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Post by profquatermass on Dec 10, 2016 15:23:54 GMT
In the NT production of "The Designated Mourner" directed by Sir David Hare, Mike Nichols read all his lines off a teleprompter every night because he couldn't learn them. So we needn't get too sniffy about panto. At a preview of Anthony and Cleopatra at the NT, I was near enough to the front to hear how often Alan Rickman was prompted There's a Simon Brett novel where an actor has to be fed all his lines through a earphone masquerading as a deaf aid (in the radio version, the elderly thesp was Leslie Philips). Anyone know if this really happens? |
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Post by notmymuse on Dec 10, 2016 15:44:23 GMT
In the NT production of "The Designated Mourner" directed by Sir David Hare, Mike Nichols read all his lines off a teleprompter every night because he couldn't learn them. So we needn't get too sniffy about panto. At a preview of Anthony and Cleopatra at the NT, I was near enough to the front to hear how often Alan Rickman was prompted There's a Simon Brett novel where an actor has to be fed all his lines through a earphone masquerading as a deaf aid (in the radio version, the elderly thesp was Leslie Philips). Anyone know if this really happens? Yes, occasionally. There was an incident or other last year (was it the Old Vic?) where one of the actors had an ear-piece all through previews but I think it was ditched by press night. It's happened on Broadway with some celebs in recent years too. To be honest, I'm not sure what the fuss is about. I saw My Fair Lady at Sheffield Crucible a few years ago, and Dominic West struggled with the lines in one of the songs, and apparently had done so a few times. He probably got nervous as the song approached each time which made it worse. Now, few of us would have been close enough to see if he had an ear-piece in or not, and I'd rather someone be relaxed and confident enough to give a good performance and them wear an ear-piece than them be jittery and then forget lines. I mean, they all wear microphones and burst into song and dance, so it's hardly hyper-realism to start with. Re: Stacey, I just read the article and she went on stage less than 24 hours after arriving in the UK on a plane from Australia. Knowing where to stand when that jet-lagged and wearing the right costume and knowing the songs at all seems to me a pretty impressive achievement. I would question the greed/wisdom of the scheduling someone to appear in anything with that little preparation (and how fair or respectful that is to the paying public) but all the same. |
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Post by lynette on Dec 10, 2016 16:15:02 GMT
Maybe they could have given another actress a week before Stacey came on.
Interesting re Dominic West. We all noted how he struggled with the lines in Liasons D, didn't we?
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Post by Ruby Sue on Dec 10, 2016 17:51:00 GMT
It was Complcit at The Old Vic where Richard Dreyfuss wore an earpiece & I remember it being slightly uncomfortable viewing with him trying to deliver what he was being fed, with lots of un-natural pauses etc.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 10, 2016 17:56:13 GMT
Or maybe just don't go see it? Lord knows we all have things in the theatrical canon we don't like, but instead of calling for the banning of, say, all Richard Bean plays, I just go and see things I know I stand a better chance of liking instead, and then I talk about the things I did like rather than constantly going into threads explicitly labelled as being about Richard Bean plays just to talk about how much I really can't stand Richard Bean plays. Just a thought there.  I wasn't being completely serious. Sorry if it went over your head  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 10, 2016 17:57:04 GMT
*off....!!! If only Mama Bear and Papa Bear hadn't forced Baby Bear to watch endless pantos he'd be spelling with the best of them... I didn't have a Mummy or Daddy. They did what they could at the orphanage but.... |
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 10, 2016 18:00:50 GMT
Yes, but you're probably going to be paying more than you would for Hedda so you'd expect the 'actors' to be professional. Also, and I feel strongly about this, panto-bash all you like peoples (and I really do get why people loathe it) but it is many, many children's first foray into theatre and culture so there should be a responsibility from all concerned to do it right. I am including children's opportunities to actually perform as well as watch - provincial pantos take from local dance/Saturday drama schools and this experience gives many kids the bug. Knock it all you like, hate it all you like, but it really does serve a purpose! Palladium Cinderella! |
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