So Alain Badiou is a playwright as well as a philosopher? I wouldn't have guessed at such, would've likely bet against the possibility. What do I know? I'm sitting in Atlanta pecking away on a small screen. Rhapsody is actually six pieces spanning 15 years and apparently at least 4 plays, all the while composing Being and Event and other dense polemics. Badiou states his argument that upper-case Theatre is linked inextricably with the State. It's performative immediacy allows a certain truth to be conveyed, unlike the novel it is the personal expression of the role and the spectator's individual response which maintains a distance. I felt the pieces somewhat limp and Badiou's self-promotion irritating. What do I know? I have been up since 5 and our flight doesn't leave for 3 more hours. Who needs a beer? ( )