h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi there,

I have been assigned as the sub-editor of your Brecht/Epic Theatre entry, which is a subject I remember well from the joy-filled days of Theatre Studies A-Level. If you know of any additions/changes/deletions you'd like to make to the entry, please let me know by replying to this thread. If I make any noticeable changes to the entry, I will let you know here before sending it back to the editors, so that you can approve or disapprove them.

David

Thanks its nice to stay fairly autonomous over my creation. Also nice to see I'm working with a professionals, masters and bachelors, I applaud you sir. Come October I will begin my 4 year work towards my masters in English lit, perhaps theatre studies or philosophy combined, haven't quite decided yet.

If I seem a little slow on the uptake bear in mind this is my second EG entry so I'm not that well versed in editing but I think I have a good idea of how to get along with it. Glad for it to be started soon.

By the by have you seen in PR I have an article on Stanislavski and another 2, soon to be 3, I've written just waiting to go in PR on Artaud, Grotowski and (soon) Boal. Keep an eye out if you know anything about them for help on them if you pleashe.

Hi Tony2Times (or do you prefer Prof. Chaos?),

I have indeed seen the Stanislavski entry, and have posted in the thread to say how much I like it.

It's very nice to get an entry to sub which fits in with my own areas of expertise, as I tend to get sciency things. This is a very pleasant change!

David

Whoops so you had, I thought I recognised your name but assumed I'd confused it with another David. Erm, Tony's a good pseudonym what with it being my actual name, or Chaos if you really want but that's a supervillain so I might be forced to be mean and throw various scalding chemicals at you and wave at you with my comically over-sized gauntlet.

Well I'm glad to give something that you're glad to edit, I'm sure it makes the process for everyone all that bit nicer

Heyho, just wondering if you've started editing my piece yet or if you're busy doing some other subediting.
A4986840
Just putting the link there so I can see the recomended version easily, obv I only have my version on my profile, can't be bothered to search each time.

Sorry, I normally put that link in at the beginning of these messages. I have only done a spell-check run-through so far (don't worry, only two errors, which were very small), but hope I can do some more over the weekend.

David

Hi Tony,

I have tidied up various bits of grammar and also added various links to other entries in the Guide. I have also corrected one error - the song that is known as Mack the Knife isn't sung as a duet by Macheath and Tiger Brown (that's the Cannon Song, I think), but by an anonymous street singer, so I have removed reference to who sings it. If I have erred and this song really is a duet between those two characters, I will be happy to change it back, but in all the recordings and performances of the Threepenny Opera that I'm aware of, it's the street singer (well, apart from one production where Jenny randomly steals it!).

Please do have a look over the entry and let me know if you have any problems with it. I shall probably look it over a few more times before sending it back to the editors, which will probably happen on Wednesday or so.

David

I'm afraid I'm only familiar with The Beggar's Opera, nt Threepenny so I wouldn't know for sure, I was going on a source but its a needless detail so can stay out. Shall look over it now.

Incidentally I have just finished reading American Psycho (review to go up in The Post edition after next) where Threepenny Opera is referred to two or three times, replaces the reference of Les Miserablés - both are used to symbolise the corruption of the rich. But that's another, funny and violent, story altogether

Would it be possible to link Stanislavski (either of the two references) to my article on Stanislavski, it too is recommended. Or does it have to have been on the front page before it can be linked to; I know it has to be 'edited' but this is in the process of being edited, it will be pending at least by the time this is edited.

Epic Theatre - second paragraph:
"ironically, his techniques have now become clichés of the modern theatre he would probably have to dismiss if he were alive today."
>>>> "clichés of the modern theatre so he would probably"

Alienation: Rather than say "merely enjoy" I think I should say "merely enjoy, emotionally, what was..." otherwise it sounds as if Brecht didn't want ppl to like his plays

Suspense: last line "rather then" shud be "rather than" shud it not?

Storytelling actor: "Another way to achieve this that has greatly influenced the theatre, is to" should be a comma after "this" so as to make the bit after a subordinate clause, almost like a bracket. Or move it around for better syntax.

That is all, done a good job, chars.

***** Would it be possible to link Stanislavski (either of the two references) to my article on Stanislavski, it too is recommended. Or does it have to have been on the front page before it can be linked to; I know it has to be 'edited' but this is in the process of being edited, it will be pending at least by the time this is edited.

We can only link to fully edited entries, unfortunately, but if you put in a request at the feedback forum once the entries have both gone live, the editors can put a link in for you.

*****Epic Theatre - second paragraph:
"ironically, his techniques have now become clichés of the modern theatre he would probably have to dismiss if he were alive today."
>>>> "clichés of the modern theatre so he would probably"

I think the problem is that I'm not entirely sure what you want to say with this sentence. Do you mean that he would have to reject his techniques, or that he would have to reject modern theatre? I can then insert an appropriate 'it' or 'them' or some such, which should make the sentence read much better.

*****Alienation: Rather than say "merely enjoy" I think I should say "merely enjoy, emotionally, what was..." otherwise it sounds as if Brecht didn't want ppl to like his plays

Agreed. Done.

*****Suspense: last line "rather then" shud be "rather than" shud it not?

Yes, sorry. Changed.

*****Storytelling actor: "Another way to achieve this that has greatly influenced the theatre, is to" should be a comma after "this" so as to make the bit after a subordinate clause, almost like a bracket. Or move it around for better syntax.

I've moved it around, but it still doesn't read wonderfully. It looked a bit odd with the comma added, so I tried this re-arrangement. I shall have another look later. Maybe fresh eyes will give me a moment.

David

Hi Tony,

All your comments have now been addressed and I shall now send this back to the editors. It will appear on the Front Page before too long!

David

Before you do (if you can) that one sentence in the Epic Theatre section still hasn't been sorted out.

What it means is that Brecht focussed on defying theatrical convention, making sure everything was fresh and nothing was clichéd. His style has become so influential that if he were still alive he would have to do away with his own methods, as they are now cliché.

Hence I want: his work is now mainstream in "the modern theatre SO that" he would have to do away with it. Understand me yet? I didn't think it was that confusing to read.