1776's Sara Porkalob Brutally Honest Vulture Article - Page 5

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 5:21pm

Well this article certainly spilled out the fresh grass for the drama llamas on this board.

 

Another BIPOC artist who clearly loved working with Diane Paulus!

Updated On: 10/15/22 at 05:21 PM

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 5:23pm

BroadwayGirl107 said: "This comment is so unhinged and weirdly sinister and capitalist. I don’t know anyone who gives 100% every day at every job, lol. People show up and do the best they can. I have a business and have hired people and for me…they just need to do the job good enough, they don’t have to be live changjngly amazing. It’s a JOB.


And I’ll said it AGAIN because I think people seem to still be missing it: Giving “75%” doesn’t necessarily mean phoning it in. If it’s me saying that, it would mean I’m doing a show where I don’t love the material or the director’s vision, and because I don’t feel artistically free and empowered that I’ve not fully bought in and drank the Kool Aid. I just do what I can with what I’ve got.


The more I read people’s thoughts about this, the more I feel that every person clutching their pearls and being offended by this is not an actor."

 

"This comment is so unhinged and weirdly sinister and capitalist"

Really? To expect people to do the best they can? That's now so unhinged and weirdly sinister and capitalist? What a completely idiotic comment. Tell me you're completely detached from the real world without telling me you're completely detached from the real world.

"I don’t know anyone who gives 100% every day at every job, lol. People show up and do the best they can".

Doing the best job you can IS giving 100%. No one's asking them to cure cancer or dance on their head. Just do the best job you can. No one said go above and beyond. No one said give 110% at all times. Just give 100% i.e. do the best job you can. That's it. By giving 75% she is clearly not doing the best job she can. I can't believe this is such a complicated concept that people like you just can't seem to understand it. I'd love to know what your business is. I'd bet it's a non-profit though not by choice.

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 5:35pm

^Yikes 

This thread is my near daily reminder that most of the people who post here are casually racist out-of-touch boomers. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 5:39pm

Oh, this is nothing.  You should have been here when Dominique Morriseau was chastised for clapping along to a musical number at The Christians and then wrote about it.  BWW was INCENSED!!!

 

Updated On: 10/15/22 at 05:39 PM

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 6:09pm

Kad said: " think that’s worse than anything Porkalob said, considering she made no personal attacks."

I agree! She came after their vision and work and they totally have the right to be pissed about that. But there is nothing she said that is comparable to him calling her "rotten to the core"

As far as the larger situation, she definitely has guts! Honestly, I agree with most of what she said and I wish that more people in the industry were willing to be honest about it. HOWEVER, you can't expect to trash talk the show you're currently performing in and relying on for your paycheck without any consequences. That's what the day after your show closes is for.

For example, I'm sure that we will slowly start to get a million different accounts of everything that happened this summer at Funny Girl once that show closes. But, for the time being, all we have is one "anonymous co-producer." 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 6:25pm

UncleCharlie said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "This comment is so unhinged and weirdly sinister and capitalist. I don’t know anyone who gives 100% every day at every job, lol. People show up and do the best they can. I have a business and have hired people and for me…they just need to do the job good enough, they don’t have to be live changjngly amazing. It’s a JOB.


And I’ll said it AGAIN because I think people seem to still be missing it: Giving “75%” doesn’t necessarily mean phoning it in. If it’s me saying that, it would mean I’m doing a show where I don’t love the material or the director’s vision, and because I don’t feel artistically free and empowered that I’ve not fully bought in and drank the Kool Aid. I just do what I can with what I’ve got.


The more I read people’s thoughts about this, the more I feel that every person clutching their pearls and being offended by this is not an actor."



"This comment is sounhinged and weirdly sinister and capitalist"

Really? To expect people to do the best they can? That's now so unhinged and weirdly sinister and capitalist? What a completely idiotic comment. Tell me you're completely detached from the real world without telling me you're completely detached from the real world.

"I don’t know anyone who gives 100% every day at every job, lol. People show up and do the best they can".

Doing the best job you can IS giving 100%. No one's asking them to cure cancer or dance on their head. Just do the best job you can. No one said go above and beyond. No one said give 110% at all times. Just give 100% i.e. do the best job you can. That's it. By giving 75% she is clearly not doing the best job she can. I can't believe this is such a complicated concept that people like you just can't seem to understand it. I'd love to know what your business is. I'd bet it's a non-profit though not by choice."

