechwriter on "The West Wing." So, when I heard he had an autobiography and it was being considered a top read for 2011, I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed the book, and Jen is now reading it. After finishing the book, I found myself wishing the following:

1. I wish we lived in an apartment with a bigger kitchen and dining space
2. I wish I were a better cook, someone who prepares the kind of meals you serve to guests - meals that spark interesting dinner conversations
3. I wish I had Mr. Lowe's phone number, so I could invite him and his wife to share that meal and conversation with me and Jen

Setting that aside for a moment, I was really surprised to read that Mr. Lowe is, perhaps, nearly as idealistic and politically minded as his "West Wing" character was. That really isn't my perception of Mr. Lowe, although it's not uncommon for Hollywood celebrities to be politically active in association with progressive causes. However, Mr. Lowe hasn't been vocal about his political activities or views in recent years, certainly not as active as George Clooney, Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt are. And yet, reading Mr. Lowe's autobiography showed him to be a politically active man, one with fairly progressive values and a strong, idealistic view of America's past and its potential.

Perhaps that's why the Sam Seaborn character resonates so strongly with me. He's a young man who leaves a high-paying job as a New York attorney to do "the right thing" and try to make a difference by taking a job in the White House. And, I keep getting emails from MoveOn.org, which ask if I want to join a grassroots, progressive effort to counter the Tea Party sweep from 2010. The email was looking for people to either run for office or serve as staff members on campaigns.

To be honest, I've considered running for political office in the past. However, I can also think of a number of reasons why I shouldn't. First and foremost, Jen hates the spotlight. And, if I ran for a political office, even at the lowest levels, she would be caught in the glare because of me. Also, as an out lesbian in a long-term relationship/marriage, I would have a hard time winning an election, even in liberal New York City. Also, I'm self-employed and have a very low income, while the bulk of our household expenses are covered by Jen's salary. So, financially, I'm not in any position to run for political office. Plus, I don't have a network of friends and associates here in the city, since I work from home. The few people I knew from my graduate studies at NYU have either moved away for jobs or they aren't eligible to vote in New York. So, running for office isn't really an option for me, even though I sometimes wish it were. Like Mr. Lowe's TV character, I want to make a difference and do the right thing while trying to help our great nation live up to its potential.

From what I read in his book, Mr. Lowe's portrayal of the Sam Seaborn character tapped into his own political values and beliefs about what America should be. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like the Sam Seaborn character even more now than I did before, which is really saying something. He's the kind of character I think more people should aspire to be. Even Mr. Lowe's departure from the show was handled in such a way as to follow the character's inclination to do the right thing and work for the good of the nation. Sam Seaborn leaves the White House to run for Congressional office in a strongly Republican district in southern California. He offers to run for the office when the candidate dies in office and the widow asks for a high-profile candidate to carry the party's standard in the district. Seaborn gets clobbered at the polls, which only underscores the character's deeply ingrained sense of justice, responsibility and public service.

I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that Mr. Lowe is a writer and penned his autobiography. I assumed he'd hired a ghostwriter, which is the most common route for a celebrity wanting to write a book. However, when reading the book, I learned that Mr. Lowe has several uncredited screenwriting turns under his belt, in addition to being an actor, director and producer. And, throughout the book, I noticed passages that could only have been penned by someone who is intimately connected to the acting world and familiar with its nuances and structure. Some of those same passages included really moving and thought-provoking reflections on creating art and the artist's role in society. So, if Mr. Lowe did actually use a ghostwriter, his ghost is either very, very gifted or Mr. Lowe is quite good and conveying his deepest thoughts and beliefs about his work as an artist to another person.

Setting all that aside, I keep wishing that life could imitate art. Why aren't the best and brightest minds in our country, regardless of ideology, the ones called to serve the country? Why does political office only draw the egomanics, knaves and rogues among us? Has that always been the case, or is it a side effect of our current culture? Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and Americans revere him now as one of the greatest men to ever serve as President of the United States. However, history also shows us that in his own time, Lincoln was reviled by his contemporaries as an ignorant backwoods lawyer who was uncultured and lacked the political sophistication needed to hold high office. So, I find myself wondering: Did past generations think that Washington was a vain, egotistical man eager for the spotlight and dangerously attracted to power, the way we think about our aspiring Presidential candidates? Or, did his contemporaries truly revere him as the Father of the Nation?

I'll be considering those questions throughout the coming year, in addition to other topics and headlines that catch my eye. One thing I know for certain, even before we get down to the brass tacks of this year's election cycle - Americans must take an interest in the country's direction and actually exercise our right to vote this year. At a time when corporate dollars have a greater impact on the political process than ever before, every vote, regardless of party and ideology, counts. In the words of "The West Wing," "No matter who you vote for, make sure you vote." Because "history is made by those who show up."

