About Theater of the Obvious (ToTO)

My friend, Lisa, was studying theater at Stony Brook University on Long Island. She introduced me to some of her friends. They were all  producing an outdoor production of the classic Greek comedy Lysistrata. During a rehearsal, one of the actors made a reference to how basic the production was. He jokingly announced: “Theater of the obvious!” That funny remark hit me like a bulldozer from heaven.

I liked the idea of theater that was obviously theater, from the costumes to the props to the set. A stylized realism, not pretending to be anything else, showcasing the fun complexities of language and character. Obviously not always obvious. A few months later, I had written the first Theater of the Obvious play: the comedy Lust, Murder, and Ancient Druid Architecture. We produced it at Stony Brook and then a few other places. I continued the Theater of the Obvious theme in my writing, collaborating with many wonderful theater people who had no idea what ToTO was. But I’d stand in the back during rehearsals and announce to myself: “Theater of the obvious!”

About Rick

Rick Balian is an award-winning playwright whose plays for adults, young adults, and children have been performed all over the U.S. His play The Brannock Device is published by Samuel French. Rick was the recipient of a residency at the Millay Colony for the Arts and was an artist-in-residence at Elmira College. His comedy shows and one-acts have been performed at many theaters and venues in Manhattan and other places, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

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