But, for the second time in the last twenty years, a Twain classic is being redone for the musical stage. Next month, the historic Berkeley Repertory Theatre moves into their new home, and the change will reportedly be breathtaking. All things Indian are suddenly very hot in London right now. Over in Covent Garden, the Royal Opera is a developing a Bollywood version of Turandot. I think the first big leading indicator was baby boomers' abandonment of live theater.
Younger people tend to find live theater too intimate, too unmediated, too real, too creepy.
This after a long period when it seemed to disappear. Desperately, I would say. I am not claiming it is the sole function of theatre to analyse government and society. But if drama withdraws from engagement with the public world, it is inevitably diluted. In the past five years shock theatre has been a constant presence on the London stage.