The A.R.T. hopes to eventually see its influence extending beyond the Harvard community, with companies around the country becoming more dedicated to non-traditional theater. “OBERON connects with Diane Paulus’ vision,” Pecci says. “Her vision is for artists all over the country to be engaging with audiences in new and different ways, to expand the boundaries of theater.”
NOT YOUR CUP OF G & “TEA”
While OBERON has made innovative theater and audience engagement its top priority, hoping to increase its cultural impact, not everyone appreciates this type of experience. “Different people have different preferences,” Elizabeth “Lisa” Schechner ’11 says. “I think I would probably prefer traditional theater.”
Despite the throngs of enthusiastically dancing audience members who frequent “The Donkey Show,” there are also some who choose to hang back and watch from a distance, clearly yearning for a chair in a regular auditorium. OBERON accounts for these individuals by offering non-dance floor seats at the cocktail tables.
Weiner recognizes that OBERON might not fit everyone’s idea of theater, but mass appeal is not the point. “Every show has an audience,” Weiner says. “We do these strange shows. Is it everyone’s cup of tea? No.”
“OBERON promotes a wonderful freedom,” Weiner continues. “In traditional theater, they make you sit and watch the whole show. I never feel boredom like I do in traditional theater. In all that long show, maybe there are 10 minutes that are boring and I wish I could go chill out and have a drink. OBERON allows for that. This isn’t the only way to do theater but it’s another way, an alternative.”
Regardless of whether this form of theater is immediately accepted, Weiner hopes that audiences will at least give it a chance. “‘The Donkey Show’ is a flagship of what can happen here,” he says. “What’s so cool is I’m not sure where it’s all going to lead. I just want to provide a venue where people can try things. Come to the show, test it, and try it.”
The value of such a dynamic addition to Harvard nightlife is not lost on students. “A club opened up across from Berryline. And it’s a fantasy-land club with glitter and Mylar and blasting 70s music and lights and sex splashed all over it,” Danner says. “We’re in college; what more could we ask for?”
—Staff writer Ali R. Leskowitz can be reached at aleskow@fas.harvard.edu.