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: falling levels of enthusiasm
Fri, 6 Apr 2001, 04:31 pmWalter Plinge
Thanks for your encouraging email. It certainly beats the last one I received from Leah Maher. I never meant to make a personal attack on David Meadows character or professionalism. I just thought it was mildly amusing that he should mention this "falling level of enthusiasm" at around the same time that he dropped out of "Oleanna." It prompted me to think that maybe the reason why he dropped out of that play was because of a falling level of enthusiasm. I didn't target Mr Meadows specifically, although it did seem that he carelessly stumbled in front of my bullseye.
I have been acting in amateur and some professional plays for nearly eleven years so I have a rough idea of how this industry is going. One of the great virtues of theatre when I started was this constant supply of fresh blood and strong talent. This seems to have disappeared over the last few years almost as rapidly as the audience. That's a good point too. I can still remember a production of "Waiting for Godot" that I appeared in 1996. We had an audience of about 8 including a two year old toddler and the theatre cat. I expect the situation to be much worse now. With modern technology this can only be the finish of mainstream theatre. Even as I write I am sitting in front of a computer watching my own demise.
My solution is to try my luck in some other form of media, as I was trained in film production. For most people, that solution may not be quite that simple. As for "Oleanna", I would be the first to admit that I may have been miscast. My friend has a minor part in another play and therefore would be unavailable for that audition. However, I wish Grant Malcolm the very best of luck in finding an actor for "Oleanna" as it is a great play. As for Mr Meadows and his associate Ms Maher, if they took offence to my remarks, then maybe they can use their influence to blacklist me from amateur theatre. With this dying industry they can cut the numbers for less competition. Then finally when the end comes, that theatre cat can have a nice quiet peaceful place to sleep.
Yours
Cary
I have been acting in amateur and some professional plays for nearly eleven years so I have a rough idea of how this industry is going. One of the great virtues of theatre when I started was this constant supply of fresh blood and strong talent. This seems to have disappeared over the last few years almost as rapidly as the audience. That's a good point too. I can still remember a production of "Waiting for Godot" that I appeared in 1996. We had an audience of about 8 including a two year old toddler and the theatre cat. I expect the situation to be much worse now. With modern technology this can only be the finish of mainstream theatre. Even as I write I am sitting in front of a computer watching my own demise.
My solution is to try my luck in some other form of media, as I was trained in film production. For most people, that solution may not be quite that simple. As for "Oleanna", I would be the first to admit that I may have been miscast. My friend has a minor part in another play and therefore would be unavailable for that audition. However, I wish Grant Malcolm the very best of luck in finding an actor for "Oleanna" as it is a great play. As for Mr Meadows and his associate Ms Maher, if they took offence to my remarks, then maybe they can use their influence to blacklist me from amateur theatre. With this dying industry they can cut the numbers for less competition. Then finally when the end comes, that theatre cat can have a nice quiet peaceful place to sleep.
Yours
Cary
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