Two months since the monumental attack on America and in the midst of a struggling economy, entertainment is no longer on the back burner of the American psyche.
“People have begun to factor in the fact that they have the right to joy in their lives and they have the right to be entertained,” said nationally known psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers. “And they will continue to go to the type of events they went to before.”
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Chuck Petitbon is the artistic director and owner of Mill River Dinner Theatre in Central Falls. He said there was a drop in attendance immediately after September 11, but now it is business as usual again.
“I think things have started to turn around again,” he said. “And hopefully they’ll stay that way unless something else major happens.”
Paul Lynch, president of the Granite Theatre in Westerly, has noticed no drop-offs in attendance whatsoever.
“I think theater offers a pleasant diversion,” he said
Donald King, executive/artistic director of the Providence Black Repertory Company said his theatre has had the best attendance in its history, but is not sure it is related to the attack on America.
“We had some elderly people call and say they needed a kind of relief from the events of September 11, but there’s no science that it is a direct result,” he said. “I think part of it is because it was an excellent show we had running at the time.”
“But I do think art in times like this is definitely relevant and necessary and can have an impact on the spirit of a nation,” he said.
Lizzie Araujo, associate artistic director at Providence’s AS220, said almost every night at the space, where contemporary bands play, has been busy. She also could not say for sure if this was related to the September 11.
“It’s been busier than ever, but I don’t know if that’s because of the attack on America or participation by great young local musicians and promoters,” she said.
AS220 Communications Director Geoff Griffin found that the community art space drew a lot of people immediately after the attack.
“People were just coming here to not be alone,” he said. “We had people that wandered in here out of work on that Tuesday just to be around people in a public place.”
J. L. “Lynn” Singleton, president of the Providence Performing Arts Center, said he experienced a slight slowdown in mid-September, but in the weeks following, he was back on track.
He said, “In mid-September people were staying home and watching cable TV, and there’s definitely a psychic need for that. I noticed that in myself. Two weeks later, though, people were going out to movies. In human nature, people simply need to be with other people.”
Dr. Brothers said when people realize the need to be with other people, they go back to the social interactions they participated in before, rather than try new ones.
“It’s not that there will be a sudden urge to see comedy if you weren’t interested in comedy before,” she said. “Everyone will go to the events they ordinarily go to, whatever is their usual pleasure. We have so many negative emotions though, and only a few positive emotions and one of the things we need to do is pleasure ourselves.”
Evidence of Dr. Brothers’ point can be seen with Improv Jones, an improvisational comedy group that performs at the Perishable Theatre in Providence, which has gained no new laugh-seekers after mid-September.
“We haven’t noticed any change,” said Jed Arkley, an actor and spokesperson for the group. “It has been pretty steady, but I don’t see things like the economy having anything to do with us, because we only charge $5 anyway.”
Another steady during the fall was the Trinity Repertory Theatre. The company even performed on the evening of Sept. 11.
“We thought it was basically our responsibility to just do our jobs,” said Managing Director Edgar Dobie. “We’re social beasts and we like to gather and the theater is one of those places where people find comfort.”
