what is a lead?
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Topic: what is a lead?
Posted By: falstaff29
Subject: what is a lead?
Date Posted: 9/07/05 at 11:56pm
Got into an interesting discussion with some fellow actors about the definition of a lead.
It can't be simply the person with the most lines (Theseus has the most lines in Midsummer Night's Dream, but can hardly be considered a lead. Tranio has more lines than Kate in Taming of the Shrew but she's considered a lead while he isn't.)
Note: by lines I mean how much they speak, not how many times. But maybe that's a factor- is the lead the one who speaks the most TIMES?
It isn't simply the person on stage the longest, although I think that's getting closer. (I'd argue that Hal is more of a lead in Henry IV, I, than either Falstaff or Hotspur, because, while both of them say more than Hal, Hal is in more scenes of the play than either. On the other hand, though, in The Third Man (sorry, can't think of a play!), I'd argue that Harry Lime and Holly are both leads, while Anna is not, even though Lime is only onscreen very briefly compared to her).
The best definition I could come up with is that a lead is anyone that you have to mention individually in the most basic (1-2 sentence) plot synopsis possible, although even this rule has exceptions (eg, Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar), and is rather subjective.
What do you guys think? Also, how many leads do you think a show can have? I think anywhere from 0 to 4.
Examples: zero leads: something like Wallace Shawn's Our Late Night (7 people gather at a party and try to one-up each other with tales of sexual deviancy. No real plot, and what plot there is isn't affected by any particular person.) Also, the aforementioned Midsummer- I don't think any character is important enough to be singled out as a lead.
One lead: something like Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Oedipus Rex, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, etc.
Two leads: (most plays, esp. romantic comedies and musicals)
Three leads: Sophocles' Philoctetes, No Exit, etc.
Four leads: Long Day's Journey into Night, Closer, etc.
I realize some of these examples are debatable. I found that once there are five equally important characters, they all sink to a common denominator of "not-really-important-enough-to-be-a-lead" (eg, That Championship Season), or certain characters become "more" important and more of leads than others, even in a supposed "ensemble" show (eg, Glengarry Glen Ross). Can't think of a single show with at least 5 leads.
Thoughts? Other definitions and/ or criteria?
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Replies:
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 9/08/05 at 10:09am
That's easy; a lead is any role I play. 
Did you ever see "Shakespeare in Love"? At a party, somebody asks the guy playing the nurse what this new play called Romeo and Juliet is about. He says, "It's about this nurse . . . "
Seriously, it really depends on who is asking the question and why. To a dramaturg, "lead" could be synonymous with "protaganist" or "antagonist." To an actor, it's any role that will make his buddies say, "You were the only thing worth watching in that piece of junk." To a director, it's the roles she needs to cast with actors who can actually learn lines and have some clue of how to act.
Personally, I've never found the term useful. Of course, I don't get cast as leads. 
P.S. (just to contradict myself for a bit) You don't think McMurphy and Nurse Ratched are both leads in Cuckoo's Nest? When I did the play about 12 years ago, we had every actor in the city out for one of those two roles. Now THERE's a working definition of a lead!
------------- POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
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Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 9/08/05 at 11:26am
I define "lead" as the character(s) around whom the
story revolves most. Their decisions, reactions, and
choices are responsible for driving the story forward.
In obvious circumstances the lead is the characters'
name who is mentioned in the title such as "Hamlet"
or "Annie". (Holy crap! I just mentioned Annie and
Hamlet in the same sentence! I defy any credible
theater blog to match that!)
I know! There are exceptions to this rule such as
"Waiting for Godot" and "Harvey" where the lead
characters never show up. But isn't that the point?
However, I disagree there can be up to four leads in
one play. Even in a piece where all four characters
need to be universally strong such as "Who's Afraid
of Virginia Woolfe?" the LEAD characters would be
George & Martha while the other two fall into
SUPPORTING roles. The play is ABOUT George &
Martha's dysfunctional relationship and therefore
they are driving the story.
