Pittsburgh City Paper: "The show must go on!
Even with my well-exercised antipathy toward some of theater's more fabled customs, I do believe that, no matter what, you never stop the show.
So a big basket of flowers to local actor Matt Lamb, who proved during the opening night of Weird Romance, at The Theatre Factory, that theatrical fortitude is not dying out ... at least not on his watch.
You see, he dislocated his shoulder -- and kept on going!"
15 comments:
I find it impressive what actors will do. There seems to be a bit of an unhealthy addiction to theater is anyone involved with it. To continue to act even with a dislocated shoulder is quite impressive, although a bit ridiculous. I would think though that the actor might be a bit disappointed to hear that it was the high point of the first act, i doubt that is what one wants to hear about one's production.e
Hmm the show must go on, but if that's the best comment about the entire show i wonder how good the production actually was? I applaud the actor for still performing even with injury, that takes alot of passion (and a desire to stay employed). I wish the reviewer could have more great comments about this show rather than the main actor injuring himself.
Hmm the show must go on, but if that's the best comment about the entire show i wonder how good the production actually was? I applaud the actor for still performing even with injury, that takes alot of passion (and a desire to stay employed). I wish the reviewer could have more great comments about this show rather than the main actor injuring himself.
(yes, i posted this as anonymous again, sorry)
That's INCREDIBLE. Only in our industry are we so dedicated to the performance. I agree with the authors adage that he doesn't agree with many of the theater traditions, but that is one which i will always support. As technicians, its our duty to support and prepare for anything that might happen during a show, and deal with it calmly. This example shows the professionalism of all involved in the show. So it is true that an audience member can get something out of even the worst of shows.
It is amazing what we will do to ourselves for art. I am sure it was painful and slightly detrimental to his performance. However, I do not think that a performance or any job is more important than your health or family. If you are just feeling ill that is one thing, but dislocated joints or infectiously ill is defiantly another. Again, kudos to Matt, but I think he's crazy. I can only assume there was not an understudy for this production.
An injury like this is every stage managers worst nightmare. However, actors like this are every stage managers dream. The true mark of a good actor is how he can cover when the need arises. As as audience member, seeing a show stop is the last thing I would ever want. As a stage manager, stopping a show is the last thing I would ever want to do. That's a report I don't want to write.
This is a great article, I am so inspired by this actor. I feel horrible that he slipped in the first place (my first thought was, what technician didnt clean up a spilled mess? Even though I have know idea if that wet spot was supposed to be there) but it makes me have so much faith in this industry. The amount of dedication that he must have, makes me happy and makes the feeling that much more prominent that I would want to do the same thing. Im just glad he was not more seriously hurt
I think this kind of story gives a great example of what actors have to do onstage to keep the show going. Its a bit of a tough lesson to learn for actors, knowing where to cross the line. Many times you will run into an actor who loses sight of the fact that the show must go on. On the other hand, if the actors life is in danger the actor may still want to go onstage, feeling the show must go on. This becomes the issue of the Assistant Stage Manager or Stage Manager generally during the run of the show. They must use their best judgment on a moments notice.
The ability of a normal person to continue any activity with a dislocated arm amazes me. The fact that this actor did it while singing, dancing and acting is astounding. It just shows the ability and energy the theater creates not only for an actor to continue in pain but for the show to go on, and then return for act 2. When I saw In the heights, one of the characters had to stop and switch with the swing because he fell a step. It was sad bc it ruined the experience, knowing he broke character. I commend this actor for continuing and not breaking character, although if he was endangering himself he should have stopped.
I totally agree with Cody on this one, and am frankly surprised by a lot of the comments here. Nothing is more important than your health, and if going on with the show is detrimental, then slyly excuse yourself (and don't break character) and go fix it. I feel as though almost any character in any show has the opportunity to go off stage for few minutes if they absolutely have to. The motivation is to feel better. if he could just snap it back into place, that would be fine and he could come bakc. but dancing around with your arm out of your socket is just not smart.
this article reminds me of when Idina Menzel fell in the trap door during her last performance of Wicked. Her health was more important than the rest of the company finishing right away, but eventually the show did go on (just not with her). She is smart enough to know she had to no go back on, because she had hurt herself. I wonder if the actor in this production would have kept dancing if it was his leg or knee which dislocated.....
Mr. Lamb is an amazing actor if he can continue to act, dance, and sing even with a dislocated shoulder. This kind of dedication always impresses me. With an injury that painful, to continue to even move let alone talk is remarkable. The show must always go on. We've seen this stuff--not quite so extreme--in Purnell too. From evacuating everyone BUT those in rehearsal and on crew with a riot nearby, to coming to class/crew sick or injured because either you know people are relying on you, or you can't afford to miss classes.
I've never seen/met someone as extremely committed as Lamb, but his behavior follows a pattern that has long been a part of theater.
I agree that continuing with dancing and singing with your arm out of it's socket is probably not the best thing to do for ones health, but I can't say that I would have done it differently. In fact, I know I would have kept going, because I have been in a similar situation (although not performing). I commend this actors dedication and strength for going on without breaking character. In fact, it seems like if his wife would not have told the people around her that it had been dislocated, they probably wouldn't have known. Kudos to him!
I've seen similar things happen, one that comes to mind is one night working at a haunted house we had one of our more acrobatic regular actors decide to take things a bit farther than usual and start running and doing handsprings to land right in front of the patrons in order to startle them. After a few of us tried to talk him out of it we finally left him with "we don't recommend it, but if you insist just don't hurt yourself or anyone else". Needless to say, about 15 minutes later he was sitting down behind one of the buildings holding onto his hand and wrist (he had broken his hand in a bad landing). Our surprise came about 10 minutes after that when he was back to his routine doing the handsprings on one hand trying to avoid using the broken one for anything. He said he was enjoying it too much to stop and would go see a doctor later.
It's pretty mind-blowing what people will pretend isn't happening in order to get through an act. As theater people, we hear stories like this and say, "Wow, that guy is so dedicated! Good for him!" Sometimes it's interesting to step back and wonder, "Is finishing the act without interruption really more important than making sure that actor's arm is completely attached to his body?" Since this was a situation where the actor was fine other than his immobile arm, then it makes sense to just power through--but it makes you wonder what would have had to happen to Mr. Lamb before he gave up.
Wow Actors amaze me, but I guess I would do the same thing backstage? HUmm.. I have always been intrigued by "the show must go on" mentality just because I can never think of a different environment where a group of people are so steadfast in a goal. I feel like in the rest of society people are like "hold the phone" Perhaps I am just bias but it seems people who are attracted to theatre are slightly attracted to the sheer dedication and sticktuitiveness. At least Ihave never met a "theatre person" who went "Eh the show..."
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