under rehearsed

Tue, 24 Aug 2010, 01:43 pm

Generally the standard of community theatre is excellent, each person pulls their weight and everyone has a good night, audience and cast together. However, recently, I have seen three shows which were well directed, had experienced actors and yet were struggling due to lack of rehearsal.

I have even seen a few veteran actors who do not seem to be tuned in – dare I even say disinterested? Possibly they think that they are there just to ‘fill in’, or capable of performing their part without any real effort.

Sadly, the result is that not only do they label themselves as second rate, but cause some amateur theatres to be constantly avoided by the public because ‘their shows are always very poor.’ It is very sad that the odd badly rehearsed show, or lazy actor, can put an unjustified bad label on future productions for that theatre or group for months to come.

To all those who bring my life so much pleasure, a very big thank you.

Names, dammit Gordon. We

Tue, 24 Aug 2010, 05:54 pm

jeffhansen

Names, dammit Gordon. We want names. Who's to blame in this situation? Is it the individual actor not pulling his/her weight? Maybe the actor was a late replacement. In that case, should the show be postponed? The buck must stop with the theatre committee as the producers of the show. How often is the committee actively tracking the progress of rehearsals, to ascertain the readiness of a show? Is the director telling the committee - "Everything is going to plan. It'll be alright on the night." When is is too late to postpone a show? Do you make the call a week out? Two days? Would we have the balls to cancel a show that just isn't going to come up to scratch, or do we let it go ahead and hope for the best? Cancelling means the loss of probably many thousands of dollars in the short term, with rights payed, and production costs outlayed. Not cancelling may mean the loss of many thousands in the long term, as the company gets the reputation of putting up shows that are below par. I trust Gordon's view, as he sees more Perth theatre than probably anyone else, and will recognise an underprepared show for what it is. Will the casual theatregoer notice the difference? Questions, questions. Anyone got the answers? Jeff (hoping I wasn't in one of these shows) Hansen www.meltheco.org.au

Thread (33 posts)

Threaded Flat

under rehearsed— Gordon the Optom24 Aug 2010

Names, dammit Gordon. We— jeffhansen24 Aug 2010
It's Ok Jeff, I've never seen you under-rehearsed.— David Hardie24 Aug 2010
- I think you hit it on the— Tom Camp25 Aug 2010
  - All nice...— Labrug25 Aug 2010
    - Fair enough. I suppose then— Tom Camp26 Aug 2010
      - ···
        Speaking for myself— Labrug26 Aug 2010
At odds with Jeff— Theo Messenger26 Aug 2010
- Thank you Theo— Labrug26 Aug 2010
Fair Call— Theo Messenger26 Aug 2010
- Some agreeance— Labrug26 Aug 2010
a small question— Walter Plinge28 Aug 2010
- An odd question. Without— jeffhansen28 Aug 2010
- Gentle-folk— Labrug28 Aug 2010
a relevant question nevertheless— Walter Plinge28 Aug 2010
- A pronoun had to be used.— jeffhansen28 Aug 2010
- Is this seriously the best— Na28 Aug 2010
  - Tell 'em to rad the FAQ, Na....— Bass Guy28 Aug 2010
hmmmm— Walter Plinge28 Aug 2010
- As a female— Na28 Aug 2010
- Touché— crgwllms30 Aug 2010
well if you put it like that— Walter Plinge28 Aug 2010
- He said / She said— crgwllms29 Aug 2010
jJust a tanners worth.From— JoeMc29 Aug 2010
apologies— Walter Plinge30 Aug 2010
- The point in itself— Labrug30 Aug 2010
Probably a digression — Logos30 Aug 2010
rehearsal time— Lisa Skryp30 Aug 2010
- Hey Lisa— Labrug30 Aug 2010
I think we need a DIGRESS— jeffhansen30 Aug 2010
- To consider— Labrug30 Aug 2010
  - Digress?— Walter Plinge30 Aug 2010
Back to Gordon's original posting...— stinger30 Aug 2010

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