Last week columnist Lindsey Kastning was ridiculed twice for not having the same liking to “A Cinderella Waltz” as two NIU theater enthusiasts in a mean-spirited and unprofessional fashion. There is a high level of talent in the NIU theater department, but unfortunately those not “researched up on plays” are not worthy of seeing this talent. Ms. Kastning disliked a production, and Mr. Kwiecinski, speaking on the [be]half of the department, had the audacity to publicly degrade her saying she was incapable of viewing a play. This was then followed by a classless article written by a Ms. Blaustein, a sister of a performer, who said the viewer should “...wish someday she can be as wonderful at something as my sister is at acting.” Perhaps this disrespect towards the audience reflects the theater department’s already low ticket sales and attendance records, which leads to its already low budget and unhappy viewers.

The great Willie Shakespeare was known for being able to entertain the common man, not the selected “elite” who were experts on the theater. Evidently, NIU theater does not seek to do this. Given that, I recommend all readers curious about the theater but not “researched up” on theater, the NIU theater’s budget and the specific play that is being performed, not to attend these plays, and let the actors have the theater to themselves because “our kind” are not welcome.

Finally, in a business as competitive as acting, it is childish for an actor/actress to whine when his/her work is not critically acclaimed and come to the conclusion that it was the audience’s lack of knowledge responsible for the work’s failure. Ms. Kastning had no “duty” to fulfill before entering the play; it is the cast’s job to do the researching, not the audience’s, or else the audience would be the theater majors - which they most certainly are not! My advice to the department is to beware of who you are insulting because you just might be serving them coffee one day.

Jerry Connor,
senior political science major

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