I think the magical number is -- and always will be --
three. Anything above that becomes an "ensemble"
where ALL the characters have their individual
moments to move the story forward.
I'm sure there will be many who disagree with me,
but hey! That's what this forum is for!
If you're not forum, you're against-um.
------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 9/08/05 at 3:53pm
Regarding Cuckoo's Nest, I don't think of Ratched as quite a "lead." This doesn't mean that I think she's unimportant or anything, and, certainly, it's a role that I'd give my left arm for (if I were female). But, to use my test, I think you can write a single-sentence summary of the plot without using her; McMurphy's action is more about trying to get his fellow inmates to stand up for themselves than in fighting her (although fighting her is HOW he gets them to stand up for themselves). I see her more as "villain" than "lead." Admittedly, a bit weaker case than saying Anarchist or Oedipus has a single lead.
I agree that Nick & Honey are supporting characters, but I don't know that there can't be shows with 4 leads AT ALL. 5 I can't seem to make work, though.
Title character as lead works sometimes, and, yes, Godot and Harvey could be considered leads (although I'd argue that since neither is real, they're more of concepts than characters- I mean, would you call the tape the lead in Krapp's Last Tape?). But, to make an obvious exception to title-character-as-lead: The Rocky Horror Show.
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Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 9/09/05 at 10:28am
Originally posted by Topper
Holy crap! I just mentioned Annie and Hamlet in the same sentence! |
To be or not to be, that is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to wait until the morrow comes,
For shalt not the sun come up upon the morrow?
Verily, 'tis a hard-knock life for us,
'Stead 'a kisses, we get kicks anon.
To sleep, perchance to dream, aye, there's the rub,
But Easy Street is where one sleeps till noon.
Soft you now, the fair Sandy, nymph?
In thy horizons be all my sins remembered.
I hope that was funny, because I feel so . . . dirty.
------------- POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
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Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 9/09/05 at 10:36am
I think your posts are my favorites
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Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 9/09/05 at 11:28am
POB114 you are so funny!! maybe you should write that musical The tragedy of having to do Annie again. I would love to see a big sword fight! Maybe she could die a wonderful dramitic death before the 28th reprise of that darn song (note: i would use stronger language here but I try to keep it clean!)
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Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 9/09/05 at 5:55pm
That was great!
Unfortunately, the best musical version of "Hamlet"
was already performed by the castaways of
"Gilligan's Island."
Talk about a hard-knock life!
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 9/10/05 at 10:35am
Your all;-
    
------------- Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}
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Posted By: Dustmac
Date Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:07pm
The character that the story most revolves around.
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Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 9/12/05 at 9:32am
Topper:
Unfortunately, the best musical version of "Hamlet" was already performed by the castaways of "Gilligan's Island."
Be not a borrower, nor a lender be!
I will probably never forget that episode.....
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Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:01am
True. However, this:
http://www.robinjohnson.f9.co.uk/adventure/hamlet.html - http://www.robinjohnson.f9.co.uk/adventure/hamlet.html
is the best version of Hamlet overall. 
------------- POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
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Posted By: sparf
Date Posted: 9/16/05 at 9:52am
Well, I think there can be up to four leads. That is in a large enough show... A show with a large cast, such as The Crucible (where I think Giles Corey is a lead character. Hahaha...kidding...played the role, thought I'd get my jabs in), you can have
First Male Lead - The principal male character in the story. In the case of the Crucible, John Proctor.
First Female Lead - Again, principal female character in the story. Crucible's example is Abigail Williams
Second Male Lead - Harder to define, but in The Crucible, this would fall to Rev. Hale, since he has the greatest character development next to Proctor.
Second Female Lead - The most character-developed female role next to the First lead. The Crucible would be Elizabeth Proctor.'
It ultimately depends on the show and the interactions with the characters.
------------- That is not dead which can eternal lie / and with strange aeons even Death may die.
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Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 9/23/05 at 4:14pm
This is a great question.
