27/11/2001 The GHASP! Awards, Best Koi In A Murky Puddle

A lot of people have asked me, "So George, you going to the CAT Awards?"

I have to resist the urge to answer a question with a question.

"So feller, you going to the GHASP! Awards?"

I remember back in 1994, when I was the tender age of 27, "The House of Bernarda Alba" won a swag of awards at the PRIME Wagga Wagga 40th Festival of Plays. During one of my 57 acceptance speeches (I think we were even nominated for Best Male Actor in an all-female cast)((and I was running out of things to say by the end)) that one of the best ways to learn about your craft is to take in as much theatre as you can, both 'pro' and 'am', do some workshops, widen your theatrical palette and try to venture out of theatric comfort-zones every so often.

That wasn't patronising at all, was it?

But I'm afraid I still stick by what I said back then. (Read what follows knowing you may be infuriated.) Far too many people in local companies, both 'pro' and 'am', feel they have already reached a pinnacle in their "art". But again, I'm afraid, most of these so-called pinnacles are self-defined and only anthill-height. I've been accused of being a Big Fish In A Little Pond more than once and I know that deep down this is close to the truth. I'm probably a (Lower to) Medium Koi In A Pretty Murky Puddle.

I am, in those dark, murky, puddly moments, quite pissed off when I make an effort to catch other people's shows and they make no attempt to see mine - or others. I'm despairing of those that work/exist within their own illustrious company, see that sparkling company as the "only glittering company doing anything worthwhile in town", and worse, figure that because they are at the top of that rising company's hierarchy (or kitchen stepladder), that they have made it to the top of their art.

Well, I've got news for them. You never truly get 'to' or 'on top' of art. You only get 'to' or 'on top' of people. In essence, real art is something that should intrinsically be shared - sometimes for aesthetic pleasure, sometimes to provoke and sometimes to elicit commentary, criticism and always, if it's good, some meaningful re-evaluation of one's place in the cosmos. Wanky, sure. Anything that's not pedestrian in theatre and art always gets termed as "wanky" or "self-indulgent".

But masturbation and self-absorption can be nullified, if an artist - hell, let's just say theatre-"lover" - shows an interest and concern beyond their immediate sphere, and shares, celebrates and appreciates, critically, the work of other people. Without creating too much competitive spirit (I know from sport that competiton can bring out some nice and nasty things in people) and without building yet another hierarchy. We already have The Top Ten for muzak.

I hereby institute the Awards. George Huitker's Appreciative Sharing Performer Awards. Anyone who has seen 10 shows outside of their own company's season, can e-mail me at HMT for a GHASP! award and receive a certificate.