under rehearsed
Tue, 24 Aug 2010, 01:43 pmGordon the Optom33 posts in thread
under rehearsed
Tue, 24 Aug 2010, 01:43 pmGenerally 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.
All nice...
Wed, 25 Aug 2010, 09:44 am"Surely the director is to blame here? He is the one who can call more rehearsals or get on the actors backs and demand they rehearse more at home."
Maybe in Professional Theatre, sure. The actors are being PAID for it and are under (most often) some form of contractual aggreement.
Community Theatre ain't the same boat. A director has to treat his cast carefully. Start insisting on additional rehearsals (I have a Full-time Job, Family, Committee Meeting, and frankly I don't want to) and you take pot luck that anyone will turn up. Similarly with additional "home-work".
It's only community theatre and the possability of someone "walking out" is very real, and if that happens, you are in a real bind and will truly be under-rehearsed if you happen to find a replacement or even take on the role yourself.. I have no idea of the real figures but I would guesstimate that the amount of 'Walk-outs' in professional theatre are substantially, massively less than community yet far more dramatic. The reality is that the commitment actors have to a Am Theatre show is based purely on their desire to see it through and their ability to get on with the director.
Unless the cast share an enthusiasm or passion for what they are doing, a director may as well use is hot air to blow up balloons, and if they did share that enthusiasm, then the director shouldn't need to call additional work be done?
That is not to say that a director has no responsability and can try to find ways to "encourage" more from their cast. It just means that the boundaries are very close and rather thin. Push to far and it will burst.
Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)
Jeff Watkins
Looking for an Agent? Read this first!!
- ···