Friday, October 17, 2008
REPAIRING AN 'ELLIOT' MESS
New York Post: "At a performance last weekend, the set broke down five times. The fifth time, the audience started booing. Director Stephen Daldry leapt up onstage and told the crowd that he would personally see to it that everyone in the theater that night would have a chance to see the show again."
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8 comments:
There is a lot going on here. this is a good example of how many variables affect what we do. the pushing of a few dates and a little family politics can really mess up not just one but a bunch of shows for the long run, including tony season.
This just shows how all of us have to be prepared for anything that happens. We all get in the frame of mind that once a show is up or even previewing, that everything that was working will stay working. Not the case even on Broadway where it’s rare something like this happens. So the key is just to never get in that frame of mind, because if you do and something happens it’s not going to be handled the best that it can be.
I can only imagine how severe the blame-game is on Billy Elliot, and I feel bad for ever is catching the most shit. I know in an ideal world blame wouldn't matter, but I'm sure it doesn't hold true for two nights of canceled performances.
In terms of vying for the same space and nights I think it's an interesting example of a tradition being uprooted in favor of the business that the entertainment industry has become.
What this sounds like to me is producers and higher ups not giving technicians enough set up and rehearsal time to get the job done correctly and safely. Local 1 guys know their stuff. Its not often at all something like this happens where a set breaks down 5 times in one night. I'm curious as to what the circumstances have been for the load in and tech in NY. Sounds like producers and venue owners trying to either save some money or make some money....
Ouch.I wonder how many people lost their jobs over this one. Maybe they could take some money from Julie and the 'Spidy' show and fix some of these issues. It seems like a bunch of little failures all piling up in to this epic sad day for everyone.
What a sucky situation for the "Elliot" gang. I saw the show in London and enjoyed the weird, rickety, hydraulic tower-like house/bedroom/staircase structure that featured prominently in the show. I can't imagine how the cast, crew, and production team are dealing with it. How embarrassing. And scary!
Wow, it broke 5 times in one night? I feel like something must have happened during the build for that to happen or else something occured to the set before that show that damaged it. I wonder if it was an issue of not checking everything before the show went up that night that led to the fiasco. Maybe the production needs to check more thoroughly before a show starts that everything is working.
Regardless of the many conflicts that it may be causing, I think it is smart idea to always try to satisfy the costumer. Not only are these people supporters of this show in particular but of theatre in general and it is important that the audience knows that they are valued and will be taken care of, regardless of the consequences that it may have.
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