I've noticed on some resumes that people are putting 'lad' beside their character's name - because they had a few lines. arrgh
------------- NYRIA
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Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 9/23/05 at 4:14pm
that should have 'lead' not 'lad'
------------- NYRIA
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:04pm
You have to go back to analyzing the script. Most plays have 3 or 4 leads: your protaganoist (your hero), your ingenue or juvenile (another protagonist type but one that is protect and rescued by the hero); the antagonist (villian--sometimes two).
Your supporting are the group that play side-kicks, etc. Like Le Fou and Maurice in Beauty and the Beast.
Your minor roles are those with speaking roles that actually develop the characters well but don't spend enough time on stage to rate supporting status.
Your walk-ons/chorus help show the reaction of the common man (the audience member). They generally have few lines individually and sing the reprises of the songs. They may also sing entire ensemble numbers. Some chorus ensemble numbers have lines that are specified for particular chorus members, but these members generally fall into another category anyway (Lumiere in B&B would be supporting where as his feather duster girlfriend would be considered either minor or chorus).
-------------
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Posted By: looking2bcast
Date Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:45pm
I also think it really it has to do with who the story revolves around and not lines or time on stage. Look at Steel Magnoloias Truvy is on stage almost the entire play and most of the story happens around her and her shop but most would say that Shelby is the "lead" charachter who is like 3rd or 4th on the number of lines and almost has the least amount of time on stage. Then there are ones like The White Rose where I would say no one is the lead because without any of the main charachters the story would have never been.
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Posted By: PatrickArmagh
Date Posted: 10/22/05 at 6:28pm
I think it is anyone who has between 20 and 40 post on the Community Theater Greenroom Message Boards. Then you become a star. Maybe Mike or Chris could chime in and give us the true definitions and breakdown.
In theater terms, the true definition would be the character that drive the plot. Dracula is a lead although spends less time on stage then Van Helsing. In Guys and Dolls, Sky and Sarah and Nathan and Adelaide are leads, while Nicely Nicely could be considered a lead, it is up to debate.
Want the true definition of a lead. Ask EQUITY for their definition. In Joseph, Contracts diminish rates as Joseph, Jacob, Narrator. Jacob is on stage for 17 minutes. The Narrator usually never leaves. I would assume equity would give you a true definition is terms of financial terms.
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Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 10/24/05 at 10:28pm
Originally posted by PatrickArmagh
I think it is anyone who has between 20 and 40 post on the Community Theater Greenroom Message Boards. Then you become a star.
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Nice!
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Posted By: PatrickArmagh
Date Posted: 10/25/05 at 12:03am
Well, since falstaff29 had 22 post when he replied, maybe the magic number is 25
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/25/05 at 12:54am
Check out the 'memberslist' under groups it will give you the answers of post levels.
http://communitytheater.org/discuss/forum/members.asp?SF=& amp;GID=0&SO=GP
------------- Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}
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Posted By: Mike Polo
Date Posted: 10/25/05 at 9:10am
Posted By: PatrickArmagh
Date Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:08am
WOW! I was just joking, but 29 more post and baby...I'll be a star!!!
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Posted By: th8rguykc
Date Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:21pm
Isn't this a movie term more than a stage one?
Best Actress (Leading Role)
Best Actress (Supporting Role)
Personally I've never cast a Lead in my life, just an actor/ress!
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Posted By: haredirector
Date Posted: 10/31/05 at 1:36am
I directed "Cuckoo's Nest" a few years back, and I considered the Chief to be the lead. It's his story. His is the character that grows and changes through the show. McMurphy is just the catalyst.
At least that's what I told the actor I was recruiting for the part. 
I told the actor I was recruiting for Nurse Ratched that her's was the lead. Same with the actor I wanted to play Billy. So I guess the lead would be whichever character I'm recruiting for at the time.
But my real answer is that I don't believe in leads in theater. I try to create a team, a 'community' on stage where the contributions of all the actors are equal in importance, if not in line length. The actors who feel they have to be recognized as the lead, I call them divas, then don't usually ever cast them again.
------------- "Power cannot put up with laughter from those without power." -- Dario Fo
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