Banks Needs Eye Test
Sat, 17 Feb 2001, 04:39 pmGrant Malcolm12 posts in thread
Banks Needs Eye Test
Sat, 17 Feb 2001, 04:39 pmOkay, so perhaps this heading is not news for some people, but if you were after additional proof, you need look no further than Banks' recent review for Barking Gecko's Mice.
A great write up for Gillian Alexy, the young actor beginning to make her way in her chosen profession. Great to see such encouragement! But how unfortunate that Banks could find only one wholly inaccurate word to describe Tracy Woolrych - "newcomer".
Newcomer? Doubtless this was a talented cast, it features Barking Gecko stalwart, Craig Williams, "a veteran performer with Barking Gecko". But to summarise a performer of Tracy's experience as "newcomer" portrays a profound lack of any idea of what is going on around this town. Tracy possibly has more breadth of experience than any other actor in the company - including Craig Williams!
But then if you will only attend funded theatre productions and turn a blind eye to the existence of the other unfunded 90% of the industry, i guess we can only expect to see further displays of ignorance.
Time you got that one eye tested, Ron, before it goes bad too.
Cheers
Grant Malcolm
PS. In case George Dent happens to be reading...
i've written to Banks on a number of occasions over the past year, have never received a response and never appeared in print. A letter to the editor similarly disappeared without trace.
If you print trash here, someone will post and tell you and everone else so. At The West it clearly aint so easy to be heard.
A great write up for Gillian Alexy, the young actor beginning to make her way in her chosen profession. Great to see such encouragement! But how unfortunate that Banks could find only one wholly inaccurate word to describe Tracy Woolrych - "newcomer".
Newcomer? Doubtless this was a talented cast, it features Barking Gecko stalwart, Craig Williams, "a veteran performer with Barking Gecko". But to summarise a performer of Tracy's experience as "newcomer" portrays a profound lack of any idea of what is going on around this town. Tracy possibly has more breadth of experience than any other actor in the company - including Craig Williams!
But then if you will only attend funded theatre productions and turn a blind eye to the existence of the other unfunded 90% of the industry, i guess we can only expect to see further displays of ignorance.
Time you got that one eye tested, Ron, before it goes bad too.
Cheers
Grant Malcolm
PS. In case George Dent happens to be reading...
i've written to Banks on a number of occasions over the past year, have never received a response and never appeared in print. A letter to the editor similarly disappeared without trace.
If you print trash here, someone will post and tell you and everone else so. At The West it clearly aint so easy to be heard.
Grant MalcolmSat, 17 Feb 2001, 04:39 pm
Okay, so perhaps this heading is not news for some people, but if you were after additional proof, you need look no further than Banks' recent review for Barking Gecko's Mice.
A great write up for Gillian Alexy, the young actor beginning to make her way in her chosen profession. Great to see such encouragement! But how unfortunate that Banks could find only one wholly inaccurate word to describe Tracy Woolrych - "newcomer".
Newcomer? Doubtless this was a talented cast, it features Barking Gecko stalwart, Craig Williams, "a veteran performer with Barking Gecko". But to summarise a performer of Tracy's experience as "newcomer" portrays a profound lack of any idea of what is going on around this town. Tracy possibly has more breadth of experience than any other actor in the company - including Craig Williams!
But then if you will only attend funded theatre productions and turn a blind eye to the existence of the other unfunded 90% of the industry, i guess we can only expect to see further displays of ignorance.
Time you got that one eye tested, Ron, before it goes bad too.
Cheers
Grant Malcolm
PS. In case George Dent happens to be reading...
i've written to Banks on a number of occasions over the past year, have never received a response and never appeared in print. A letter to the editor similarly disappeared without trace.
If you print trash here, someone will post and tell you and everone else so. At The West it clearly aint so easy to be heard.
A great write up for Gillian Alexy, the young actor beginning to make her way in her chosen profession. Great to see such encouragement! But how unfortunate that Banks could find only one wholly inaccurate word to describe Tracy Woolrych - "newcomer".
