The notion that there is a wide, unbridgeable chasm between theatre and sport hardly deserves serious investigation because one can participate in a theatrical performance imbued with a dramatic action by visiting a local sporting event. I experienced one of the most instantly recognizable progressions of dramatic events that was akin to a play at a women’s soccer match on September 3, 2017. The aim of this paper is to analyze the event through analytical lenses of theatre.
Discussion
The match between South Carolina Gamecocks and Michigan Wolverines was held at Alumni Stadium. The rivalry between the two teams was a source of dramatic conflict that excited spectators with an anticipation of an epic battle. The participation in the Notre Dame Invitation was at stake of the encounter; therefore, a defeat for either club could become a veritable tragedy. Not unlike in a classical theatre where an error in judgement of a protagonist can trigger a tragic chain of events, a player’s mistake can result in a team’s defeat. A Michigan defender’s lack of concentration allowed Gamecocks to score a goal, thereby diminishing the fighting spirit of Wolverines and evoking sympathetic sentiment among onlookers of the event.
In addition to generating passionate solidarities with the players, the context of the game’s occurrence was also suggestive of a theatre play. The match was performed in front of a large audience that was keen on showing binding loyalties prompted by extensive commitments of time. The game was reminiscent of a formal event that had deeply entrenched aesthetic appeal of underlying violence that had a deep meaning.
The violence in a soccer game is a part of the battle for dominance that can be treated as an obstacle faced by a protagonist who strives to attain a goal. It means that by rooting for a team, spectators cannot help but become engaged emotionally with both individual players and a team as a whole. A supporter of Wolverines observed the collision of opposing forces while helplessly waiting for an equalizer, which never came. A midfielder of Gamecocks scored the second goal in the 60th minute of the match, thereby delivering an emotional blow to the audience that was deeply invested in the outcome of the game. Wolverines’ attempt to reach their goal was frustrated by a vicious antagonist, which eliminated the possibility of a modus vivendi and, perhaps, made the audience to realize their own vulnerability.
Fans of Gamecocks were on the other side of the psychological drama. They had a chance to experience the nature of heroism by observing the stunning performance of Bianca Galassini who solidified victory for South Carolina. Even though it was not a success against the odds, the hero displayed such aesthetically pleasing artistry of the game while being locked in a dramatic battle with the antagonist that Gamecocks’ audience was elevated. It was as if a talented playwright penned a play with Galsassini in mind and exploited her strengths to the spectator’s satisfaction.
A close kinship between the game and theatre was also evident in the use of costume design, which enhanced the audience’s perception of the extremely memorable event. In addition, the game/play was directed by coaches who helped their players/performers to get inspired by the energy of their supporters in order to create a spectacular performance.
Conclusion
The paper has analyzed the soccer match between South Carolina Gamecocks and Michigan Wolverines. It has been argued that the spectacular nature of the encounter was highly reminiscent of a theatre play.