 

Now you’re arguing about what someone else meant by 75% and arguing that it’s possible for people to give 110%…I think you are proving my point! 

 

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 6:53pm

She also said that during her big number, she gives 90% compared to 75% for the rest. So she only wants to work hard when it’s to her benefit alone.

She’s a nobody making her Broadway debut, not even someone with credits and history to back up her inflated ego. Her tweets make her sound unhinged and I would not be surprised to see a firing in the near future.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 6:55pm

In what was intended to be an ensemble show, an ensemble idea, because of this interview -- did Roundabout know it was happening? -- they have made themselves the story, and now everyone onstage and backstage has to deal with that idea and energy coming into a show they all worked hard on and opened.   I found her observations random and circular, but whatever you think of them, the narcissism here is clear and blatant and ugly.   Can you imagine being a fellow cast member and getting no warning and then reading this and having to then go onstage with this person. They clearly dismissed the show as not worthy of their time and talents, but they were just getting through.   To get through around Sara, the cast will need to offer a dignity and professionalism that Sara has not given them.    I'm not surprised no one is defending her.   They bullied their own show.  If they were truly serious about sharing their concerns/objections/experiences there are ways that aren't so destructive and callous.   Ideological Molotov cocktails don't create anything but attention -- which they clearly wanted.   Sad.   Here's to the rest of the company that has to get through this nonsense. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:05pm

She just comes off as pretentious and, honestly, she talked a lot but didn't really say anything. It comes off as someone projecting "i'm so deep and smart" but not really having the argument to back it up. 

Not sure why she would think it's a good idea to speak out while the show is currently running. Especially given there's a long tour planned after... weird choices all around, and I don't think there's anything wrong w/ the directors talking out about her. She went after their choices which is a refection on them, etc. 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:06pm

Take one look at Sara’s twitter tirade and you’ll get a better sense of the person. She refers to herself as a “broadway star”. Very very questionable. She then refers to anyone clapping back as “hoes”. Jeffrey’s response was def a knee-jerk reaction to anyone bashing his work and I don’t find his rebuttal to be too out of line. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:30pm

on twitter she seems totally unhinged but that could be the sign of a brilliant playwright/creator. which is clearly what she wishes to be, and someone here nailed it: if you are a producer looking for A Voice to Produce, you'd certainly want to see what she has cooking.

which to me is obviously why she did this, to promote herself at the expense of her show. and i wish the show/production had the cojones to fire her- do we think there arent other performers who are (i) eager to give 100% to this role, (ii) *are* interested in developing a commercial theater career, and (iii) can perform the role as well as she can?  I mean, there must be a standby/understudy watching this, enraged.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:35pm

I think its more a sign of an actress scrambling after realizing that this has blown up negatively for them. It would be great if Roundabout parted ways with Sara giving her an out since she is so unhappy with the production. The show show will go on. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:38pm

I'm old.  What does SADH mean?

Does it mean, ahem...."Find someone in your travels to orally pleasure, you less-than-ideal prostitute"?

 

Updated On: 10/15/22 at 07:38 PM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:50pm

"on twitter she seems totally unhinged but that could be the sign of a brilliant playwright/creator" Gonna need to sit with this for awhile.

[HugoP]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 8:05pm

"The actors are hired to perform the role, and yes, even be a team player is some regards. But not to sell tickets. That’s what the marketing team is for."

Maybe the cast and company are not hired "to sell tickets"...but they aren't supposed to undermine the marketing team (and the production) with interviews like this. This whole controversy is going to hurt the show (and its Tony chances).

I didn't like the production, and for some of the reasons Porkalob cites.  I thought her "Molasses to Rum" was quite good, but I didn't like the rest of her performance (too one-note, and I couldn't understand the relentless smiling)...I'm glad I read her interview, but I wouldn't be happy with it if I were involved with the production at all. 

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 8:40pm

I found most of her interview very honest and thought-provoking. Was this the best time to give that type of interview? Absolutely not. But I appreciated her voice.  However, she has given away her power with what she is writing on twitter. She looks childish and foolish on social media right now.

 

Updated On: 10/15/22 at 08:40 PM

[George in DC]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 9:32pm

^ No, I think she has shown who she really is on her Twitter feed.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 9:35pm

At least we know she'll never be back on Broadway again once 1776 closes.

[TBingham]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 12:16am

Good Lord, what a self sabotage move on her part, and lack of looking at the bigger picture.

She comes across as entitled and unpleasant. 

As they say in the south, bless her heart.

