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eveharrington
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bullet Posted: 7/29/08 at 12:38am
being currently involved in a production where just about everyone has wanted to quit more than once including myself, I'll tell you what kept me there, the other volunteer actors who were giving their time and gas money to make this work and how unfair it would be to them to add a new unprepared cast member on top of everything else that is making it horrible. So we are all trying our best to just have a good time and try to put on a decent show despite the director.
"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
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theactordavid
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bullet Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:13am
Originally posted by eveharrington

So we are all trying our best to just have a good time and try to put on a decent show despite the director.


Okay, so now this tangential redirection:  in your attempts to "put on a decent show", would this include putting on the show you "know" is best, even if it goes against direction?  That is, where is your (the actor) responsibility: to the audience, or the director?

If blocking is "wrong" and action is "wrong", etc., at what point do you feel it is proper to go against the director and perform as the script requires, which is to say in support of the story the playwright has written?
There are no small roles, only roles with a low line-load and minimal stage time.

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B-M-D
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bullet Posted: 7/31/08 at 12:49pm
Originally posted by theactordavid

Originally posted by eveharrington

So we are all trying our best to just have a good time and try to put on a decent show despite the director.


Okay, so now this tangential redirection:  in your attempts to "put on a decent show", would this include putting on the show you "know" is best, even if it goes against direction?  That is, where is your (the actor) responsibility: to the audience, or the director?

If blocking is "wrong" and action is "wrong", etc., at what point do you feel it is proper to go against the director and perform as the script requires, which is to say in support of the story the playwright has written?
 
I don't think we know from this if it's the direction or attitude of the director that's in question here.   From my experience it's usaully attitude.   I've been in a few shows where the direction was horrible but the director was sweetheart and we still had good time albeit not such a great show.
BD

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tristanrobin
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bullet Posted: 7/31/08 at 3:06pm
Originally posted by theactordavid


If blocking is "wrong" and action is "wrong", etc., at what point do you feel it is proper to go against the director and perform as the script requires, which is to say in support of the story the playwright has written?


There is nothing "wrong" in art ... only less-than-ideal choices.

Wacko Oh, geesh - I must have been in a teacher dimensional field.

Sorry.  Tongue
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eveharrington
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bullet Posted: 8/02/08 at 2:24am
It is attitude, and a complete lack of respect for the actors and the time and effort they are putting forward. The problem (I think) is that this particular director has wanted to direct this particular play for at least ten years and her "vision" is so set in her mind that she is micromanaging everything to the point that there is almost no room left for the actors to create anything. The best way to sum it up I think is to tell you that she stopped us numerous times during the very first read-thru to give us line readings. Actual, "no, say it like this" line readings. At the read-thru. She also feels free to cut and add dialogue at will, which I am personally very opposed to and even uncomfortable with.
"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
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sconjott
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bullet Posted: 8/03/08 at 6:01pm
I'd say you have found one of those "Ethical Dilemas".  I have had similar Directors, but not that staunch.  Situations like this seem to take care of themselves after the fact.  Unfortunately, this does nothing to help your current state of "Oh My God, who allowed this person to direct".  I believe that you owe it to your audience to, if necessary, confront this director on thses choices... challenge them to explain their interpretation and do whatever is necessary (within reason, and that includes starting a screaming match) to get them to listen to your interpretation.  As far as the "hack and slash" and the "oh wouldn't it be funnier if he said this?", attitude goes. Ask point blank does this director have written permission to alter the script.  (You already know the answer) Then stand by copywright laws and contract agreements and refuse to take part in mutilating the authors work.
 
I'm guessing this is a fairly new director, who hasn't had much training as a director if any.  Whatever the reason for this rather overbearing directing style, you may be able to help future casts and this director by pointing out some of these less agreeable directing choices.  I know you're going to get a LOT of instant flack, but if you'll talk to your fellow cast members before hand they will be prepared to back you up.  Just try not to let the whole thing devolve into an attack.
 
There's no pretty solution to a situation like this.  If you try to fix it, it's going to get very VERY dirty. If you don't try, your audience may suffer.
 
Finally, we come to the real question... "I QUIT!!!... Is it OK?" I still have to say, "NO".  You owe it to your audiences, your fellow actors, your Stage Manager, Costumer, Lighting Person, Orchestra, Box Office Manager, even the guy who cleans the toilets to give the your best performance.  After the run, you may decide NEVER to work with THAT person again (and I'd be right there to throw you a party for THAT decision, but you have no right to punish the rest of the cast and crew much less the audience who had nothing to do with any of this directors short comings.
 
There are only 3 reasons I can think of to quit any show, 1) if there is some sort of abuse/harrassment, 2) if there are safety issues and 3) health issues (where doing the show threatens the life or well being of the person or persons in question). Even in those situations you have a responsibility to report those issues to the board for that theater.  I promise you NO ONE would be subjected to any abusive/harrassing behavior or dangerous sitiations once it's brought to the attention of our board. As far as Health Issues are concerned, if that theatre is more concerned about the show than your health, don't just quit... Quit and run as fast as you can from that place 'cause it's got bigger problems than needing to replace an actor.
 
There are NO small roles, only small actors...
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bullet Posted: 8/03/08 at 10:33pm
Originally posted by sconjott

. challenge them to explain their interpretation and do whatever is necessary (within reason, and that includes starting a screaming match) to get them to listen to your interpretation. 


Well, if an actor started a screaming match with me because they didn't like my direction they wouldn't have to worry about quitting. They'd be out of the show. Life's too short. I don't care what the guy cleaning the toilets thinks. That'd probably be me anyway.

And as far as the original point, going to a read through and having the director give extensive line readings is exactly the sort of thing I was talking about way back when actordavid took my comment to start this thread. In that case it seems completely reasonable to drop out at that stage of the process. No way is the director going to want me in their show if that's their approach because there's no way I could remain positive. Let the director recast the part with someone who doesn't mind working that way. And if an actor felt that way about me as a director, I'd want them to leave as well. I don't know what everyone else's experience is, but in mine there are people who drop out at the start of community theater shows all the time. I don't actually see anything wrong with that. I had an actor drop out once because he was getting "ominous vibes about the show." I had no problem with that at all, I don't want somebody in the show who already isn't happy at the very start.
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ClintonHammond
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bullet Posted: 8/03/08 at 11:27pm
Life is too short to volunteer with people you can't stand....


Without actors, a techie is a person with a list of marketable skills.
Without techies, an actor is just a goof, emoting alone in the dark.

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whitebat
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bullet Posted: 8/28/08 at 11:47pm
If you are going to quit, do it as soon as possible.  I quit directing an interactive murder mystery (semi-scripted by us), because our usual director was undermining my direction with the actors.  I was definitely less involved in the next show.  (Lights and only lights!).  We had one or two actors quit the show I was directing.  One had personal problems.  In hindsight, I think we did not make it clear enough to the cast that it is the nature of this type of interactive show not to be fully scripted, and therefore there are no lines as such to learn.  People were trying to make it into a very short play followed by a party, when actually to be interactive there would be no break between the "play" and party.
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