It is not often that I consciously recognize yourself being subconsciously drawn into a work of theater. I am either full in or fully out. But when watching the good person of Szechwan, I felt as if I was lucid dreaming, in that I was able to appreciate the play on two levels at once during the final scenes of the play. The first level was the acting, as it truly drew me in with a spectacular heart wrenching performance. The second was a level on analyzing the meaning and depth behinds the ideas and concepts they were engaging the audience with. Part of this ability to contemplate the play on this level was due to the fact that the actors broke the fourth wall and spoke directly to us, and even expected a reply, when they directed potent questions at us. The second was due to their scenery which broke the fourth wall from the very start.
This experience was able to change my perspective in two ways. Firstly, while during the beginning of the play, I was not a fan the style of the play and scenic design. After that conclusion, I am a fanatic. Secondly, the content of the play also affected me, as I simultaneously perceived the play on this level as well. It dealt with a number of terribly difficult philosophical questions: How can one be a good person and still have a good life. How can one be accountable if he chooses not to be good, if it is so hard to be. Why should bad things happen to good people? These questions were asked so well, and made me think long and hard about these topics, only to conclude that I still I am not sure.
