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Friday, May 5, 2006

Wonky Theater Post II: -re or -er?

Posted by on May 5 at 14:20 PM

Yesterday, I posted this thing about the imminent destruction of the Guthrie Theater (which I praised for spelling theater with an -er), and poked fun at regional theater as pompous “theater-with-an-re,” inspiring this comment from Laurence Ballard, a talented local actor and all-around smart guy:

I think you might be conflating pomposity with clarity.

A ‘theater’ can be many things - a place where something happens: war, a medical operation, a place to show movies, a lecture, any room with tiered seats.

‘Theatre’ is from the Old French, or Latin, ‘theatrum’ and is not affiliated with or construed to be anything but a place where actors perform.

I’ve worked in both.

I responded thusly:

There are many explanations for the variant in spelling theater/re, none of them definitive:

1. re=pompous/er=democratic, humble

2. re=edifice for dramatic presentations /er=place-where-something-happens

3. re=theory or idea of (Theatre of Cruelty)/er=edifice, simple fact of

4. [my favorite] re=proper noun (ACT Theatre)/er=common noun (I like theater)

The Oxford English Dictionary does not outline any of the above distinctions, but only says there are variant spellings. It shows both “operating-theatre” as well as “high towers, faire temples, goodly theaters” (Spenser, 1591).

So, in the interest of clarity, I propose we dispense with the conflicting explanations of when to use “re” and when to use “er” and just go with one or the other in all cases. I’m stumping for “er” because I prefer the way it looks.

(Because the “r” looks rigorous and disciplined, like a sentinel guarding the end of the word.)

What does the polis say? (And does anybody besides me even care? Would Ms. Wagner deign to chime in?)


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Isn't this just another case of American versus English spelling?

I like "theatre" because I'm accustomed to it but also, more practically, because it makes it easier to tour shows in Canada (a country which is closer than you think!), without a theatre company having change the spelling of their name.

I also think, to further the spirit of clarity and international relations, Ms. Wagner should agree to change the spelling of her name to Annie Wagnre. Thank you.

Words that make me grit my teeth (in ascending order):

Theatre
Towne
Shoppe
Centre (when used by and for residents of the United States)
Frescata
Crispito

Count me among the "theater" contingent.

Yes, let's go with "theatre," as it looks better that way. While we are at it, may we also change "color" to "colour" and "valor" to "valour?"

"Theater". Laurence Ballard is just wrong; the words are the same. "Theatre" is predominant in the UK and the Commonwealth (including Canada); "theater" is the US usage. It's not "wrong" to say "theatre", it's just mildly pretentious; it looks like it should be pronounced "THEE-uh-TAH" with a dramatic hand flourish and possibly a "DAH-ling" or two.

Who cares about how it's spelled when Seattle theatre is uniformly mediocre?


But what about the word "nigger". The Stranger made great strides in desensitizing readers to "faggot" with the "Hey Faggot" thing. Can readers now use "nigger" with impunity?

Theatre is the British spelling, and it's a particularly tenacious British spelling because—and only because—theater people tend to be pretentious and Anglophilic. When I was a wee pretentious theater brat in high school, I made up some nonsense about how theatre was performance or theory and theater was the building. But this is simply false. The words are functionally equivalent and connotatively worlds apart. The spelling "theatre" turns off types who can smell content-free pretension from miles away. If you're afraid of those people sitting in your audiences and calling bullshit on your bullshit, then by all means, go on spelling theater "theatre." But if you want to sell tickets, REFORM!

FYI - For niggers the proper spelling is theater, for faggots the only usage is theatre.


Drama fags on the other hand prefer to say they are going to a see a show.


Most real critics review a performance.


Keep in mind that most of the human race has better things to worry about.

Student: I think you mean "niggre", right?

Ah, Annie Wagnre gets to that joke earlier and better than me.

In the UK, "theatre" means all of the things "theater" means here -- operating-, movie-, war-, playhouse, etc. There is no distinction.

Nigga, niggre, and nigger.

What's the correct usage for those tending to be pretentious and Anglophilic?

Tomato, tomato. Well, if I were speaking that it would make more sense.

How about we let the whole g/d debate fucking lie where it is without more pokes from our annoying mountain/molehill sticks?

I swear the very fact of this debate makes me want to kick Brendan Kiley in the shins, and I really really like him! Brendan, darling, I know you didn't create the debate, but why did you have to resurrect it AGAIN?! It's so far past boring and meaningless that it actually makes me mad and kind of want to cry. (But it's possible that I'm just really freakin' tired from doing pretentious arty theatre and also meaningful theater. Whatever.)

I say "teatro," with a flamboyantly rolled "r." Makes it sound much more exciting than it actually is.

Nevermind all these notions of art vs. pretension.  How about we spell it -er just for the badly needed iota of consistency in (U.S.) English?

Use whatever spelling one feels comfortable with, for chrissakes. Just belay the assumptions - and effete comments - behind each spelling, from performers and audience alike.

The only problem I have is with a pronunciation my step-father favored: "Thea-A-tor." ouch.

I got an idea:

Someone ask W how it's spelled.

His response will automatically stand as the incorrect spelling.

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