Statement: Producing the Play

Producing Talk Radio

Textual Issues
Since Talk Radio is about a radio program and is a snapshot of “one night in the life of Barry Champlain’s radio program” there are immediate issues. Radio is not something that is meant to be viewed, so there is a problem presented before one even reads the entirety of the script. The issue becomes how to present a predominately listened to medium in a visual way. This is particularly tough because there is very little physical interaction between any of the characters. What drives the production is the callers. The callers pose another interesting textual problem. They were written to be heard and not necessarily seen. If the callers are not visible, then it becomes necessary to use artificial amplification so that they can be heard. This could be problematic for some theatres that do not have the necessary equipment. If the decision is made to put the callers on stage, then there will be more costumes needed even if they are basic. There are close to thirty callers so the sheer number of these extras must be considered. The content of Talk Radio can be controversial to say the least. In reviews Barry Champlain is often referred to as a “shock-jock” and with lines referring to owning blacks or anti-Semite leanings or yelling at a young pregnant teenager for how she “did this” to her boyfriend most of the material is controversial and adult. In the text, it is specifically referenced that Barry smokes heavily. He is meant by Bogosian to be constantly smoking and drinking throughout the whole play. Smoking on stage, particularly constantly, poses problems for a variety of reasons from the fire code to the health of the actor to the health of the audience.

Contextual Issues
Talk Radio is going to be produced in a Raven Rep slot in the Showcase Theatre during the fall semester. It is important to note that as a Raven Rep show, there is virtually no production budget. First, the concern of taking this listened to show and making it something viable will be a concern for the director during casting. There is a problem producing Talk Radio since the age and experience of Barry are far beyond the age and experience found at SHSU. The second problem is that of the callers. It would be very tough to place the callers backstage when utilizing the Showcase especially if trying to allow their dialogue to be heard through artificial amplification. However, if the decision is made to put them onstage, there is the issue of where to put them that will flow with the rest of the set (which would be the station) and how they will be dressed. With either choice there will be problems for either the sound designer/sound engineer or the costume designer. In the text, there are different radio spots that play during station breaks, these must be prerecorded. Since there is a need for prerecorded spots as well as sound amplification and music, it would be helpful to use a sound engineer/sound designer. The final issue is that of smoking. In the SHSU facilities, we do not have very good ventilation. Also, actual smoking would mean the use of live flame which is a potential fire hazard. Beyond these two issues, smoking is a concern for the audience and actors. If Barry smokes between two and three packs of cigarettes a show, as called for in the script, then there is the ethical concern of exposing the audience and actors to that much second-hand smoke. Also, there is the ethical concern that the individual cast as Barry, who in our case will be a student, will be smoking very, very heavily. When casting does that mean that only smokers need apply and if they are smokers are they smoking this heavily? As a school, there is a responsibility to the students to keep them safe so that has to be taken into consideration when handling this problem.

Other Productions’ Solutions
In the original Talk Radio production, the callers in booths backstage listening to Barry on telephones that were mounted with special listening devices and microphones so the audience could hear them. The revival utilized something similar. In terms of casting the callers, nearly every production used one or two female actors for all of the female callers and same with the male callers. Every production utilized a sound designer or engineer. References to smoking are made in different productions, but it does not seem to be problematic. Of course, on Broadway the theatres typically have excellent ventilation. In the Arkansas State University production, it appears that they did not use cigarettes. It seems the best thing to do is give a full disclosure in the pre-performance press release.

Critics’ Response to Other Productions
The New City Stage Co. production was criticized for using actor Paul Felder who they felt was too young and inexperienced to play such a cynical role. The revival with Liev Schreiber was lauded and critics said the role was “made for him.” Sometimes critics would respond to the acting only after they commented on the script. Critics either like the script and find it compelling and truthful or dislike it because it is too hateful with no redeeming qualities. Talk Radio, especially early on, is often compared to Bogosian’s other monologue work.