NYTimes.com: THE language of theater here is slightly different from ours in New York. The crackly speaker in a London dressing room is called the “tannoy.” The opening night of a London show is called its “Press Night.” When a stage manager announces the start of a performance, London actors don’t hear the word “places.” They hear “beginners.”
At the National Theater when beginners is called over the tannoy on Press Night, something extraordinary happens. It is a simple, sentimental and highly theatrical custom unique to the National. On Nov. 21 there was a Press Night. I was in the show. Hence I was there to witness this custom firsthand. My memory of that moment, more than any other event, has come to crystallize the experience of working at the National. I am one of only a handful of American actors to perform there during its 50-year history, which perhaps explains why I found that heartfelt custom so stirring.
1 comment:
Stories like these remind me of why I want to continue doing theatre. One of the most interesting aspects of the theatre industry, is that it's a very small place. If you don't know someone, then you know someone else who does. And in this crazy interconnected theatre world, people are a sort of family. Shows become a family in their own, brought together for a few months to make magic happen, and then the family dissolves. The feeling of community and open mindedness, and general willingness to accept other theatre people is astounding. And, even when there are petty feuds and rifts between actors and theatre companies, there is even the (sometimes begrudging) respect that actors give to other actors. Technicians give to other technicians. Designers give to other designers. Managers give to other managers. There are very few things that have the label "industry" where you can find people willing to pound on walls for each other as a sign of respect, and in general, find such respect.
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