Newcomer? Doubtless this was a talented cast, it features Barking Gecko stalwart, Craig Williams, "a veteran performer with Barking Gecko". But to summarise a performer of Tracy's experience as "newcomer" portrays a profound lack of any idea of what is going on around this town. Tracy possibly has more breadth of experience than any other actor in the company - including Craig Williams!
But then if you will only attend funded theatre productions and turn a blind eye to the existence of the other unfunded 90% of the industry, i guess we can only expect to see further displays of ignorance.
Time you got that one eye tested, Ron, before it goes bad too.
Cheers
Grant Malcolm
PS. In case George Dent happens to be reading...
i've written to Banks on a number of occasions over the past year, have never received a response and never appeared in print. A letter to the editor similarly disappeared without trace.
If you print trash here, someone will post and tell you and everone else so. At The West it clearly aint so easy to be heard.
Tracey WoolrychSun, 18 Feb 2001, 12:41 pm
RE: Banks Needs Eye Test
Thank you Grant
It's nice to know that some-one out there is actually paying attention. I suppose the tag of "newcomer" would not have been so bad, except that my name was spelt wrong as well!!
Oh well, I guess it means that I'll have to make more people out there aware of my work!! A challenge I'm more than happy to undertake.
And, just for a plug, "Mice" is on in the big tent at Matilda Bay Mon to Sat, 6.30pm until March 3 - book through Bocs!!
Thanks Tracey
It's nice to know that some-one out there is actually paying attention. I suppose the tag of "newcomer" would not have been so bad, except that my name was spelt wrong as well!!
Oh well, I guess it means that I'll have to make more people out there aware of my work!! A challenge I'm more than happy to undertake.
And, just for a plug, "Mice" is on in the big tent at Matilda Bay Mon to Sat, 6.30pm until March 3 - book through Bocs!!
Thanks Tracey
NormaSun, 18 Feb 2001, 05:15 pm
RE: Banks Needs Eye Test
I too , with my ITA hat on have written to Ron Banks on MANY an occasion, with the same result, a great big nothing.
while fully appreciating that a great deal of information comes across their desks in the course of a week It would be nice to think that a bit of time could be allocated to something that gives a great deal of pleasure to a hell of a lot of people out there and doesn't cost the Department of the Arts/ Government a brass razoo.
Silly me.
while fully appreciating that a great deal of information comes across their desks in the course of a week It would be nice to think that a bit of time could be allocated to something that gives a great deal of pleasure to a hell of a lot of people out there and doesn't cost the Department of the Arts/ Government a brass razoo.
Silly me.
Walter PlingeTue, 20 Feb 2001, 11:42 am
RE: Banks Needs Eye Test
Let's be a little bit fair:
Ron Banks is being historically accurate on this one. Craig Williams IS a veteran actor with Barking Gecko and Tracy IS a newcomer to Barking Gecko...
The rest is politics.
Ron Banks is being historically accurate on this one. Craig Williams IS a veteran actor with Barking Gecko and Tracy IS a newcomer to Barking Gecko...
The rest is politics.
Grant MalcolmTue, 20 Feb 2001, 04:27 pm
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
Hi Malcolm
Malcolm Crisp wrote:
-------------------------------
> Ron Banks is being historically accurate on this one. Craig
> Williams IS a veteran actor with Barking Gecko and Tracy IS a
> newcomer to Barking Gecko...
Subsequent to my post, Danielle Benda's review in yesterday's West made this distinction (so, are you people reading this? Hi Danielle, still got your t-shirt?) but Banks' write up last week, including a lengthy dissertation on the non-BG experience of one cast member, clearly did not.
> The rest is politics.
Yes. The politics of division.
The mythical Great Divide between professional and non-professional theatre. The notion that these are two functionally independent spheres rather than directions in a continuum.
I don't believe anyone is assisted by the perpetuation of this artificial construct and, frankly, i don't believe our audiences give a damn.
Cheers
Grant
Malcolm Crisp wrote:
-------------------------------
> Ron Banks is being historically accurate on this one. Craig
> Williams IS a veteran actor with Barking Gecko and Tracy IS a
> newcomer to Barking Gecko...
