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
RE: I wouldn't audition for any of your plays!
Thu, 29 Mar 2001, 07:14 pmWalter Plinge
Good to see the Gutless Brigade are still out in force...
Obviously 'Male Actor' (not his real name!) is one of their newer recruits as he hasn't gotten the message that people on this site are sick and tired of low-blow comments coming from the 'safety' of anonymity.
MA: If you had any self-respect you would say your piece with full disclosure of your name and the circumstances in which you formed your opinion. Or abstain from comment (the preferred option). I'm betting that disclosing where these comments are coming from would make you look small and petty...like most of the 'beefs' that people have in the theatre world (am or pro).
You obviously have issues with David and I for one would encourage you to either make your peace or state your problems directly to David or desist from your cowardly, spineless public attacks...
Further, I think you owe the patrons of this site an apology for venting your spleen (in such a pathetic way) in a public forum. It is insulting to think that any 'nobody' can come onto this site, defecate all over the patrons (effectively) and then disappear.
All *I* ask is THINK before you ACT...your comments may prove hurtful to your target or they may not (I suspect in the case of David, they will not), but the rest of us are left despairing and disturbed over your attempt to seek some sort of impotent revenge...
Vaguely Disturbed
Jason
PS - By the way, your message seems to have originated at ECU or through some affiliation with them...I'm betting you're part of the Cowan Coterie who have 'issues' with David from 'the old days'. Look, just GET OVER IT - life's too short for this kind of hatred...
But I'm only guessing...have a nice day.
Obviously 'Male Actor' (not his real name!) is one of their newer recruits as he hasn't gotten the message that people on this site are sick and tired of low-blow comments coming from the 'safety' of anonymity.
MA: If you had any self-respect you would say your piece with full disclosure of your name and the circumstances in which you formed your opinion. Or abstain from comment (the preferred option). I'm betting that disclosing where these comments are coming from would make you look small and petty...like most of the 'beefs' that people have in the theatre world (am or pro).
You obviously have issues with David and I for one would encourage you to either make your peace or state your problems directly to David or desist from your cowardly, spineless public attacks...
Further, I think you owe the patrons of this site an apology for venting your spleen (in such a pathetic way) in a public forum. It is insulting to think that any 'nobody' can come onto this site, defecate all over the patrons (effectively) and then disappear.
All *I* ask is THINK before you ACT...your comments may prove hurtful to your target or they may not (I suspect in the case of David, they will not), but the rest of us are left despairing and disturbed over your attempt to seek some sort of impotent revenge...
Vaguely Disturbed
Jason
PS - By the way, your message seems to have originated at ECU or through some affiliation with them...I'm betting you're part of the Cowan Coterie who have 'issues' with David from 'the old days'. Look, just GET OVER IT - life's too short for this kind of hatred...
But I'm only guessing...have a nice day.
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