Full testimonial from Jacob Sanders

Thoughts on Honoring Eric Bentley: A Centennial Tribute Concert 
by Jacob Sanders, dramaturg, playwright, & director

Watching Honoring Eric Bentley as both a lover of Brecht and dramaturgy, as well as a classroom teacher in drama, was a compelling experience. Overall, I found the film interesting, insightful, and artfully executed. In particular, the musical interludes were beautiful and enjoyable, specifically the pieces from Mother Courage. As a lover of Brecht’s work and as a burgeoning drama critic, I know that watching this program can be a highly enriching experience for others with similar interests. 

For my purposes as a classroom drama teacher, I think this film can serve as supplemental material for lessons concerning Brecht, dramaturgical criticism, and the political nature of theatre in the mid-20th Century. I would, however, mainly use sections of the film rather than all of it, given how the topics change. I think that this piece could also work very well in upper-level classes (like those in high school and college). A majority of the material, while fascinating, is a little too niche for the students I currently work with (middle school). That being said, it would be a valuable addition to classes for students who are very invested in the topics discussed. For example, in my classes with Maya Cantu at Bennington College, this film would have been perfect in her dramaturgy and theatre history classes. Furthermore, Honoring Eric Bentley would be useful for those interested in playwriting and those studying the history of Shaw and Shakespeare. Dramaturgically, the speakers who discussed Playwright as Thinker bring up many valuable insights on the state of theatre in the 1940s and evoke ideas of theatrical commercialism that still resonate in American theatre today. Another, still important though minor, addition would be the inclusion of Louise Hirschfeld’s section in classroom discussions on Brecht’s working relationship with women during his career and the often overlooked contributions they had in his body of work. Given to the right audience, Honoring Eric Bentley would become essential viewing for theatre critics, dramaturgs, performers, and playwrights alike.