The Thin Black Line

Wed, 18 Oct 2006, 12:55 pm

Rapunzel4 posts in thread

OK, if the police are the "thin blue line" between civilised folks and the criminal element does that mean that Stage Managers are the thin black line between, well, all sorts of groups?

I am currently SM/Props for a very silly farce and am finding that most of my time (not spent dishing the soup, washing up and generally running the props) is running interference between the following list:

the company owner, also the director of the farce, and the venue owner
one member of the cast and all the others
the smaller "tribes" within the cast

There's only seven of them but somehow they all seem to be at each other's throats. The only person who isn't snarly with anyone is my board op!

Now, if you are in said farce and recognise yourself then SHAME ON YOU. The most mature member of this happy gang is one of the youngest.

I know it's just sympton of being in the third week of a very tiring run, well, except for the director v owner, some serious issues there, but still...makes me wonder. When in acting mode do I get as petulant? Hmmm, thoughts from any other techie/actors??

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RapunzelWed, 18 Oct 2006, 12:55 pm

OK, if the police are the "thin blue line" between civilised folks and the criminal element does that mean that Stage Managers are the thin black line between, well, all sorts of groups?

the company owner, also the director of the farce, and the venue owner
one member of the cast and all the others
the smaller "tribes" within the cast

There's only seven of them but somehow they all seem to be at each other's throats. The only person who isn't snarly with anyone is my board op!

Now, if you are in said farce and recognise yourself then SHAME ON YOU. The most mature member of this happy gang is one of the youngest.

NaWed, 18 Oct 2006, 01:48 pm

Stage management is the

Stage management is the hardest role in theatre. Why? Because you have to be the ambassador between the different factions - actors v director v techies. Ambassador / counsellor. Slash mum/dad/friend... A good SM is a person who can coordinate the show and the cast and the crew with good humour, tact and efficiency. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

RapunzelWed, 18 Oct 2006, 02:34 pm

You do speak the truth!

Too true Na, you do speak the truth! I guess I'm just a little weary and wanted to vent a bit of spleen. Honestly, there are times I feel like banging their heads together. That said, if ever there was a show that struggled to get up it's this one. Something like 17 changes of cast, booked venue sold from under us, stuck with unsuitable set design at a very late stage in an unsuitable venue (sex farce in converted church, hmm ...), primary set builder taken to hospital during the get in, etc. etc. It's been a heck of a struggle to get the flipping open. Hey ho, these things were sent to try us! "Papa, where is Mama? They tell me she has gone away, where is she?"

NaWed, 18 Oct 2006, 03:04 pm

Ah yes - no matter who you

Ah yes - no matter who you are in the theatre world this adage is too true: "There is no such thing as a perfect show" The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

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