falling levels of enthusiasm
Sun, 25 Mar 2001, 01:43 amWalter Plinge61 posts in thread
falling levels of enthusiasm
Sun, 25 Mar 2001, 01:43 amIs it just me, or is our theatre community in general suffering from an acute lack of enthusiasm?
I'm not talking about the audiences (although depending on where you go, this can be a problem), but rather among the practitioners.
Maybe it's my breath, but every show I've directed since returning to Perth has suffered from a disorder I call ADS, or Auditionee Deficiency Syndome.
I had to ring around and _beg_ people to be involved in "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll". We were recruiting passing skateboarders to play roles in "Romeo & Juliet".
Now, after weeks of negotiations, I have finally put together an outstanding professional pianist and five exceptional professional opera singers to appear in "After Aida". Unfortunately, I have only _two_ of the five actors needed.
This is going to make today's planned first read-through a wee bit difficult.
Granted, one of the three remaining roles is reserved for a certain GDS kahuna who is currently gliding through the snow on two pieces of lacquered wood, and who is gleefully oblivious to the fact that I have cast him behind his back. I had always anticipated stunt-reading this role at the first read-through.
But the two remaining roles (both doozies), are going begging.
It's especially frustrating since one prominent local actor has turned me down at the last minute (last night) citing financial woes, and another won't even return my calls.
Is it so hard to find two male actors in their early forties to play terrific roles in a funny, clever, utterly entertaining play?
It appears to be an endemic problem in our theatre community. Lots of teenagers and twenty-somethings, and lots of retirees anxious for action, but where the hell are all the middle-aged actors? Even the rare few are getting hard to pin down.
My mobile number is 0417 789 845. The reading's at 1pm today (Sunday 25th). G.I. Joe, if you're out there, frickin' well call me! The role is yours if you want it.
David Meadows.
FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
www.freemumia.org
www.MumiaBook.com
I'm not talking about the audiences (although depending on where you go, this can be a problem), but rather among the practitioners.
Maybe it's my breath, but every show I've directed since returning to Perth has suffered from a disorder I call ADS, or Auditionee Deficiency Syndome.
I had to ring around and _beg_ people to be involved in "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll". We were recruiting passing skateboarders to play roles in "Romeo & Juliet".
Now, after weeks of negotiations, I have finally put together an outstanding professional pianist and five exceptional professional opera singers to appear in "After Aida". Unfortunately, I have only _two_ of the five actors needed.
This is going to make today's planned first read-through a wee bit difficult.
Granted, one of the three remaining roles is reserved for a certain GDS kahuna who is currently gliding through the snow on two pieces of lacquered wood, and who is gleefully oblivious to the fact that I have cast him behind his back. I had always anticipated stunt-reading this role at the first read-through.
But the two remaining roles (both doozies), are going begging.
It's especially frustrating since one prominent local actor has turned me down at the last minute (last night) citing financial woes, and another won't even return my calls.
Is it so hard to find two male actors in their early forties to play terrific roles in a funny, clever, utterly entertaining play?
It appears to be an endemic problem in our theatre community. Lots of teenagers and twenty-somethings, and lots of retirees anxious for action, but where the hell are all the middle-aged actors? Even the rare few are getting hard to pin down.
My mobile number is 0417 789 845. The reading's at 1pm today (Sunday 25th). G.I. Joe, if you're out there, frickin' well call me! The role is yours if you want it.
David Meadows.
FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
www.freemumia.org
www.MumiaBook.com
Walter PlingeFri, 6 Apr 2001, 05:10 pm
RE: Cary Hudson
That number again!
041 328 72 97
It's late... it's Friday...it's...
041 328 72 97
It's late... it's Friday...it's...
Grant MalcolmFri, 6 Apr 2001, 06:17 pm
RE: Regrets
Hi Malcolm
> I was quite looking forwared to seeing David Meadows and
> Amanda Chesterton batteling it out in Oleanna.
You are not alone!
> I can't think of
> a better casting.
Which only further gives the lie to one of the other discussion threads around here.
> Idea: Why not postpone it until David is available. I'm sure
> another production could be generated to fill the slot in the
> meantime...
This, along with Peter Fry's interest, are a couple of the many options being hastily considered.
Uncast with three weeks and six nights to opening night is not a friendly time frame to work within.
Cheers
Grant
> I was quite looking forwared to seeing David Meadows and
> Amanda Chesterton batteling it out in Oleanna.
You are not alone!
> I can't think of
> a better casting.
Which only further gives the lie to one of the other discussion threads around here.
> Idea: Why not postpone it until David is available. I'm sure
> another production could be generated to fill the slot in the
> meantime...
This, along with Peter Fry's interest, are a couple of the many options being hastily considered.
Uncast with three weeks and six nights to opening night is not a friendly time frame to work within.
Cheers
Grant
BabarFri, 6 Apr 2001, 11:26 pm
Mmmmm... boxes.
To whoever the hell it is that has the box pertaining to me, will you stop shaking it and tapping it to see what's inside!??!
