Actor injured this afternoon in Little Mermaid- Page 7

[winston89]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 1:28pm

As producers of a show Disney is the ones in charge when something like this goes on. They can hire whoever they want to build the trap doors but at the end of the day Disney has to take responsibility for anything that happenes. This just proves my point that Disney likes to pass the buck and sweep things under the rug.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 1:36pm

Jez! That list of injuries in The NY Times is eye watering! My god, how lucky is he?

[winston89]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 1:46pm

I never saw the "new" Times article about this. The only one I saw was the Disney version of the story that said that made it come off like he broke a couple of wrists and dusted himself off and was going to be fine.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 1:49pm

Its at the beginning of this thread Winston- i read 2 mins ago!

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 4:36pm

The idea that he"landed on his butt" is TOTALLY in consistant with his injuries. Don't know who "works ont the show" would say that as it shows a real ignorance of the laws of physics. I spent 10 yrs working as a set medic w stunt co-ordinators and I can tell you that discription is risable given the extent of the damage.

[proptart101]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 7:57pm

For what it's worth - a few thoughts:

A friend of mine (in fact, best man at my wedding) works on Little Mermaid, though he was not backstage when this terrible event happened. He has told me (in confidence so I will not repeat details) what he THINKS happened, but was not in any position to see it first hand. For what it's worth he believes that it was a true combination of unfortunate circumstances, not willful negligence that led to this situation.

He is also a long time B'way vet, and says that the carpenters in charge of this production are perhaps the most conscientious that he's ever worked with. However, should this lawsuit get ugly, undoubtedly somebody will need to get blamed, whether it is/was their fault or not.

I have worked for Disney in the past (here on B'way) and found that (in my opinion) they are as conscientious as they are legally required to be regarding safety. There are some situations and circumstances that are difficult to foresee, and other situations where the person who foresees an accident is ignored. I have no idea which applies to this - my friend (whom I trust) seems to think that there's no fault of anybody missing a specific checkout or inspection. I am no fan of Disney, but I will withhold any judgment until I can find out more specifically what happened. Do bear in mind; there is no better company on the planet at creating their public image.

I have met Adrian Bailey way back when he was in Smokey Joe's Cafe and he's a fine guy, extremely talented singer and I hope he can make a full, speedy and minimally painless recovery.

I also hope that the two girls that he almost landed on will be able to move past their trauma. I cannot imagine what any of those involved have been through or what they will go through as their minds try to process all this.

'nuff said (for now)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 8:52pm

I don't know the legal meaning of "Willful negligence" but I am sure no one thinks this was anything but an accident, but there are basically two scenarios.
1. Whoever was in charge of securing the trap door missed a step.
2. The door itself was faulty and just gave way.

I am sure by now the powers that be know which it was, I doubt any head will roll since most Union jobs on Broadway are very secure.
I believe Disney and the Nederlanders will take the rap and make the pay out.

When things like this happen, unfortunely for the victim, I am sure everyone is double and triple checking all safety measures and perhaps even new rules will be put in effect to see it never happens again.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 9:28pm

Willful negligence is an actual legal term Curtain.

From the Legal Dictionary:

"Willful Negligence - Intentional performance of an unreasonable act in disregard of a known risk, making it highly probable that harm will be caused. Willful negligence usually involves a conscious indifference to the consequences. There is no clear distinction between willful negligence and gross negligence."

As I understand it - it means someone didn't do their job, (ie saftey inspection, etc), even though they knew that injury or harm could occur.




Updated On: 5/17/08 at 09:28 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 9:43pm

^ Example:

The crane "inspector" who passed the crane that crashed a few months ago killing people was willfully negligent.

The fixture at Gypsy that fell on the first night of previews likely was some kind of structural failure.

