HELLO? ANYBODY OUT THERE? THE RESPONSE

Sharing one's thoughts and feelings in a blog occasionally results in a comment or two. In fact some thoughts expressed in a recent blog addressing the issue and/or angst of non-responses by theatres/readers to submissions, elicited a response by "anonymous." As an aside but pertinent to the signature, "anonymous," newspapers will not acknowledge the views of anyone without providing a legitimate signature but we'll overlook this, being that this is a blog.

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Dear Mr/Ms Anonymous,

As playwrights know only too well, non-responses are an unsavory reality of submitting one's play. Think of it in terms of a creator working and devoting a great deal of time and effort on a piece, sharing it with someone i.e. a stranger, who you believe to be sensitive to and familiar with the field in which you are working, only to be ignored. Nada! Nothing. Zip! It's so common that it's a given in which few playwrights AND scriptwriters too, comment upon.

Scripts/plays are sent out and at the very least you hope to hear whether or not it was received. So e-mail number one is sent sometimes resulting in an acknowledgement while other times...nothing.

Am I desperate to get my play(s) produced? You bet and so are we (as in playwrights collectively) all! Are we up against stiff competition? You bet and many of whom are local and well-known in the geographical location in which they reside. It is for this very reason that not receiving anything one way or the other becomes an issue. I would even settle for "you-gotta-be-kidding playwright - your play sucks big time!" but would prefer to read: "your play is currently being read and we'll get back to you with a decision one way or the other."

Anything is better than nothing and any news is better than no news or that dreaded silence. As an aside the artistic director mentioned when the play was submitted that she would get back to everyone in mid-February. Still there has been no news. I should be used to it by now but it never gets easier.

By the way anonymous - what have you written lately?