Description
Many people think that the only proper "art" is a picture which "looks real" in the sense that it comes as close as possible to a photograph. If that were true, there would be no artists, only cameramen. But in fact, there are also posters, Chinese water-colours, cartoons, caricatures, outline drawings, and various forms of art which can be much more vivid, which can convey a message about reality much more powerfully, than can a photograph; and in that sense, though not "realistic" can be more "real".
In the same way, the "realistic" tradition of theatre has become so predominant, that to many people this is the only thing that is meant by a "play". They think that special stage, lighting and curtains are necessary, accurately detailed costumes and sets, and skilfully-trained actors who have carefully rehearsed every action and phrase. If this were so, then watching the play would be just as though we were watching a documentary film of people going about their natural lives, talking in their normal, everyday, boring fashion. There wouldn't be playwrights and actors only movie cameramen.
But in fact, there are as many kinds of theatre as there are of art.
