Unbridled: Studying Religion in Performance

175 Pages·2022·0.847 MB·English

by  William Robert

UNBRIDLED
Edited by Kathryn Lofton and John Lardas Modern
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UNBRIDLED
Studying Religion in Performance
WILLIAM ROBERT
The University of Chicago Press
Chicago and London
The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London
© 2022 by The University of Chicago
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any
manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief
quotations in critical articles and reviews. For more information, contact the
University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637.
Published 2022
Printed in the United States of America
31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN- 13: 978- 0- 226- 81658- 6 (cloth)
ISBN- 13: 978- 0- 226- 81690- 6 (paper)
ISBN- 13: 978- 0- 226- 81689- 0 (e- book)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226816890.001.0001
Names: Robert, William, 1974–, author.
Title: Unbridled : studying religion in performance / William Robert.
Description: Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2022. | Series: Class 200, new
studies in religion |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021019295 | ISBN 9780226816586 (cloth) | ISBN 9780226816906
(paperback) | ISBN 9780226816890 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Shaffer, Peter, 1926–2016. Equus. | Drama—Religious aspects.
Classification: LCC PR6037.H23 E6376 2022 | DDC 822/.914—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021019295
♾ This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48- 1992
(Permanence of Paper).
Unbridled
or
Studying Religion’s Wild Ride
or
What a Difference a Performance Makes
or
Why Me
or
Learning Onstage
or
How Not to Have Sex in a Stable
or
Doing Things with Imagination
or
Making Ways

To my students
Between the actor and the analyst, whatever the distance,
whatever the differences, the boundary appears so uncertain.
Always permeable. It must even be crossed at some point . . .
Jacques Derrida
Horses horses horses horses horses horses horses horses . . .
Patti Smith

PLAYBILL
Program Notes 1
Cast 7
Prologue 9
ACT 1 ACT 2
1.1 Mise- en- scène 13 2.1 Staging 35
1.2 Imagination 16 2.2 Performance- Text 38
1.3 Literature 18 2.3 Inter- 40
1.4 Performance 20 2.4 Mask 42
1.5 Case 23 2.5 Play 45
1.6 Terms 26 2.6 Acting 48
1.7 Problems 28 2.7 Make- Believe 51
1.8 Question 30 2.8 Play- in- Play 55
ACT 3 ACT 4
3.1 Casting 59 4.1 Directing 83
3.2 Relations 62 4.2 Passion 86
3.3 Image 65 4.3 Pain 89
3.4 Human- Horse- Divinity 68 4.4 Normal 92
3.5 Devotion 71 4.5 Tragedy 95
3.6 Sexuality 74 4.6 Sacrifice 98
3.7 Queer 77 4.7 Ending 101
3.8 Nude 79 4.8 Value 104
Epilogue 107
Encore 109
Credits 111 Notes 113 References 145 Index 155