Medical File (Notes – and SPOILERS! – from “Glendale G.P.”)

THE VENUE

Among the many clever-titled theaters throughout NYC, there is one that stands out for its sarcasm: Access Theater. Behind the title’s expectation of universal access for all, sits a theatre up 5 flights of stairs (it says “four,” but the first flight is a double one). I was told that there’s a small elevator to the rear of the building, but no one accessed it the evening I was there.

Like most NYC theaters, it was freezing inside, and stifling hot in the lobby. The acoustics were terrible because it was just one deep, open room. At least director Brad Saville was smart enough not to use the rear sections of the set.

THANK YOU’s

There were none! This was in stark contrast to all the other programs I collected this summer. It lack of thankfulness was doubly delightful because the both founders had a second chance to offer thanks through their biographies, but they passed up the opportunity. God, I love ungrateful theatre people! (<-sincerity)

My guess for the lack of gratitude is that the founders are beholden to no one. The Eastwind company is their vanity project, and they are determined not to let anyone steal their thunder. Good for you!

MEDICAL SATIRE

Even before I entered the theatre, the marketing had put me in mind of The Hospital, for which screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky won the second of his three Oscars.

According to the synopsis at allmovie.com, “The Hospital is a black comedy centering on Dr. Herbert Bock (George C. Scott), a bitter, suicidal surgeon. While patients at the hospital die left and right due to the extreme carelessness and ineptness of the staff that surrounds him, …a mysterious killer has begun stalking the hospital, taking out staff members.”

Satire raises the stakes, and The Hospital did just that, turning the pressures Doctors face into life and death matters. Greendale G.P. pulled its punches and put no one’s life or sanity in real danger. If it’s going to work right, Satire has to have balls.

Nowadays Satire is left to extremist hacks like Moore and silly jokers like Baron Cohen. Why don’t we ever hear Paddy Chayefsky’s name invoked more often? Where are his pupils today?

MY TOP FIVE FAVORITE LINES

#5
Two docs talking about the Lothario drug rep:
“He’s a squirrely guy.”
“He’s just trying to get a nut like the rest of us.”

#4
One of the Hollywood Types, regarding Reality Shows:
“We’re less concerned with quality than we are in content.”

#3
Dr. Whitaker, showing off her cynicism:
“I’m a Doctor. I know a little something about Acts of God.”

#2
Colleen, to a whiner who is complaining about how difficult life is:
“Difficult is life’s M.O.”

#1
Dr. Fenton, when faced with an ethical dilemma:
“Fuck the truth!”

It’s one of the best lines anyone could utter in a Satire.

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