[pethian]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 12:29am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "on twitter she seems totally unhinged but that could be the sign of a brilliant playwright/creator."

 

Ah, the old genius artist = crazy trope. I don't think so. Especially not in this case.

 

Updated On: 10/16/22 at 12:29 AM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 12:38am

pethian said: "

Ah, the old genius artist = crazy trope. I don't think so. Especially not in this case.

"

Not all geniuses are crazy, not all crazy leads to genius. But yes, a certain deranged ranting can be the sign of lotsa stuff worth expressing. I certainly am in no rush to hear another word out this person's mouth but i think HER intent is to attract attention so she can construct/make art, rather than begrudgingly appear in it. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 12:41am

Bill Snibson said: "Take one look at Sara’s twitter tirade and you’ll get a better sense of the person. She refers to herself as a “broadway star”. Very very questionable. She then refers to anyone clapping back as “hoes”. Jeffrey’s response was def a knee-jerk reaction to anyone bashing his work and I don’t find his rebuttal to be too out of line."

I saw a video of her from about a year ago claiming that she worked in commercial theater but “soon to film and television” and I just have to laugh. 

[nativenewyorker2]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 1:00am

The cast may not be commenting, but they are hitting the like button on the directors post which is telling

[A Director]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 4:32am

The comments about the  Interview are off the wall. Sara Porkalob has posted comments under the name sarshad and attacks anyone who disagrees with her. https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/1776-star-sara-porkalob-interview-molasses-to-rum.html#comments

One of her comments made me roll my eyes. This is not a direct quote, but Sara says back in 1775/1776 BIPOC citizens were not asked their opinion about "what Tom here as written."  I'm shocked, shocked, shocked!

Why in the hell why didn't Diane and Company write their own show?

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 6:44am

This is the rare thread where I agree with nearly everyone—even the people who disagree with each other. There are a lot of good points being made on both sides, and I think this is a complex issue—that of an actor not being happy with the creative process or the work being performed, and saying so. For those saying they wonder how their fellow actors will respond to this, in fact they speak enthusiastically of the pleasure of working with such a talented group. I was surprised, having read the article after I read the comments, how little I found that was incindiary.

I will say I’m irritated by the perspective they share with the team behind the revival that the whole intent is “to remind the audience of the faces that were not considered during the Declarinton of Independence.” Those are their literal words in the article, and I don’t get how—in a show where the oppression of African Americans takes center stage in the debate—anyone who has actually read the script can make this claim. Nor does it work to transfer the criticism to women in general. The show is very clear—the war isn’t won if Abigail and her fellow women in Massachusets don’t provide the gun powder necessary. And just speaking reasonably, there’s no way these men weren’t thinking of their wives and daughters, just because women weren’t members of the Congress (they weren’t members of Parliament in England, either, or particiating in the governing of any other nation on the globe; that was wrong, sexist, blind, but it doesn’t mean that women were considered to be nothing and of no importance—the art and literature and memoirs of all continents speak to the importance of women). It’s just a frustrating misreading of a show whose whole point is that the supposed “Great Men” of our nation’s history were actually deeply flawed men, limited by their era, the general prejudices of the time and their own individual shortcomings. “What will posterity think we were? Demi-gods?” Franklin literally asks at one point.  This is an amazing work, and to denigrate it because it doesn’t present a world identical to and in complete accord with the ideologies of 2022 is frustrating.

The other troubling issue is their saying they give only 75% at any given performance, except when performing their solo. And I don't accept the “How many times do you give more than 75% at your job?” defense. Most of us work jobs we don’t care about to put food on the table and to pay the rent. And yes, we phone it in quite a lot. But as someone who was an actor for over 20 years, let me say that working in the theater—or the visual arts, or dance, or music—is not “a job.” It’s a calling. Dedicating your life to the arts is not the equivalent of sitting in a cubicle or driving a truck or entering data in a computer or whatever. It is something you do because you have a passion for it. You do it because you cannot live doing anything else. You cannot expect to make a decent living at it, as very few do. The only reason to do it is because you love it more than life itself, and you give it your entire life, everything you have. It is not some dull 9-5 gig you suffer through just to make it through another day. With so many people desperate to work in the theater, to play even the smallest role in a show anywhere, let alone a featured role on Broadway, yes, their comment is wrong-headed and entitled.

But honestly, over all, I thought she made good points. As have pretty much all the commenters in this thread.

Updated On: 10/16/22 at 06:44 AM