Long ago I decided to wean myself off cable news. It wasn’t too difficult.
The “news” part of cable news at the top and bottom of the hour wasn’t the issue. It was the commentary in the middle. The incessant blathering and occasional shouting. The ranting and raving.
The noise quickly wore thin on me.
So I felt a slight sense of trepidation when I went to see Talk, a play making its world premiere at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Written by Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck, Talk is a fast-paced, dialogue-rich satire about a cable news talk show that goes off the rails. Here’s a quick summary – no spoilers.
The play begins with the host, Brenda, arguing with her producer, Serge, moments before a live broadcast. Brenda wants to scratch one of
the guests, so Serge finds a substitute who joins the discussion in progress. What could go wrong?
Just about everything, which made for an entertaining and fascinating examination of how politics, news and entertainment collide in our world today.
Full disclosure: I didn’t plan to see Talk. But I was invited to participate in a panel discussion in the intimate Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre after last Sunday’s performance. Joining me were Maryanne Zeleznik, host of Morning Edition on WVXU-FM, and Megan Mitchell, a reporter and morning anchor at WLWT-TV. Tatiana Godfrey, the playhouse’s literary manager, led the discussion.
“This is my dream job,” she told me when I asked her what a literary manager does. In addition to organizing programs like our panel discussion, she works closely with playwrights and directors during the collaborative process of bringing a play to the stage – especially when Playhouse in the Park commissions a new play, as was the case with Talk.
Godfrey thought it might be interesting to have real-world media professionals share their reaction to the play and discuss how we “navigate the current media environment.” If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know I have a lot to say about that.
But first, I had to see the play.
Talk probes some provocative material. One of the more obvious themes is the pressure on broadcast journalists to be entertainers – a pressure that, by the way, has seeped into legacy print newsrooms as we compete for your attention on video-centered social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
A subtler, darker theme – or at least one I drew from Talk after having a day to let it sink in – was the exploitative nature of journalism. A mentor of mine once observed that reporters often interview people during the worst moments of their lives. That work requires a level of sensitivity and professionalism that, sadly, is largely absent from today’s world of infotainment.
But the magic of Talk is that it triggers these unsettling, deep thoughts while also being riveting and wickedly funny. The tiny set is big on intensity, with the characters literally spinning out of control on a turntable that, in and of itself, plays a starring role in the performance.
A few quick takeaways emerged from our panel discussion. Yes, we do feel pressure to engage an audience that seeks to be entertained and has an ever-shrinking attention span. The once-parallel tracks of TV, radio and print have converged online, forever changing the way we approach the news. And consumers clearly struggle to distinguish fact-based reporting from shoot-from-the-hip commentary – the kind first amplified by cable news and that now commands millions of followers on social media.
My biggest personal takeaway is that I need to avail myself of Cincinnati’s world-class theater scene more often. I’m no fine arts critic, but I will say this about Talk: It’s one of those shows that sticks with you long after the actors return for their curtain call. Find time to see it and let me know what moments stick with you.
Talk, directed by Mêlisa Annis, runs through Oct. 25 at Playhouse in the Park. For tickets, go online to cincyplay.com.
Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a biweekly column that takes you behind the scenes at The Enquirer. Occasionally, he shares his thoughts on local issues, particularly as they pertain to a free press and open government. Email him at blove@enquirer.com. He can’t respond personally to every email, but he reads them all.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: I saw a play about the media, and I have thoughts | From the editor
