[rocky] Professionalism killed the Rocky star

[jrising]

There was a fantastic discussion at the Rocky party about the state of the cast. The vocal consensus was this:

There's an undercurrent of over-professionalism at the show. In small but definite ways, the drive for professionalism stifles some of the fun of the show and makes working at it a chore. Because the show isn't as much fun, it isn't as good, and the audience has noticed. Both directors, theater 3, and Acid's absence were blamed for these problems.

It's so tough to disentangle real harmful effects from nostalgia. So, tell me: do you agree? Have we gained the world and lost our soul (or raised the bar and broken our backs)? The drive for screen accuracy can push us to do better, but if it drives out jokes and connecting with the audience-- if our performance just duplicates the film-- do we want it? The cast members used to work up the audience waiting outside before the show. Does anyone do that now? We have such a great group, and we can fix these problems, but maybe not without big changes.

Feel free to post anonymously or email me separately.

Comments

[grypes.livejournal.com]

It's just bad form in general. It appears very subversive. This is also the second time he's taken it upon himself to initiate a dialog like this. If theatre groups were run like democracies where everyone gets fair say and everything flows equally amongst all involved then it wouldn't be a big deal.

It's not though. There is a hierarchy in place. If there is a general feeling of discontent amongst the cast the proper course is to bring it to the director first. Run it by him and then offer to open a public discussion. Presuming to do so looks bad.

That's my problem with the approach. As for Jimmy himself... he seems nice. We haven't talked much. But over the course of this discussion I've watched him pick his words very carefully.

If you go through and just read through his comments he makes a lot of comments in question of the directors including but not limited too "(in response to Ella saying she blames Gary)Lots of people do. I'm sure he doesn't mean to have that effect... but if it is him, then we just need a new director." and "We don't need a micro-manager; we need a champion."

I've been floating through the New England rocky community for a while. I don't often rattle of how many years because I don't count. I haven't been involved in any cast but FBC but I've interacted peripherally and been close to people deep within other casts.

A lot of other casts with weaker leadership structures have change of directors due to a mutiny. I've seen mutiny attempts in FBC before. I'm not directly accusing (the same way Jimmy isn't directly protesting) but this whole thread has a lot of undertones.

I could be wrong. However I'm more likely to move now and be wrong than wait around until it's too late for it to matter if I'm right.

:-)

[jrising.livejournal.com]

I have neither any interest in a "mutiny" nor do I think there's any need, but thanks for thinking me capable of it. I'd like to think that the thread diffused a couple "undertones" around the cast, and I have mostly Alex and various alumni to thank for it.

[grypes.livejournal.com]

I never claimed belief of capability of success, just consideration of possibility of attempt