http://www.mikedaisey.com/2007/04/night-to-remember.sht

The artistic community is, of course, outraged that an audience member would dump water on an original script/outline in protest of content, let alone the mass exodus from American Repertory Theatre that followed. Immediately after the dumping heard around the theatrical world, Mr. Daisey kept his composure and confronted the audience as they left, asking, "Why don't you come back and talk about this instead of walking out like cowards?" As an artist, my heart goes out to Mr. Daisey (though this publicity will no doubt pack the houses for the rest of the run). But also as an artist, I am completely and thoroughly amused by the actions of the eighty-seven people.

First, let me make it adamantly clear that I do not support their actions or agenda. As a Christian, I think the true Christ-like action would be to either peacefully walk out OR to stick around and talk about it and perhaps come to a consensus. But again, as an artist, I can't help but smile because maybe, just maybe, a true statement in a theatre of washed opinions has been made?

I bet my salary that in a few months the audience will forget everything Mr. Daisey said in the course of the play. His words will mean nothing to them. But the audience WILL remember, until the day of their death, the mass exodus and the "attack" from a group of fellow audience members who chose to make a very clear and palpable statement with actions and NOT words. And Mr. Daisey WILL remember, and will be changed, by this very same event. His words will no longer have the same meaning they once did. And the theatre community WILL remember that art is powerful. And that a pure reaction to art is even more powerful.

Audience members will always have an agenda. So will the artists who perform for them. And when those two agendas clash, reaction is bound to occur. If an audience member seeks nothing more than entertainment and gets a two-hour long far-left political diatribe, then the audience member will obviously have a negative reaction. The same thing occured here. It's not a Hate Crime and it's not an act of cowardice. To remain seated for the rest of the show would have been closer to cowardice. It is a clash of ideals. And, more importantly, it reminds us of the very clear lines we use to separate ourselves from "the others."

Actions will always be more powerful than words.

So the question begs the answer, who is the true artist? One man with a personal narrative cracking "meaningful" and no doubt forgetful jokes? Or eighty-seven people that are permanently etched in the memory of all involved?