Matt Dawson interview
Most of our interviews have been with PhDs and academicians who take the cultural and archaeological value of The Art of War seriously. However, Sun Tzu probably wasn't the type who took everything so seriously. Really, what was his demeanor when he relaxed, when he bonded with his soldiers? Whether Sun Tzu played practical jokes, we will never know.
We would like to introduce you to Matt Dawson, Artistic Director of his troupe called No Refunds Theatre Co. Their motto, "Your Money is Now Ours," speaks plenty about how serious they take themselves -- yet is fanatical about the quality of their comedies. One of their productions recently at the University of Minnesota Rarig Center Proscenium was based entirely on Sun Tzu's Art of War. It was met with very positive reviews from the local Twin Cities newspapers and we are proud to expose them to the world here. Their Art of War show is definitely entertainment that Sun Tzu would sit down to enjoy. Even if he didn't, he can't get his money back anyway.
Mr. Dawson's biography is sketchy like Sun Tzu's. Apparently he was born on the back of a motorcycle in the Mexican desert, watched a lot of the 1980s television show Mr. Belvedere, and likes to eat sticks of butter. Other than having high cholesterol, he is also a ninja. The person who we sent to interview him never came back, and we think him being a ninja had something to do with that disappearance.
Despite this minor setback, we nevertheless finalized the interview with Matt Dawson of No Refunds Theatre. Enjoy!
Sonshi.com: Tell us a little about No Refunds Theatre Co. and why it has decided to feature Sun Tzu's Art of War at this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival?
Dawson: No Refunds Theatre is a small company in the Twin Cities that dedicates itself to making theater for people who don't like theater. Our first show was "Kung Fu Hamlet" in 2002, a 1-hour version of Hamlet, told as a Hong Kong Kung Fu Movie, with real black belts and dubbing. Since then, we've mixed theater with Zombie Movies, reality TV, Graphic Novels, and other media. We take the work seriously, but not ourselves.
Our Art of War show came about as a collaboration with another local artist, Charlie Bethel. He's a master storyteller, and we thought this would be a perfect way to blend his style with our high-energy, martial arts, physical comedy schtick. Also, as we looked more closely at the text, we realized how relevant it was to the world today.
Sonshi.com: Your website mentions there will be a mambo in this Art of War play. Is this some kind of joke or do you really believe The Art of War is useful in everyday life, in today's world?
Dawson: Some kind of joke, you say? I'll have you know I take mambo very seriously. And this isn't just any mambo – it's actually an essay on War and Biology, done in mambo…okay, yes, it's a joke. You got me. I mean, there IS a mambo, but it's meant for comic effect, to break up the text a little bit, give the audience a break.
But of course I do believe the Art of War is useful today. As I said above, that's why we're doing it. If for nothing else, it would kill on reality TV. Think about it – read up on Sun Tzu before you go onto "The Apprentice," Trump would make you a freakin VP by the third show. I guess it wouldn't apply to "American Idol" so much, but I bet there's something in there that could shut Simon Cowell up.
Sonshi.com: So why should every one of our readers in the surrounding Minnesota area go see this show?
Dawson: However many times you've read the Art of War, you'll never truly understand it until you've seen it illustrated by ninjas using stuffed animals and plastic swords.
Plus we desperately need the money.
Sonshi.com: Okay, tell us something funny from the show. Think of this as a trailer.
Dawson: That's tough, since most of the humor in the show is of the physical slapstick variety.
One of the ways we present The Art of War is by acting out some of the anecdotes included by other generals to illustrate a point made by Sun Tzu. There's one story about a siege on the city of Tsang Kun, where the defending general sends the aggressor a large jug of wine filled with urine. The aggressor, of course, drinks the urine, gets enraged and attacks the city, losing half his army. We do this with a cardboard castle and a box of Franzia, the audience loves it.
Sonshi.com: If it's successful, would you consider bringing your show closer to Atlanta and go nationwide?
Dawson: Sure! Can we crash at your place?
Actually, I WAS thinking of touring with the show. I've been trying to see if Journey wanted to open for us, but they haven't returned my calls.
Sonshi.com: How did you first learn of Sun Tzu's Art of War?
Dawson: Comic books. GI Joe, specifically. As much as I wish I were cooler than that, I'm afraid it's the truth.
Of course, being both a Martial Arts nerd, and a nerd in general, I'd come across it many times since; just a line here or there throughout the years until this show. The first time I've really studied the text was for the show, but I'm a convert now. I've actually already used this site for references on how other people have interpreted Sun Tzu's work for other purposes.
Sonshi.com: What is your favorite verse from The Art of War and why?
Dawson: This is another tough question. Part of the genius of the work is that for such a small book, it's got so much to say (military efficiency, right there). One of my favorites would be:
"A sovereign at court cannot raise an army because he is enraged nor can a general fight because he is resentful. For while an angered man may again be happy, and a resentful man again be pleased, a state that has perished cannot be restored, nor can the dead be brought back to life."