Subsequent to my post, Danielle Benda's review in yesterday's West made this distinction (so, are you people reading this? Hi Danielle, still got your t-shirt?) but Banks' write up last week, including a lengthy dissertation on the non-BG experience of one cast member, clearly did not.
> The rest is politics.
Yes. The politics of division.
The mythical Great Divide between professional and non-professional theatre. The notion that these are two functionally independent spheres rather than directions in a continuum.
I don't believe anyone is assisted by the perpetuation of this artificial construct and, frankly, i don't believe our audiences give a damn.
Cheers
Grant
AngeliqueTue, 20 Feb 2001, 05:07 pm
RE: Banks Needs Eye Test
However, Tracey is definitely no newcomer to Theatre In Education! She did over 300 performances of "Bully Busters" alone for Class Act (plus MUCH more) and she was working with Constable Care for over a year after that. All this is paid, therefore professional, work - or is it only called "professional" in this town if its Government funded?
Walter PlingeTue, 20 Feb 2001, 05:41 pm
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
Grant wrote:
From my personal experiences audiences DO give a damn. I have had memorable nights of theatre at places as diverse as Acorn, Old Mill, Stirling, and Garrick etc which had they been presented at the Subiaco Theatre Centre or the Playhouse would have appalled me.
There IS such a thing as audience expectation. Satisfaction or dis-satisfaction is often more determined by this than any objective reference to 'quality'. I have sat in many community theatre foyers and listened to 'in-house' audiences marvel at the display of acting talent in shows that reminded me of a year 9 drama class I once took...
Can I posit the opposing idea that the non-existance of the amateur/professional divide is a construct perpetuated by non-professionals.
I think this presents an equally potent myth. A myth that is equally as pointless.
Malcolm
Malcolm
Grant MalcolmTue, 20 Feb 2001, 06:57 pm
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
Hi Malcolm
Malcolm Crisp wrote:
-------------------------------
> From my personal experiences audiences DO give a damn.
Really? About whether someone has chosen to attach the word Professional to the production? I don't doubt that they're concerned with Quality and i agree wholeheartedly that Expectations play a major part in how many people interpret that. Many of them are even misguided enough to equate P with Q and vice versa. But do they actively discriminate?
i've taken hundreds of calls for bookings over the years and not one person has asked about the professional status of the show. Perhaps we could ask some of the BOCS people reading this board how often they are quizzed by audience members about this?
> Can I posit the opposing idea that the non-existance of the
> amateur/professional divide is a construct perpetuated by non-> professionals.
:-)
I think you may be assuming that i'm arguing for something that i am not. I have not argued that there is no difference between professional and non-professional theatre - i've actually stated the opposite.
But i do challenge anyone who feels that there is an actual division to point out where the dividing line lies - be ready for a barrage of exceptions!
I believe The West has taken an arbitrary decision and Arts Editor, Banks, has the unhappy duty of defending that line drawn in the sand. The unfortunate result is a very skewed, lopsided and misguided representation in The West of the theatre industry as a whole in this state.
Cheers
Grant
Malcolm Crisp wrote:
-------------------------------
> From my personal experiences audiences DO give a damn.
Really? About whether someone has chosen to attach the word Professional to the production? I don't doubt that they're concerned with Quality and i agree wholeheartedly that Expectations play a major part in how many people interpret that. Many of them are even misguided enough to equate P with Q and vice versa. But do they actively discriminate?
i've taken hundreds of calls for bookings over the years and not one person has asked about the professional status of the show. Perhaps we could ask some of the BOCS people reading this board how often they are quizzed by audience members about this?
> Can I posit the opposing idea that the non-existance of the
> amateur/professional divide is a construct perpetuated by non-> professionals.
:-)
I think you may be assuming that i'm arguing for something that i am not. I have not argued that there is no difference between professional and non-professional theatre - i've actually stated the opposite.
But i do challenge anyone who feels that there is an actual division to point out where the dividing line lies - be ready for a barrage of exceptions!
