Vent and advice
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5169
Printed Date: 5/18/24 at 3:10pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Vent and advice
Posted By: chelserin
Subject: Vent and advice
Date Posted: 9/25/11 at 5:29pm
Hello... we had a situation at our theatre and I would appreciate any input about how I could have handled it differently, and how to prevent this in the future.
Here's the scoop: I am not the director, but a board member who was assigned as the support person for this show. Last week I went in to watch rehearsal and one of the cast members asked to talk to me. He(X) had a conflict with another actor(Z) where X was grabbed and spoken sternly to by Z. Later that rehearsal Z apologized to both X and the director for his actions. However, X felt that Z had "it in" for him and did not feel safe.
These are both adult men (40/50's). We don't have a policy in place about dealing with conflicts between actors, if it happens we try to help mediate the situation. I offered to speak to Z, alone or with X there. I offered to attend all remaining rehearsals to observe if there was any harassing going on. I told X that I would bring this incident to the board to discuss.
The next day X quit the show (5 days to opening). His reasons are that the director and I did not take his concerns about Z seriously and were not doing anything to discipline Z.
Essentially I think he just wanted us to fire Z. Z has been a very involved, supportive member of our theatre for MANY years. This was X's first show with us.
If you're still with me, here's my question: Should I have fired Z? I've been involved with theatre long enough to know that it can be stressful and tempers can be lost. Currently we do not have an actor's code of conduct agreement but am thinking that may help in the future.
Thanks for letting me vent. Luckily we got a replacement for the part that same day.
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To be in the world, and of the world, and never to stand aside and watch.
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Replies:
Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 9/25/11 at 6:04pm
What's your relationship with the director? Has he worked for the theater company before? I would have approached the director to let him know that actor X felt the issue to not be resolved, and suggested that the director speak again to these actors. You could still sit in on future rehearsals to monitor the situation more closely, but the director needs that second chance to fix a problem in his show.
Otherwise, I don't think you did anything wrong. Actors (and techies and directors, for that matter) have hissy fits sometimes. That doesn't excuse their behavior, but actor Z did apologize, he apparently has a reliable track record with your company, you didn't personally witness the incident, and you were planning to watch for evidence of an ongoing issue while proceeding with caution.
You also don't know if maybe there's a longer context to the situation (e.g., actor X took an early dislike to Z and had been baiting him into violence).
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Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 9/25/11 at 8:15pm
Originally posted by chelserin
Hello... we had a situation at our theatre and I would appreciate any input about how I could have handled it differently, and how to prevent this in the future.
Here's the scoop: I am not the director, but a board member who was assigned as the support person for this show. Last week I went in to watch rehearsal and one of the cast members asked to talk to me. He(X) had a conflict with another actor(Z) where X was grabbed and spoken sternly to by Z. Later that rehearsal Z apologized to both X and the director for his actions. However, X felt that Z had "it in" for him and did not feel safe.
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By "grabbed" I assume you mean physically grabbed. One big problem with that is it could legally be considered assault and battery. I know it is in our state.
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Posted By: chelserin
Date Posted: 9/25/11 at 11:28pm
I have worked with the director before, but this is his first time directing at our theatre. X had already talked to the director and the director and I spoke briefly about the situation, both hoping by letting X vent he would feel "heard" and move on. by the next morning X had quit.
When I talked to Z he was very surprised that X had quit. He thought that they had been civil to each other after confrontation and apology and it was behind them.
I just hate to think that X is out there now badmouthing our theatre. What can you do.
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To be in the world, and of the world, and never to stand aside and watch.
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Posted By: Majicwrench
Date Posted: 9/26/11 at 4:51pm
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"Grabbed" could be many things...did Z reach out and grab X's elbow, or grab x's lapel with both hands?? "Grabbing" in any form is not very acceptable.
At any rate, sounds like a good ending.
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Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 9/26/11 at 5:30pm
Originally posted by Majicwrench
"Grabbed" could be many things...did Z reach out and grab X's elbow, or grab x's lapel with both hands?? " |
Once again, I'm not a lawyer but the problem here is that there probably isn't a legal distinction between the two. In our state if there's contact in an angry confrontation that can be considered "assault and battery" and there doesn't even have to be contact for "assault."
Chelserin asks about codifying this in an actor's code of conduct. Obviously, if you're going to do that, angry physical contact with another actor wouldn't be allowed. Having someone leave a play with five days to go complaining about not feeling physically safe is not a completely good ending. Just my two cents. I hope the show turns out well for you.
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Posted By: Majicwrench
Date Posted: 9/27/11 at 12:05pm
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While there may, or may not, be a legal distinction, there certainly is a distinction that would influence my thought proccess if I was in chelserin's place.
Keith
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Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 9/27/11 at 2:33pm
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Does anyone else have an actor's code of conduct agreement or know of one? Come to think of it, that would help with at least some of the sticky situations like this that can come up.
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Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 9/27/11 at 3:37pm
Originally posted by Majicwrench
While there may, or may not, be a legal distinction,
there certainly is a distinction that would influence my thought
proccess if I was in chelserin's place.
Keith |
I guess my point is that it could be important to know what the legal
definitions are and what the liability (if any) might be for the theater
and others involved. Unfortunately, in my experience a seemingly
inconsequential incident like this can end up in court if you're dealing
with a litigious person .
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Posted By: Majicwrench
Date Posted: 9/27/11 at 5:09pm
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Certainly it would be worthwhile to know the legalities. My own personal decisions, if I was in the position to make them, would depend on just what sort of "grabbing" went on.
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