'K & I' sackings
Sun, 24 Oct 2004, 10:28 pmWalter Plinge8 posts in thread
'K & I' sackings
Sun, 24 Oct 2004, 10:28 pmHi,
I've been reading some of the posts made by Joe and several other people regarding the 'K & I' understudy sackings. I'm not sure if you're aware but Justin Freind hasn't been the lead role for Luntha for very long. I was sacked about a month ago from lead role as Luntha and found out then that Justin had been replaced as lead role.
I'm 17 years old finishing year 12 TEE in Kelmscott. I spent 72 hours and a lot of money driving to bloody carlisle for rehearsals and having said that my TEE will suffer because of this experience.
I've discovered recently that the understudies were sacked over the phone. I'm not sure how you all took it at the time but when i was told in person i was shocked for 3 days. I too don't understand why proffessional performers are in a voluntary production and fortunately have had the support of my family to pry information from Marcus Stafford (He proudly calls himself the "CEO of the MS Society!") and came to our own conclusion quite some time ago that the goings on of this production have been far from a coincidence.
Interestingly enough I was one of the first, if not THE FIRST lead role to be cast in this production, that is, everyone else from my knowledge was still attending call-backs.
Odd how 4 or 5 weeks before opening night they suddenly changed their view on my acting ability in a 85% singing role.
Kind Regards,
Trent Laurenson
I've been reading some of the posts made by Joe and several other people regarding the 'K & I' understudy sackings. I'm not sure if you're aware but Justin Freind hasn't been the lead role for Luntha for very long. I was sacked about a month ago from lead role as Luntha and found out then that Justin had been replaced as lead role.
I'm 17 years old finishing year 12 TEE in Kelmscott. I spent 72 hours and a lot of money driving to bloody carlisle for rehearsals and having said that my TEE will suffer because of this experience.
I've discovered recently that the understudies were sacked over the phone. I'm not sure how you all took it at the time but when i was told in person i was shocked for 3 days. I too don't understand why proffessional performers are in a voluntary production and fortunately have had the support of my family to pry information from Marcus Stafford (He proudly calls himself the "CEO of the MS Society!") and came to our own conclusion quite some time ago that the goings on of this production have been far from a coincidence.
Interestingly enough I was one of the first, if not THE FIRST lead role to be cast in this production, that is, everyone else from my knowledge was still attending call-backs.
Odd how 4 or 5 weeks before opening night they suddenly changed their view on my acting ability in a 85% singing role.
Kind Regards,
Trent Laurenson
Re: 'K & I' sackings
Mon, 25 Oct 2004, 08:22 amWalter Plinge
I am disgusted at the way actors are currently being treated in this town. I have never "sacked" an actor from a production - and we pay them! That is why we have auditions, isn't it? To determine who is right for a role and whether they are actually able to do it or not? It would be a different matter if an actor was unreliable, not turning up to rehearsals or late for performances, etc. - but it certainly doesn't sound like the case here. It seems to me that actors are increasingly seen as dispensible "fodder" who can be easily replaced so therefore are not treated with even basic common respect.
Believe me, this isn't only happening in the "pro-am" scene. I have recently had an humiliating incident in the "professional"world that would never have been allowed to happen 10 years ago!
What is the solution? Boycotting certain companies? I think the trouble is, most of us are so "desperate" to perform we will consider anything...but where do we draw the line?
Angelique Malcolm
Class Act Theatre Inc.