Theatre from around the world

I love the idea of people using theatre to affect change. I studied a little bit of Boal in high school and I really admire his dedication to theatre of the oppressed. What an awesome thing that people can change their quality of life through theatre! It's very admirable that contemporary playwrights use the theatre medium to speak out about social and political issues. On the other hand, I think theatre for the sole sake of entertainment can't be dismissed either. There is absolutely nothing wrong with people wanting to go see a play in order to escape for a few hours, to get lost in a completely different world. I love musicals, specifically musical comedies, I guess. This world is so complicated and busy and bothersome. But in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Oklahoma" everything has a happy ending and the good guy wins the end. I'm a sucker for the romance stuff, too. Boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl get together, plot complication messes up boy and girl relationship, and boy wins girl back in the end. Call me old fashioned, but I love it. Now arguably, "Millie" is a mindless play. It's very funny and fun, but does it have any deeper messages? No, and that's what's wonderful about it! Entertainment for the sake of entertainment is nothing to be ashamed of. We can't lose the fun in plays.