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: Serendipitous script suggestions...
Wed, 28 Mar 2001, 08:14 amWalter Plinge
In actual fact Amanda, you were the inspiration for JB and my foray into writing. It came to us watching you in the red dress and looooong black boots lying on the New Fortune stage panting (sorry, I mean "dying").
It's not actually a play really - more a "work in progress". We have scribbled down a few ideas on a sheet of paper and intend to gather around us a tight enthusiastic bunch of young female actors to bring this piece to life. Rather than rehearsals we will be having workshops all of which will be videotaped - for educational purposes, annnnd .... to help the Directors (guess who!) to see the progress of the actors as they delve deeper into the murky waters of the B&D world.
It will all be to a score by a thrash metal band with the occasional piece by Barry White (Ooooh baby...etc.).
The working title at this stage is "The Molls House-a radical re-reading of Ibsen" but we are flexible on that .
Any thoughts on a poster?
It's not actually a play really - more a "work in progress". We have scribbled down a few ideas on a sheet of paper and intend to gather around us a tight enthusiastic bunch of young female actors to bring this piece to life. Rather than rehearsals we will be having workshops all of which will be videotaped - for educational purposes, annnnd .... to help the Directors (guess who!) to see the progress of the actors as they delve deeper into the murky waters of the B&D world.
It will all be to a score by a thrash metal band with the occasional piece by Barry White (Ooooh baby...etc.).
The working title at this stage is "The Molls House-a radical re-reading of Ibsen" but we are flexible on that .
Any thoughts on a poster?
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