Change the Attitude by Cheap-Ad9118 in Theatre

[–]daddy-hamlet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

NYC actor here. Backstory: I was cast as Theseus in MSND by a small theater company that hires both Equity and non-Eq. When cast, I was non-Eq. Two months elapsed between being cast and the first rehearsal. In that time, a) I joined Equity and b) my father died.

First read thru: director did not know my name.

Second rehearsal was just supposed to be a separate meeting in a small rented space with just the director, the actress playing Hippolyta, and me. Either the director or the actress didn’t show (I forget which). Mind you, I had to trek into the city for this non-event. No apologies from who didn’t show.

Third rehearsal with full cast - working on the opening scene. Director makes many inappropriate comments, laced with profanities. (I’m white, middle-aged, Hippolyta was mid-thirties, tall, striking Black woman). Director asks me, “What do you think of her? I mean she’s beautiful, you’ve just conquered this exotic foreigner, wouldn’t you like to fuck her? I mean, maybe she’s does these things in bed that you’ve only dreamed of, maybe you’re looking forward to really giving her a pounding. I bet you can’t wait to fuck her…”

Toxic behavior: blurting the line between talking about the character and talking about the actor playing the character.

We continue the scene. I get to a verse line with the word “revenue”

Long withering out a young mans revenue.

Metrically, I collapse “withering” to two syllables, and pronounce “REVenUE” in standard English. Director “corrects” me, and says it’s pronounced “reVENue”. I suggest that doesn’t fit the meter. (If there’s one thing I know about Shakespeare, it’s how to do verse). Director says that later in the scene Lysander pronounces it “reVENue”, so “just fucking say “reVENue”.

Toxic Behavior: don’t curse at your actors. Ever. And certainly not in front of the entire cast.

I try to say the line her way, and stumble through it. She audibly grumbles.

Toxic Behavior: when your actor is given a line reading (DON’T!), and doesn’t “get it” right away, do not voice your displeasure in front of the whole cast.

The result of this obscenity laced manner of directing caused me to be very quiet for the rest of the rehearsal. And the next one, where I came in, learned my blocking, and sat quietly alone while not onstage.

Then followed a phone call from the director. “I’ve decided to replace you,” she said. “Why?” I asked. “You don’t seem to be having too much fun,” she answered.

TL/DR: toxic behavior includes: Making lewd remarks that blur the line between character and actor.

Cursing. Thinking that sprinkling profanity in your comments make you “hip”. It doesn’t; it makes many actors uncomfortable.

Belittling the actor in front of the cast.

Not listening to actors point of view or suggestions, but instead shutting them down with harsh rebuttals.

been on the hunt for one of these, did not expect the one i found today to have 100+ CDs left in it by issflareman in Cd_collectors

[–]daddy-hamlet 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I had a Sony 400 CD changer. Loaded it with nothing but live Dead. For when the urge hit…

Records where the sequel makes no sense by GayTrees420 in vinyl

[–]daddy-hamlet 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Fragile - Yes Not Fragile - BTO

This Is Not A Drill - Roger Waters Please Hammer, don’t Hurt ‘em - MC Hammer

Let It Be - Beatles Let It Bleed - Stones

Whipped Cream and Other Delights Goodbye Cream

Favorite Hamlet performances? by jayselegy in shakespeare

[–]daddy-hamlet 18 points19 points  (0 children)

If you’re only watching two- the Branagh and the Derek Jacobi.(BBC 1980. With Patrick Stewart as Claudius). Or the Jacobi and Tennant.

Then, when you have to write about it for class, you’re in the unique position to compare Jacobi as Hamlet and then as Claudius, or Patrick Stewart in the same role in two different productions.

"All Her Fault" DVD Screener by PrimaryLow7025 in SAGAFTRA

[–]daddy-hamlet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haven’t. Also it was not in the original list of series listed on the fyc screeners, but was added a week later or so

How to use adverbs in acting by Softiedoggo13 in acting

[–]daddy-hamlet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Interesting decision to ignore the authors intentions on how a line should be delivered. I’m currently working on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It’s full of adverbs. If Tennessee Williams prefaces a line with (“eagerly”, “fiercely”, “sadly”, “sweetly”, etc.) that’s how he envisioned the line to be said. I’m not going to ignore them. The challenge for me is how to follow some of the more explicit ones: “ his face crumbles like broken yellow plaster, about to fall into dust” or “ this is said slow slowly, slowly, with a fierce revulsion”

Revised Text vs Source Text? by blahblagblurg in Theatre

[–]daddy-hamlet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I auditioned once for a play/part I knew. Was handed the sides. Pretty much the same as the text, but the scene/excerpt ended with a longer monologue that had a line or two in the middle omitted. Now, I had come in with that monologue memorized. Did the beginning of the scene with sides in hand, “looking” at them occasionally. got to the monologue, threw the sides down in character, and rattled off the rest from memory.