I believe The West has taken an arbitrary decision and Arts Editor, Banks, has the unhappy duty of defending that line drawn in the sand. The unfortunate result is a very skewed, lopsided and misguided representation in The West of the theatre industry as a whole in this state.
Cheers
Grant
NormaWed, 21 Feb 2001, 06:39 pm
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
Verbose: (adj) Expressed in, characterised by the use of, or using many or too many words; wordy
Verbosity: wordiness; superfluity of words
From L. verbosus, full of words
Macquarie Dictionary.
Verbosity: wordiness; superfluity of words
From L. verbosus, full of words
Macquarie Dictionary.
Walter PlingeWed, 21 Feb 2001, 08:21 pm
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
The "line" is so often crossed. I have seen paid performers who don't do it for me at all and unpaid ones who blow me away. Some of us amateurs successfully graduated from the same institutions as some of the most employed professional actors. In many instances we have as much talent - possibly just not as much drive and certainly not as much luck.
Walter PlingeThu, 22 Feb 2001, 01:25 am
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
Gill wrote:
> Some of us amateurs successfully graduated from the same
> institutions as some of the most employed professional actors.
> In many instances we have as much talent - possibly just not
> as much drive and certainly not as much luck.
You're right of course, Gill. You and I both attended the same drama school as Hugh Jackman, Frances O'Connor, Lisa McCune, and Marcus Graham. The sheer jag that enabled them to have the careers they currently have is just that - sheer jag.
Determination is one thing, but being in the right place at the right time is crucial, and this - alas - is in the lap of the gods.
If you're hungry enough, you tough it out... and if the gods are feeling generous, they'll come through for you. Otherwise, you stick to the better amateur stuff, get pro work when and where you can, and hope that the people with an attitude about "amateur" theatre don't marginalise you too much.
Ability is ability. How we choose to distribute it - and the legitmacy of the chosen platform - is no-one's call but ours and our audience's.
> Some of us amateurs successfully graduated from the same
> institutions as some of the most employed professional actors.
> In many instances we have as much talent - possibly just not
> as much drive and certainly not as much luck.
You're right of course, Gill. You and I both attended the same drama school as Hugh Jackman, Frances O'Connor, Lisa McCune, and Marcus Graham. The sheer jag that enabled them to have the careers they currently have is just that - sheer jag.
Determination is one thing, but being in the right place at the right time is crucial, and this - alas - is in the lap of the gods.
If you're hungry enough, you tough it out... and if the gods are feeling generous, they'll come through for you. Otherwise, you stick to the better amateur stuff, get pro work when and where you can, and hope that the people with an attitude about "amateur" theatre don't marginalise you too much.
Ability is ability. How we choose to distribute it - and the legitmacy of the chosen platform - is no-one's call but ours and our audience's.
Grant MalcolmFri, 2 Mar 2001, 09:19 am
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
mmm...
> The mythical Great Divide between professional and
> non-professional theatre.
> ...
> I don't believe anyone is assisted by the perpetuation
> of this artificial construct .
Australia Council: Planning for the Future (Feb 2001)
"The crucial task for the Australia Council is to establish mechanisms of support for the arts that will celebrate the achievements and insight of the past and, at the same time, support innovation and develop new opportunities. To do this the Council will need to work beyond the traditional dichotomies - 'high arts versus community arts; commercial or subsidised versus amateur; established arts and artists versus the young and new - that have often inhibited successful outcomes."
Cheers
Grant
> The mythical Great Divide between professional and
> non-professional theatre.
> ...
> I don't believe anyone is assisted by the perpetuation
> of this artificial construct .
Australia Council: Planning for the Future (Feb 2001)
"The crucial task for the Australia Council is to establish mechanisms of support for the arts that will celebrate the achievements and insight of the past and, at the same time, support innovation and develop new opportunities. To do this the Council will need to work beyond the traditional dichotomies - 'high arts versus community arts; commercial or subsidised versus amateur; established arts and artists versus the young and new - that have often inhibited successful outcomes."
Cheers
Grant