HowlRound: If a playwright or producer is looking for a director, they do their research. They see the director’s work, seek out references, and/or sit down and have tea with a number of directors to find one their vision can commingle with. They do not ask the director to direct two minutes of the play to prove she knows what she’s doing. Nor should they. They respect and, better yet, trust the director. The same cannot be said for the actor.I believe actors (and all theater practitioners) should be treated with the same respect and trust we tender the director.
Friday, September 23, 2011
A Culture of Trust by Taylor Mac
HowlRound: If a playwright or producer is looking for a director, they do their research. They see the director’s work, seek out references, and/or sit down and have tea with a number of directors to find one their vision can commingle with. They do not ask the director to direct two minutes of the play to prove she knows what she’s doing. Nor should they. They respect and, better yet, trust the director. The same cannot be said for the actor.I believe actors (and all theater practitioners) should be treated with the same respect and trust we tender the director.
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2 comments:
This just doesn't seem like a realistic request. Maybe I'm just being part of the industry that Taylor Mac seems to be criticizing, but I don't really feel like you can get rid of auditions for actors. For one, how do bring new talent into the industry if you are operating solely on trust and knowledge of actors' previous work? Secondly, how do you know if an actor is right for your specific production against other actors? That's great that this individual has been able cast four productions based on trust, it just doesn't seem like a viable option for the whole industry. You could waste a lot of time if you cast someone based on trust and they turn out to not be appropriate for your production.
I think we often treat actors as precious collectibles that might break at the slightest touch. We often think of everyone of them as having sensitive and sometimes explosive personalities. While these are definitely true, there are probably the exception rather than the rule. Many of the actors that I have met and worked with have been some of the most capable people I know. We ask them to go on stage and bear their souls to an audience night after night and them come backstage and be a regular person. Too often, we talk about "actor-proofing" or babying the actors because they have a lot on their mind. Yes, they have a lot to think about and it is our job to make their lives easier (like every coworker should do). But I don't believe that it is beyond them to think. I definitely agree that type casting is over used and sometimes detrimental to a production. While we sometimes try to replicate reality, the best way to be realistic is not always to be real.
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