It was partially at my encouragment and agreement to get involved that Isaac started The Great Viewpoints Conversation of Ought Seven a couple weeks ago, and I regret that I've waited till now to reply. Apologies.

At any rate ...

I'm A Sensitive Guy

Personally, I do get sensitive, protective, and a bit cynical when people tell me they're working with ViewPoints. It probably has a lot to do with living where I do. The SITI Company makes regular visits to Columbus, Ohio (thank to the Wexner Center at OSU) so there are a lot of people with various levels of experience around town. So, just about everyone seems to do a show from time to time "with ViewPoints" and you can bet that some people have no idea what they're talking about, some people have only a little idea what they're talking about, and only a few people will really "get it".

(Of course, as soon as I start passing judgments on other people and their work, I remember the non-hierarchical goals of the work and feel a bit ashamed to be so judgmental. Alas, I think we can all agree that some folks definitely mis-use the term and the techniques. Who those folks are, I guess, is up to each of us to decide.)

Directors come up a lot on blogs, a lot of talk, what they do or don't do or should do. I've directed a decent amount with my company Working Group and have recently begun "helming" at regional theaters under co-production status with my company. So, I have a little experience with it. I've also acted a lot and been a playwright a lot and have enjoyed some and hated others.

I was in a rehearsal recently (professional LORT contract theater) and noticed the director giving solely negative notes. I asked an actor later about it and he said "well, either we're doing poorly or she just trusts if we don't get a note than we can assume it's working."

I then asked him if he thought it was working and he stopped for a second.