On a more sombre and tomblike note, somone (i forget whom) mentioned the practice of casting a more easygoing actor but less talented in preference to a more talented actor who is an absolute @!#$ to work with. Am I allowed to say @!#$ here? I suppose I'll find out. Well I suppose if the message never appears then Grant must've succumbed to the tempations of becoming a facist dictator and hoarding the expletives for himself! Now where was I?
In any case, I'm not saying that this was the case with Oleanna, but I wholeheartedly support the idea. There's nothing worse than being cast with a prima donna who makes everyone else wait for them to find their inner child. Well, that and being covered in chocolate and having gorgeous young women lick it off your quivering body. ("Oh please don't throw me in that briar patch!" said Brer Rabbit.)
Erm... I'm Sorry. I really am. I'm tired, I've been a bit exitable of late, and I saw Jarrod's ties last night... I'm sorry.
Troy
On a more sombre and tomblike note, somone (i forget whom) mentioned the practice of casting a more easygoing actor but less talented in preference to a more talented actor who is an absolute @!#$ to work with. Am I allowed to say @!#$ here? I suppose I'll find out. Well I suppose if the message never appears then Grant must've succumbed to the tempations of becoming a facist dictator and hoarding the expletives for himself! Now where was I?
In any case, I'm not saying that this was the case with Oleanna, but I wholeheartedly support the idea. There's nothing worse than being cast with a prima donna who makes everyone else wait for them to find their inner child. Well, that and being covered in chocolate and having gorgeous young women lick it off your quivering body. ("Oh please don't throw me in that briar patch!" said Brer Rabbit.)
Erm... I'm Sorry. I really am. I'm tired, I've been a bit exitable of late, and I saw Jarrod's ties last night... I'm sorry.
Troy
Amanda ChestertonSat, 7 Apr 2001, 01:10 pm
RE: Mmmmm... boxes.
Troy Hall wrote:
-------------------------------
> who is an absolute @!#$ to work with. Am I allowed to say @!#$ here?
No and you can't say @!#$ either. He's not a dictator but I think he's got some @!#$ clever program that obscures all the fucks, cunts and shits. @!#$ him, says I. You could resort to going fuk I guess. Or has that been deleted too? Or shiii-iiiit. See if that gets past him.
I was most disappointed when he @!#$ deleted a few @!#$ shits and fucks in my last cunt of an email.
/Now/ we'll see if this gets past him!
Amanda Chesterton
Amanda ChestertonSat, 7 Apr 2001, 01:14 pm
RE: Mmmmm... boxes APOLOGY
Culpa, culpa, mea culpa.
Sorry...I guess his programme doesn't quite recognise everything. Apologies to anyone who has been mortally offended by my previous email. I was just being a goose.
But hey, Troy, you can cuss openly if you pluralise it! *And* you can say the c-word!!
Amanda Chesterton
Sorry...I guess his programme doesn't quite recognise everything. Apologies to anyone who has been mortally offended by my previous email. I was just being a goose.
But hey, Troy, you can cuss openly if you pluralise it! *And* you can say the c-word!!
Amanda Chesterton
Walter PlingeSat, 7 Apr 2001, 02:22 pm
shot, funk, cult
If it was good enough for Shakespeare ("Her C's, her U's, aNd herT's." - Twelfth Night, 2/5), surely it's good enough for us.
Besides, up until dear old Queen Vic 2's reign, the brothel strips of Elizabethan England were all in streets called "Gropecunte Lane".
I kid you not.
yours,
D.M.
Besides, up until dear old Queen Vic 2's reign, the brothel strips of Elizabethan England were all in streets called "Gropecunte Lane".
I kid you not.
yours,
D.M.
Walter PlingeSat, 7 Apr 2001, 03:47 pm
RE: Mmmmm... boxes.
Thought of auditioning for the next Guy Ritchie film Amanda?
BabarSun, 8 Apr 2001, 10:32 pm
Cussin'
Well... erm... nice to see someone pays attention to my drivel. I really didn't need to know though :-)
That comment really stemmed from an article someone wrote for my own website, which included a reference to me as a "talentless hack". The author thought he'd see if I censored it.
Troy
PS: If you're interested, the article is at:
http://l-space.tripod.com/subrant04.html
I found it entertaining.
That comment really stemmed from an article someone wrote for my own website, which included a reference to me as a "talentless hack". The author thought he'd see if I censored it.
Troy
PS: If you're interested, the article is at:
http://l-space.tripod.com/subrant04.html
I found it entertaining.
BabarSun, 8 Apr 2001, 10:34 pm
Danké
Thanks very much guys!
Feel the love in the theatre. Warm fuzzies for everyone.
Feel the love in the theatre. Warm fuzzies for everyone.
Walter PlingeMon, 9 Apr 2001, 10:05 am
RE: Cary Hudson
Melanie D Cull!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!
Are you still alive????!!!!!????
Contact me: mcrisp@central.murdoch.edu.au
WOW!
Are you still alive????!!!!!????
Contact me: mcrisp@central.murdoch.edu.au