THE NEWFOUNDLAND QUARTERLY :: ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

Online Exclusive for #442

Roundtable: The Performing Arts

- by Jay McGrath

The performing arts: it's something we're known for, from world-renowned entertainers to local performers. How are the performing arts important to us and our culture? What impact do the arts play on our way of life? Is there a type of performance you believe stands out above all others? Is there a name synonymous with the performing arts?

"One of the under-appreciated performing arts is the art of story telling. A good story teller can capture an audience without raising their voice, without getting out of their seat. They can make you laugh, cry or scare ya to death. [T]he emphasis on certain words, the timing, the facial expressions make story telling a unique art form. A story teller is a top-tier artis; that's not to discredit other arts and their art forms but this one stands out above all others for me."  - 42, Housewife

"Dance is a very personal performance. It's an expression of one's self through body movement, either as an individual or as a pair. It's the highest form of artistic expression."  - 22, Dancer

"There are a lot of theatres around the province, on a local and provincial level. Locally we see theatres from Cow Head to Trinity, attracting tourists and supporting the local economy. Provincially we see the Arts and Culture Centres as well as troupes like Rising Tide Theater who bring their craft to communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The arts have brought a lot of money to this province and have created a lot of jobs in bigger centres, but, more importantly, in remote, rural areas."  - 31, Former Theater Actor

"Traditional music [is] celebrated most nights of the week in the many bars of George Street. Plus we have so many festivals: Salmon, Tuckamore, Blueberry, Sound Symposium, Festival 500, Wreckhouse. So the impact on the economy, the creative release for the performers, the entertainment value for the crowd, I see it as a win/win for all the players involved."   - 29, Singer, Songwriter, Performer

"In terms of mainstream performing arts in this province, the most recognizable is probably the Mummers. These people come into your house. There is no need to buy tickets. They aren't paid performers. They are just people from down the street dressed [as a] character who come into your home. Then when it's your turn you do the same. Plus there's a sense of tradition to the act as well. It's been part of our history since early in the 1800s. It's so easily associated with us too. If you say Mummers to someone they know you're talking about our province."   - 30, HR Specialist

"We can seriously add television to that list now. With Republic of Doyle, our performing arts are prime time now. Let's go Hawco! And the folks from shows like This Hour Has 22 Minutes. That's who I associate with the term performing arts."  - 34, Trades Worker

"It's innovative, revolutionary even, as a lot of times it challenges the norm and the way we think. You can look back at some of the names who have really changed the landscape of the arts. Shakespeare in his time, Charlie Chaplin, Elvis, Andy Kaufman, Madonna, and recently Lady Gaga. The artists who are associated with a certain time or revolutionize us in some way really speak to who we are as a people, as a society."  - 22, University Student

"Ms Mary Power comes to mind as one of the great local performing artists. A talented story teller, an amazing lady. She could hold an audience in the palm of her hand, make them laugh out loud, bring a tear to their cheek and captivate them. And she was an artist in every sense of the word. See when it comes to performance an artist is only interested in the art. They aren't concerned with the profits made, they are only focused on the quality of their work and the audience's connection to it. If they make money along the way it's an added bonus. She was a true artist."  - 58, Retired

"Rising Tide Theater and the Revues are what I think of. Haven't missed a year yet. Great performers."  - 37, Welder

"Shakespeare and Charlie Chaplin are two names that immediately come to mind as revolutionary forces in the world of performing arts. Both artists' works are still adored. Anyone that can pass the test of time have to be looked at as the top of the game."   - 25, Nurse

"Performances are not performances unless there is an audience. We are very supportive here. There is a lot of public support. I mean that from a funding perspective, as the government is helpful to the arts community. The venues are here. We have the Arts and Culture Centres across the province. Holy Heart Theatre, the Majestic, the legendary LSPU Hall, plus theatres at Memorial, among others. There are a number of different grant opportunities available. It's great that as a government and as a society we're supportive of the arts."   - 30, Federal Government Employee

"Gordon Pinsent is the quintessential artist. A real Jack-of-all-trades. An incredible actor, a gifted story teller, a talented singer, and a gentleman. There's a reason there's an Arts and Culture Centre named in his honour. Hiss body of work is one of the most refined collections of any artist of our time. He's a proud man, a proud Newfoundlander, and we're proud to have him."   - 51, Former Performer

"[The performing arts] is such a vague term. 'Performances can be either scripted or unscripted, random or coordinated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned, with or without an audience participation. Although I'm not sure how it can be classified as a performance if there is nobody watching you perform. The performance can be live or taped; the performer can be present or absent; again I do not understand how a performer can be absent from the performance. It can be any situation that involves four basic elements: time, space, the performer's body, or presence in a medium, and a relationship between performer and audience. Performance art can happen anywhere, in any venue or setting and for any length of time.' I found this description (with a bit of adlibbing) online and its ridiculous. Way too vague. We (and I don't know who I'm referring to with that 'we', if it's us as a province or as a society as a whole) put this big emphasis around the performing arts, but look: it's all entertainment. There are entertainers and then there are those who pay to be entertained. Without a paying audience who enjoys the performance and would pay to see them again or recommend to a friend that they pay their hard-earned money to see these entertainers then it's all for nothing. The definition of performing arts should be an entertainer who can put a butt [in the seats]."   - 40, Engineer

"The basis for this art form is communication. It's a unique way for a person to share stories, feelings, with an audience. To share with them a part of their life or a part of their imagination.That's what the arts are all about, communicating with each other. The better the communicator, the better the art."   - 27, Aspiring Writer

"I'm a big fan of Christopher Walken. He's an incredible actor who can make you laugh out loud (see Walken reading Lady Gaga's "Pokerface") or have you hooked on the edge of your seat (see Deer Hunter). One of my favorite Walken scenes is in Man on Fire when he explains that every man is an artist. I think he's right. Some people are performers, or entertainers if you will, but in every walk of life there's an art form. Whether it's how you piece together your paper as a student, or how you deal with customers in the service industry, how you repair the engine of a car, put an IV in someone's hand. There's an art to everything and maybe tomorrow you'll paint your masterpiece."   - 29, University Student

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