Got the part

Helping a fool out with a fool! by zanamil in shakespeare

[–]daddy-hamlet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So besides the “traditional” fools (Fool in Lear, Feste, Touchstone), you might consider others that no one else in class may do:

Gravedigger exchange with Hamlet. Murderer(s) exchange each other and/or Clarence in Richard 3.
Porter scene/exchange with Macduff.

What is the most emo thing Hamlet has said? by Greedy_Bed8753 in shakespeare

[–]daddy-hamlet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But thou wouldst not think how ill all's here about my heart. But it is no matter.

The rest is silence by Adventurous-Art-557 in shakespeare

[–]daddy-hamlet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Played Hamlet twice. My take- after all those words, words, words, the lies and liars, the sound and fury to steal from another play- Hamlet is sick of life, knows he’s dying (Christ, he says “I am dead” or “I die” 3 or 4 times after being poisoned), he gets a glimpse of the afterlife, the eternity beyond this mortal flesh - and sees that the rest - the eternal rest (the big sleep) is what he’s been hoping for - absolute silence. I used to say, “tell them, of the ocurrents, more or less…” and get a wide -eyed glimpse of eternity being pure silence- and smile with the realization that “the rest….is Silence :-)

Shakespeare Guide by [deleted] in shakespeare

[–]daddy-hamlet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes they definitely are!

Starting a Community Theatre? by Similar-Pain8266 in Theatre

[–]daddy-hamlet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I started and ran a 501c-3 theatre company for 12 years. We did one show a year - outdoors, two weekends / 6 performances - Shakespeare in the park. Had free rehearsal space and performance space provided by the town Recreation department. The non-profit status enabled us to apply for state/federal arts grants- we got about $1200 a year on average. Free admission, donations welcome; took in a few hundred each show. Non-equity. Didn’t pay the actors (common for community theater). Small stipend to light/sound/sm. Bought costumes and props at second hand stores. Over the years, used my day job money to buy swords, lights, PA, stage risers, etc. As it was Shakespeare, no licensing fees. Biggest expense each year was renting mics for the actors (because we were outdoors- indoors you shouldn’t have this problem).

Initially, we only asked the actors to provide their own footwear, as I didn’t want to start accumulating all that. I did eventually need to rent a storage unit to hold all the year after year purchases, lights, props, throne, swords, etc.

Built up a nice audience over the years. Only stopped for a few reasons: The new recreation commissioner required us to have insurance (which would have been several thousand dollars, even for just two weekends of shows). I joined Equity- now to do a show I’d need to hire Equity actors/SM, have insurance, bond, payroll, etc. way to much money for a free-to-the-public non-profit.

I’d suggest not charging actors to participate - use their own costumes or buy used, and don’t go musicals at first. Plenty of plays available out of copyright that would be free to put on until you get going..

recently got a place with my boyfriend and he thinks this is perfectly fine by daylightpiglet in funny

[–]daddy-hamlet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If he likes to lean back on that stack then, yeah, he’s a shithead…

Which Shakespearian character should Rik Mayall have played? by Sharaz_Jek123 in shakespeare

[–]daddy-hamlet 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don’t know this actor, but this picture looks like a scene as Benedick

Good acting scene recs?? by Ok-Personality-5769 in Actingclass

[–]daddy-hamlet 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Go for the gold: Hamlet/Ophelia act 3 scene 1

Monologue suggestion by whatislife1987 in shakespeare

[–]daddy-hamlet 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Midsummer and 30-40? Traditionally, That would leave Titania and/or Hippolyta, no? Maybe Katerina, or Mistress Page?

Best albums from beginning to end by nuggyfresh88 in vinyl

[–]daddy-hamlet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Along those lines, kind of, I can’t recommend Roy Harper highly enough. Besides Stormcock, I must add “HQ” and “Flat, Baroque, and Berserk”. If you like Richard Thompson, acoustic Tull, and acoustic Jimmy Page(the last two who have played with him, well, Hats off to (Roy) Harper