What speaks to me in this passage is, 1) it's an eloquent summary of all the many places where Sun Tzu urges you to do everything you possibly can to avoid violent confrontation. And 2) it speaks to why war should never be entered into lightly, or for the wrong reasons. An idea which, sadly, never seems to be out of date.
[End of interview]
We would like to introduce you to Matt Dawson, Artistic Director of his troupe called No Refunds Theatre Co. Their motto, "Your Money is Now Ours," speaks plenty about how serious they take themselves -- yet is fanatical about the quality of their comedies. One of their productions recently at the University of Minnesota Rarig Center Proscenium was based entirely on Sun Tzu's Art of War. It was met with very positive reviews from the local Twin Cities newspapers and we are proud to expose them to the world here. Their Art of War show is definitely entertainment that Sun Tzu would sit down to enjoy. Even if he didn't, he can't get his money back anyway.
Mr. Dawson's biography is sketchy like Sun Tzu's. Apparently he was born on the back of a motorcycle in the Mexican desert, watched a lot of the 1980s television show Mr. Belvedere, and likes to eat sticks of butter. Other than having high cholesterol, he is also a ninja. The person who we sent to interview him never came back, and we think him being a ninja had something to do with that disappearance.
Despite this minor setback, we nevertheless finalized the interview with Matt Dawson of No Refunds Theatre. Enjoy!
Sonshi.com: Tell us a little about No Refunds Theatre Co. and why it has decided to feature Sun Tzu's Art of War at this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival?
Dawson: No Refunds Theatre is a small company in the Twin Cities that dedicates itself to making theater for people who don't like theater. Our first show was "Kung Fu Hamlet" in 2002, a 1-hour version of Hamlet, told as a Hong Kong Kung Fu Movie, with real black belts and dubbing. Since then, we've mixed theater with Zombie Movies, reality TV, Graphic Novels, and other media. We take the work seriously, but not ourselves.
Our Art of War show came about as a collaboration with another local artist, Charlie Bethel. He's a master storyteller, and we thought this would be a perfect way to blend his style with our high-energy, martial arts, physical comedy schtick. Also, as we looked more closely at the text, we realized how relevant it was to the world today.
Sonshi.com: Your website mentions there will be a mambo in this Art of War play. Is this some kind of joke or do you really believe The Art of War is useful in everyday life, in today's world?
Dawson: Some kind of joke, you say? I'll have you know I take mambo very seriously. And this isn't just any mambo – it's actually an essay on War and Biology, done in mambo…okay, yes, it's a joke. You got me. I mean, there IS a mambo, but it's meant for comic effect, to break up the text a little bit, give the audience a break.
But of course I do believe the Art of War is useful today. As I said above, that's why we're doing it. If for nothing else, it would kill on reality TV. Think about it – read up on Sun Tzu before you go onto "The Apprentice," Trump would make you a freakin VP by the third show. I guess it wouldn't apply to "American Idol" so much, but I bet there's something in there that could shut Simon Cowell up.
Sonshi.com: So why should every one of our readers in the surrounding Minnesota area go see this show?
Dawson: However many times you've read the Art of War, you'll never truly understand it until you've seen it illustrated by ninjas using stuffed animals and plastic swords.
Plus we desperately need the money.
Sonshi.com: Okay, tell us something funny from the show. Think of this as a trailer.
Dawson: That's tough, since most of the humor in the show is of the physical slapstick variety.
One of the ways we present The Art of War is by acting out some of the anecdotes included by other generals to illustrate a point made by Sun Tzu. There's one story about a siege on the city of Tsang Kun, where the defending general sends the aggressor a large jug of wine filled with urine. The aggressor, of course, drinks the urine, gets enraged and attacks the city, losing half his army. We do this with a cardboard castle and a box of Franzia, the audience loves it.
Sonshi.com: If it's successful, would you consider bringing your show closer to Atlanta and go nationwide?
Dawson: Sure! Can we crash at your place?
Actually, I WAS thinking of touring with the show. I've been trying to see if Journey wanted to open for us, but they haven't returned my calls.
Sonshi.com: How did you first learn of Sun Tzu's Art of War?
Dawson: Comic books. GI Joe, specifically. As much as I wish I were cooler than that, I'm afraid it's the truth.
Of course, being both a Martial Arts nerd, and a nerd in general, I'd come across it many times since; just a line here or there throughout the years until this show. The first time I've really studied the text was for the show, but I'm a convert now. I've actually already used this site for references on how other people have interpreted Sun Tzu's work for other purposes.
Sonshi.com: What is your favorite verse from The Art of War and why?
Dawson: This is another tough question. Part of the genius of the work is that for such a small book, it's got so much to say (military efficiency, right there). One of my favorites would be:
"A sovereign at court cannot raise an army because he is enraged nor can a general fight because he is resentful. For while an angered man may again be happy, and a resentful man again be pleased, a state that has perished cannot be restored, nor can the dead be brought back to life."
What speaks to me in this passage is, 1) it's an eloquent summary of all the many places where Sun Tzu urges you to do everything you possibly can to avoid violent confrontation. And 2) it speaks to why war should never be entered into lightly, or for the wrong reasons. An idea which, sadly, never seems to be out of date.
[End of interview]