Arthur Laureats may be the greatest...

Arthur Laureats may be the greatest in number principled man I have at any time known.

One of his best known creations, Katie Morosky, the heroine of The Way We Were, admonishes her husband during a debate above the costs of standing one's land with the simple passionate statement: "Hubbell, population ARE their principles."

The take away from of remaining loyal to one's principles has obsess Arthur for greatest in number of his 85 years and has serv as inspiration for chiefly of his work.

Whether it be Julian, the young writer from Jolson Sings Again wrestling with the moral dilemma of continuing to work with his longtime director and friend, Andreas, after discovering he is an informer; or Rachel, the heroine of My profitable Name, faced with the discovery of her husband's involvement with insider trading upon Wall Street; or Claudia Lazlo, which questions the right of a brilliant opera singer to continue to perform despite her possible collusion with the Nazis; or that central relationship of the hugely prosperous The Way We Were; all of Arthur's characters ultimately must face united tough question: Is it possible to be fond of at the expense of one's be in possession of core principles?

His brilliance, it appears to me, has always been his ability to place an emotional be in love with story in the center of a larger socio-political words immediately preceding [i]or[/i] following The friction of the brace makes for powerful drama. The objective of that drama, according to Arthur himself, is "to act upon an audience, stimulate the imagination, and hopefully make them think a little."

Much has been said about his prodigious material substance of work by far better writers than myself. nevertheless the Arthur Laurents whom I have take rise to treasure is the personal one

I first met Arthur professionally when I was asked to direct a production of his play, My fit Name, at the Bay road Theatre. I had been warned by means of several people that Arthur "eats directors for breakfast" further from our very first meeting, instinctively, I knew that this was an faithful man, and one of tremendous heart. That first impression has in no degree proved wrong. He is uncompromising in his demand for the law on and offstage, and certainly will not sustain fools.

Arthur's honesty is famous. And by what means wonderful to have someone declare you what he thought of your work and NOT hear from someone other a week later what he REALLY conception because Arthur has already told you what he REALLY speculation . . . and because he's likewise damn brilliant, he's almost always right.

Over the past several years, we have worked onward seven shows together, and he has become my mentor, my inspiration, and my friend.

My first connection to Arthur was actually many years earlier by the agency of the Boy Scouts. In working towards my Eagle scorn I had to spend a wilderness survival weekend alone in the mountains, allowed to bring and nothing else those things "absolutely necessary for survival" (flint and rapier knife, canteen of water etc) However, I had smuggl into my clothes a tiny cassette recorder. in the way that I built my lean-to, made my sassafras tea, and onward the third day, when they get backed to pick me up, they establish me standing alone on the side of a mountain wailing along with Ethel Merman, "Curtain up light the lights!"

I was almost denied the merit badge until I could convince them that cheat the greatest musical ever written, was absolutely necessary for my survival. They gave me the merit badge and no, the lad Scouts did not kick me out

Even then, the passionate law of Arthur's work proved capable of defeating adversity.

For the last five years I have serv as Artistic Director at the George public way Playhouse in New Brunswick, of the present day Jersey. In that time, we have produc four works of Arthur's and will effect his latest play, The Vibrator, this season.

Arthur has become more than a valued resident artist at our theatre, he has become a loving friend. Arthur be due [i]or[/i] owings into our building and leaves little touches of be in love with behind. From the prop store to the box office, from the style of dress to the department, each member of the staff has their favorite "Arthur story," their treasured "Arthur memento," and principally of all, their own life scolding which Arthur has shared with them.

Through Arthur we have learned the real value of theatre: the passing down of knowledge and insight from undivided generation to the next. by dint of bringing his expertise and his cherished colleagues like that after the greek muse of costumery, Theoni Aldredge, to work with us time and again, a loving community is nurtur in which the artist might be perceived safe to create.

I have witnessed the fruits of that like and it is that be in love with which, finally, drives all of Arthur's work.

Often calm very good actors have been simpletoned by his fierce intellect, searing dialogue, and uncompromising politics into forgetting that each single one of his characters is driven by dint of heart. The secret to playing any of his characters is to start with that heart, that love

And like Katie Morosky said, "People ARE their principles" and after all is said and done, the greatest driving principle I have set up in Arthur Laurents is love

Copyright American Drama Institute Winter 2003

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