The Hole in the Literary Wall

Yesterday, The Great Plotnik received a blog response from someone in the theater world, about whom he had recently written. In the blog, Plottie had been complimentary about this person's performance but not particularly complimentary about the show he had seen him or her in.

Of course, Plottie's comments were meant only for The Great Plotnik readers. For the theater review he turned in to the real world, he was careful to fashion his comments to discuss the play's good parts. Why? Because theater is hard, and small companies struggle. Plottie spent many years playing piano in crummy clubs with two customers, both drunk. He would rather assist artists then blast them. For a show to get a stinker review from TGP, it just about has to be Lestat.

But the more he thought about it, the more The Great Plotnik felt...well, violated is too strong a word...how about disturbed? The Great Plotnik is the private domain of the Plotnikkies in this world. Work is work, and play is play. Or so went the argument. Why didn't this person simply send him an email instead of commenting on his private blog? And why didn't he/she sign his/her name, instead of punching Anonymous?

But that was only how he felt about it at first. The more he thought about it -- the more he liked it. The issue here is that there is no private domain anymore -- not with the power of search engines. While you sit sipping tea with your friends in your cute little literary nook with curtains drawn and a candle burning, there may be a hole ten miles wide in one of the walls, and a telescope pointed right at you. The whole world could be watching. And in your heart you're pleased.

Every performer loves an audience. It's our fatal flaw. Playrights, actors, piano players, entertainment columnists, sculptors, dancers, chefs, even bloggers -- we want, above all, to be recognized.

Nobody wants to be Emily Dickinson. Even Emily Dickinson didn't want to be Emily Dickinson.

So it's nice to have you aboard, Ms./Mr. New Plotnikkie, and all Ms./Mr. New Plotnikkies. Please come back and feel free to sign your name next time if you like. The whole universe is our canvas. Hope you like whole grains and baby pictures.