Are They All Precious
Wed, 7 Jan 2004, 10:24 amWalter Plinge1 post in thread
Are They All Precious
Wed, 7 Jan 2004, 10:24 am[Originally written as letter to the Victorian Drama League's TheatreCraft magazine (http://home.vicnet.net.au/~vicdrama/), but apparently declined for publication - reproduced here with John's permission.]
In the last few weeks I have been lucky enough to attend four or five theatre groupsÂ’ festive season parties and annual award presentations, and I must say they have all been great fun. Many have taken the trouble to entertain the members, which generally takes the micky out of the group and its members.
However, I was very disappointed to see that the majority of actors who have been able to perform for these groups have not turned up to these functions. It does appear to me that many of the current crop of actors do not support the theatre groups that have given them the opportunity to strut their stuff in and around Melbourne. I am sure that this does not happen to our out of town groups, which appear to have the support of all their members. The annual festive party is, of course, partly for the actors. To let them know how they have performed or how they can improve their performances. But this seems to mean nothing!
I did take the opportunity to chat to a number of people involved with keeping the theatre groups together and I have found that they also are saddened, as well as frustrated at the lack of support from many actors. Many groups are now finding it very difficult to find front of house staff because a large number of actors are not doing their bit!.
If actors in general do not support the theatre groups, and that means helping out front of house on one or two occasions, or with costumes, props or back stage, the theatre groups will not be around to enable them to perform on the stage! The actor who does not support the group he or she has performed with is increasingly frustrating many of our metropolitan groups.
It appears to me that maybe one of two things can happen.
1.Groups will require a commitment from an actor to help out Front of House two or three time over the next three or four of the companies production if they get a part in a play. If actors commit and do not fulfil their commitment could be blacklisted by, not only the group they have let down, but maybe by a large number of groups in the area.
2.Groups will revert to only casting from active members of their own group.
I know that this is a problem that can be solved and I may not have the answer, but something must be done. It would be good to get feedback and other membersÂ’ views.
In the last few weeks I have been lucky enough to attend four or five theatre groupsÂ’ festive season parties and annual award presentations, and I must say they have all been great fun. Many have taken the trouble to entertain the members, which generally takes the micky out of the group and its members.
However, I was very disappointed to see that the majority of actors who have been able to perform for these groups have not turned up to these functions. It does appear to me that many of the current crop of actors do not support the theatre groups that have given them the opportunity to strut their stuff in and around Melbourne. I am sure that this does not happen to our out of town groups, which appear to have the support of all their members. The annual festive party is, of course, partly for the actors. To let them know how they have performed or how they can improve their performances. But this seems to mean nothing!
I did take the opportunity to chat to a number of people involved with keeping the theatre groups together and I have found that they also are saddened, as well as frustrated at the lack of support from many actors. Many groups are now finding it very difficult to find front of house staff because a large number of actors are not doing their bit!.
If actors in general do not support the theatre groups, and that means helping out front of house on one or two occasions, or with costumes, props or back stage, the theatre groups will not be around to enable them to perform on the stage! The actor who does not support the group he or she has performed with is increasingly frustrating many of our metropolitan groups.
It appears to me that maybe one of two things can happen.
1.Groups will require a commitment from an actor to help out Front of House two or three time over the next three or four of the companies production if they get a part in a play. If actors commit and do not fulfil their commitment could be blacklisted by, not only the group they have let down, but maybe by a large number of groups in the area.
2.Groups will revert to only casting from active members of their own group.
I know that this is a problem that can be solved and I may not have the answer, but something must be done. It would be good to get feedback and other membersÂ’ views.
Walter PlingeWed, 7 Jan 2004, 10:24 am
[Originally written as letter to the Victorian Drama League's TheatreCraft magazine (http://home.vicnet.net.au/~vicdrama/), but apparently declined for publication - reproduced here with John's permission.]
In the last few weeks I have been lucky enough to attend four or five theatre groupsÂ’ festive season parties and annual award presentations, and I must say they have all been great fun. Many have taken the trouble to entertain the members, which generally takes the micky out of the group and its members.
However, I was very disappointed to see that the majority of actors who have been able to perform for these groups have not turned up to these functions. It does appear to me that many of the current crop of actors do not support the theatre groups that have given them the opportunity to strut their stuff in and around Melbourne. I am sure that this does not happen to our out of town groups, which appear to have the support of all their members. The annual festive party is, of course, partly for the actors. To let them know how they have performed or how they can improve their performances. But this seems to mean nothing!
I did take the opportunity to chat to a number of people involved with keeping the theatre groups together and I have found that they also are saddened, as well as frustrated at the lack of support from many actors. Many groups are now finding it very difficult to find front of house staff because a large number of actors are not doing their bit!.
If actors in general do not support the theatre groups, and that means helping out front of house on one or two occasions, or with costumes, props or back stage, the theatre groups will not be around to enable them to perform on the stage! The actor who does not support the group he or she has performed with is increasingly frustrating many of our metropolitan groups.
It appears to me that maybe one of two things can happen.
1.Groups will require a commitment from an actor to help out Front of House two or three time over the next three or four of the companies production if they get a part in a play. If actors commit and do not fulfil their commitment could be blacklisted by, not only the group they have let down, but maybe by a large number of groups in the area.
2.Groups will revert to only casting from active members of their own group.
I know that this is a problem that can be solved and I may not have the answer, but something must be done. It would be good to get feedback and other membersÂ’ views.
In the last few weeks I have been lucky enough to attend four or five theatre groupsÂ’ festive season parties and annual award presentations, and I must say they have all been great fun. Many have taken the trouble to entertain the members, which generally takes the micky out of the group and its members.
However, I was very disappointed to see that the majority of actors who have been able to perform for these groups have not turned up to these functions. It does appear to me that many of the current crop of actors do not support the theatre groups that have given them the opportunity to strut their stuff in and around Melbourne. I am sure that this does not happen to our out of town groups, which appear to have the support of all their members. The annual festive party is, of course, partly for the actors. To let them know how they have performed or how they can improve their performances. But this seems to mean nothing!
I did take the opportunity to chat to a number of people involved with keeping the theatre groups together and I have found that they also are saddened, as well as frustrated at the lack of support from many actors. Many groups are now finding it very difficult to find front of house staff because a large number of actors are not doing their bit!.
If actors in general do not support the theatre groups, and that means helping out front of house on one or two occasions, or with costumes, props or back stage, the theatre groups will not be around to enable them to perform on the stage! The actor who does not support the group he or she has performed with is increasingly frustrating many of our metropolitan groups.
It appears to me that maybe one of two things can happen.
1.Groups will require a commitment from an actor to help out Front of House two or three time over the next three or four of the companies production if they get a part in a play. If actors commit and do not fulfil their commitment could be blacklisted by, not only the group they have let down, but maybe by a large number of groups in the area.
2.Groups will revert to only casting from active members of their own group.
I know that this is a problem that can be solved and I may not have the answer, but something must be done. It would be good to get feedback and other membersÂ’ views.