“It’s Morning Again” On My Blog, Part II

This week, I’ll briefly touch on musical theatre and discuss my “obsession,” as one person termed it, with the Broadway musical “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.” The show, written and directed by Alex Timbers with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, takes a comedic and anachronistic look at our seventh president. Benjamin Walker, an up-and-coming young star, bravely slips into the tightest pants on Broadway to portray “Old Hickory.”

Off-Broadway and the Broadway Reaction

The show originally appeared Off-Broadway at The Public Theatre and was critically acclaimed. Most of the cast stayed with the show when it moved to Broadway and the Off-B’way cast recording is available from Sh-K-Boom & Ghostlight Records. I strongly recommend checking out the cast list and making a note of the actors' names. The cast is filled with young talent and I believe many (if not all) of them will be big stars in the coming years.

Sadly, the B’way audiences haven’t embraced BBAJ the way it deserves and the show will be closing on January 2, 2011. So, why am I writing about it? I firmly believe this show is one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen. Timbers and Friedman have crafted a show reminiscent of Warner Brothers “Looney Tunes,” with multiple levels of comedy but also some serious, thought-provoking questions, dialogue and song lyrics.

Changing My Mind

I’ll admit to not loving the show when I first saw it. Our first encounter with BBAJ was at The Public during its Off-B’way run. I was somewhat taken aback by the language, the anachronistic touches and the irreverent humor. I enjoyed some material but was offended and confused by other parts of the show. And, I'm quite certain that is the reaction the creators were seeking when they wrote the show.

When the show moved to B’way, Jen said she’d like to see it again, since we hadn’t seen a show move to B’way before. I agreed, thinking a comparison of the two performances could be interesting. Plus, the Off-B’way audience clearly loved the show and many, including the people sitting behind us, had seen the show multiple times. At least, that’s what we concluded since they were singing throughout the Off-B’way performance.

Seeing the show a second time was truly the right decision. It allowed us to catch some of the humor and social commentary we missed the first time. And, I learned just how important the audience is when seeing live theatre. The B’way audience, at a preview, matinee performance, had no energy. They didn’t laugh, rarely applauded and genuinely seemed confused by the show. The cast, who runs around the stage singing and dancing with no intermission for 90 minutes, poured their hearts and souls into their roles. Yet, the audience gave them no reward. But, despite the pathetic audience, Jen and I fell in love with the show. So, we determined to see it again, with a better audience.

The Best Performance Yet

We succeeded, beyond expectations, for her birthday in late October. The cast that night gave a great performance and the audience rewarded it with laughter and applause. We even had a chance to chat, briefly, with one of the cast members as he collected funds for a Broadway charity. Her birthday celebration was given top-notch treatment, thanks to the incredible cast and audience that evening.

Again, why am I going into all this? First, I want this post to stand as a testament to the brilliance of the cast and creators of BBAJ. Once upon a time, a group of talented young actors created an amazing show but, because their show demanded that people think, it closed far too early. Truly, it is an amazing show, filled with humor. But it is also one that also demands the audience do some thinking about often unpleasant topics like war, politics and America’s treatment of Native Americans.

Why Live Theatre?

And, I want to underscore the power of live theatre. I’ve been thinking about that difference quite a lot recently. I’m thoroughly disgusted that a show like BBAJ is closing after only a few months while other shows, based on Hollywood-style blockbusters, get all the press and box office sales. Live theatre is not the same as seeing a movie. When I attend a summer blockbuster, I’m looking for lots of thrills, action and great special effects. But, I have different expectations for the theatre. There, I want to see characters come to life despite the limitations of the stage. I don’t have much patience with the recent Broadway trend of bringing movies to life on the stage, currently crowned by the show “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.”

Perhaps I’m too conservative in my tastes. Or, maybe I’m a snob, as some have stated. But, I think audiences no longer understand the difference between film and theatre. And, their lack of understanding has prompted producers to fund shows that shouldn’t be on the stage. And, it has killed those works that naturally fit in a theatre.

What is Acting?

The theatre is not the same medium of delivery as film. Actors who succeed in the one may not in the other. And, audiences need some sophistication so they understand the limitations and purpose of each. I’m not saying that theatre is better than film because that isn’t necessarily true. Theatre is better suited to telling certain types of stories than film is. Conversely, film is a better medium for other material. I love watching movies. And, I love attending theatre. I just wish producers in each medium had a better grasp of what their medium does well and would stop pandering to the least sophisticated members of the American public.