.png)
Recently, the McConnell Scholars welcomed Dr. Rinda Frye for a discussion on William Shakespeare's Richard III, a play which she directed at the University of Louisville. Dr. Frye teaches acting and voice at UofL where she chairs the Theatre Department. In addition to directing at Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Utah Shakespeare Players of Salt Lake City, Dr. Frye has written numerous scholarly articles on Shakespeare and stage dialects.
During her time with the McConnell Scholars, Dr. Frye offered insight into both acting and directing. She related how modern theatre requires directors to downsize scripts and utilize versatile actors. Simply put, today's society has neither the patience nor the theatrical interest to completely fulfill the intent of some scripts. However, such a trend allowed directors greater liberty in crafting their own dramatic interpretations.
Lastly, Dr. Frye commented upon the disparity between Broadway and Hollywood. In her view, acting was not a universal trait that transferred from the stage to the screen. Instead, Dr. Frye argued that Hollywood hired models, not actors, thus relying on music and special effects to invoke emotions typically the result of quality acting. Dr. Frye concluded by conveying her confidence in the future of theatre. As long as drama remained the product of competent acting, society would have both a need and a place for it.
BRC, Class of 2012