Evolving Stories and their Storytellers

Scene from the 2017 Autumn Kaleidoscope production of My Darling Dilophosaurus, written by Sean P. Mette

It’s a little before 5am, as the half moon’s light cascades perfectly between the gaps in the curtains. Desperately, I have been attempting to fall back asleep for the last hour. I’ve done breathing rituals, meditation, my usual categorical and alphabetical mind games to no avail. My mind is awake and fully active. It wants to create or in this particular case; edit.

For the longest time, I never understood why some cinematic and theatrical storytellers couldn’t leave their art alone after completion. I’m not referring to director’s cuts of films, as so often, the studio is more responsible for the ultimate length and, on occasion, material in the film. Instead, I am referring to the creators who tinker with seemingly completed projects for years or decades after their initial release. Slowly changing characters and moments to a degree that it evokes the ire of devoted fans of their original work.

Although many creators have done this, I don’t think that any embody this persona more in our common era than that of George Lucas. Since their initial release starting in 1977, the Star Wars Trilogy composed of A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi have undergone what seems like constant changes every several years by George Lucas. Starting in 1997 with the update and release of the “special editions,” the film trilogy has been under constant change. Although, some of the technical upgrades to the “special editions” did save and update some of the necessary outdated special effects, the additional changes devastated character defining moments.

Anyone that grew up with the original versions of these movies, will always tell you that Han shot first. Some fans, like myself, will argue till the day is done, that Return of the Jedi was better ended with the Ewok Celebration song, known by most as the “Yub Yub song.” Regardless, did these edits change the overall story that was being told. Ostensibly, no. The tale is still the same. Light vs Dark. Jedi vs Sith. Luke Skywalker. Han Solo. Princess Leia. Always let the Wookie win.

So why keep making changes? The public likes the story how it is, just leave it alone. I never really understood why a creator would want to go back and so fundamentally change what they had created. That is until recently.

Over the past few years, as my personal style of writing has improved, I have had desires to look backwards at what I have created in the past. There are some works that I have no desire to change, besides restoring some dialogue and/or scenes that were cut due to timing. I view these changes akin to a director’s cut as these moments were only altered due to constraints beyond my control. My play, Martha, about the last passenger pigeon would have its penultimate scene returned in which Martha in a simulated short ballet would struggle with her grief and realization that she is the last of her kind. Additionally, one of my more recent plays Banned From Heaven, Barred from Hell would have large sections of character-building dialogue in the beginning of the play re-instated as they were only ultimately unnecessarily cut for timing.

However, on this particular night as the moon shown so brilliantly, my mind drifts to an older play, My Darling Dilophosaurus. This play was the second production that I wrote and self-produced. There were many good moments both in the show and during the production process. I love what my actors brought to the stage and the time I got to spend with my good friend Kristen, who stage managed the production.

I thought, at the time, that the show was fine. I was proud of what occurred. However, the rush of putting on a show can blind sometimes to the many flaws that exist. I was not as great as a director or producer at that point. The script needed more revisions. I tried to force a connected theatrical universe among my works. One of the main characters (the dinosaur puppet) was not completed until the day of tech. I was more focused on the set dressing and the movement of said pieces throughout the course of the play. There were lost moments that could have been seen. The finances were abysmal. In the end, the play could have been better.

What didn’t help the situation was that several people close to me kept their true opinions of this show a secret for over a year; choosing instead to placate my feelings by telling me that the play was great. It was only a year later, after the completion of my much more successful play, The Haunting of William Howard Taft, did people begin to divulge how little they enjoyed the previous play. “I hated that show last year” was a particularly jabbing remark made by someone incredibly close to me.

So why am I still thinking about it? I know that the underlying story is still good. An amateur paleontologist wakes up to the realization that she is now the mother of a young dinosaur much to the chagrin of her girlfriend. I like the story…so what am I supposed to do now. Should I leave it as a creative statue languishing as a reminder of what not to do or a ghost haunting my theatrical memory? Or perhaps, there is a third choice; updating.

I now understand why other creators continually tinker on their stories. The story they wanted to tell is still there, but it could be better. A sequel? No; God no! But perhaps, another chance. As I lay in my bed, I began to peel back the layers of the play scene by scene, character by character till I began to understand more fully what the play could be. What the play should have been. What the story is truly about.

This realization only comes with time and growth as an artist. I would not have been able to see these holes then. Only from perspective can I appreciate what was created and what could be improved upon.

So, to my younger self, I congratulate you on creating a story and bringing it to life. Enjoy the company of your fellow cast members and friends. This is an exciting time; you have many more stories to tell, and I know how much of an adventure that is going to be for you. To my current self, I issue you a challenge, what if it was better. Write the story that you would want to see now. Ignore financial constraints and time limits; write the story how it should be written.

Some stories can remain as they are, but I now know that other stories were meant to be adapted, evolved over time. The truth of youth with age and perspective can become the wisdom of the elders.