Updated On: 5/17/08 at 09:43 PM

[StageFan2]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 9:50pm

^ Exactly. Thanks jordangirl.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 10:09pm

Not a problem stagefan2! :) Thanks for getting the legal definition! :)

[BrianS]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 10:39pm

"I don't know the legal meaning of "Willful negligence" but I am sure no one thinks this was anything but an accident, but there are basically two scenarios.
1. Whoever was in charge of securing the trap door missed a step.
2. The door itself was faulty and just gave way. "

While I wouldn't assume it to be absolute fact, all logic points to it being #1. If it was #2 and the door was faulty, wouldn't they shut down the production and not allow the set piece to be used? I mean, they used that trap door in performance the very night the accident happened. If they really thought it was structural, I cannot imagine them using it a mere hour later.

[stageishome]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 10:50pm

Is there a possibility the trap is automated? Perhaps a computer misfire? I know the lift at Jersey Boys has opened a number of times just because of a computer glitch. It's one of those things... they have an EXCELLENT automation guy who can usually fix things before there is any serious danger...

As much as people want to put this on Disney, they really do lookout for serious hazards like this. They understand a couple ton plastic and steel 'ship' suspended in the air at 40 feet is dangerous... it's not like they're careless about that. The trap door opening may just be one of those bad place/bad time occurrences. It's tragic it had to happen to Adrian, truly - here's to wishing him the best recovery possible.

[lusciouslace]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 11:16pm

This has been on my mind a lot lately and I'm praying for Mr. Bailey's full recovery. Whosever fault it is and whatever happened...it's truly unfortunate.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 3:10am

Stageishome,

It is hard for some people to not pin this on Disney. First off, they are the producers so it does fall on them regardless of it deserving to or not.

Secondly, Disney as a company has a bad track record when it comes to accidents and unfortunatly death. I am not at all just talking about Disney's Broadway branch of the company. But, there have been many reports of saftey issues for both people that work at their parks and people that visit the parks. Luckly for Disney they have great PR and can spin it so it doesn't look as bad as it was.

There is a list on Wikipedia (I know that Wikipedia isn't considered the best source out there but that is besides the point) that lists all the deaths that have ever happened at any Disney park over the years. Disney has great PR and they know how to alter things to keep people wanting to come back and to not stay away from them.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 3:20am

Brody...I did not go to the link you posted until just now. I totally remember when that happened. It was a big deal.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 8:36am

The petition itself (link posted in this thread) is fascinating, isn't it? I always think that papers like this come off sounding amazingly polite considering how much anger and bitterness and pain involved. Good for Mr. Bailey, his family, and his attorneys for putting things in motion.

[stageishome]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 2:10pm

Winston-

You truly cannot link accidents in the Disney parks to Broadway shows. The 'physical' producer of the show is Thomas Schumacher, who is a sort of 'representative' for Disney. He's the one making the decisions as to where the money is put and used, etc. If you're looking to blame it on Disney, you're blaming a company so large that it's useless to even point a finger.

To pull the Walt Disney Company's 'death-track record' from any and every division to use toward an argument about an accident with an actor in one of their Broadway shows? Ignorant. I am in no way defending the Disney Company, but I cannot see what an accident on a rollercoaster more than a thousand miles away has to do with an accident on a show's set in New York City?

[Popular]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:04am

sabrelady - I was speaking to a friend today that is actually in contact with Adrian. He did in fact land on his butt which is what probably saved him. And it was 40' that he fell, though at this point I think everyone knows it wasn't 20' like they were saying.

This friend will be seeing him this week and I've asked him to find out if there is anything aside from cards that we can do... when I find out I'll post.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 9:05am

Stageishome,

I was using the parks as a way to create an example of how Disney does cut corners and how they don't do things as safe as they can. Keep in mind that earlier in this thread people were talking about all the saftey issues with some of their other Broadway shows. But, it was only after this particular situation that all the other ones slowly came out of the wood work.

[stageishome]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 10:52am

Winston-

Again, your point is valid regarding accidents in the parks. Completely separate worlds - the only relations are the brand name and the source of money – That's it. Regarding previous accidents on Broadway? How can anyone be so sure that Thomas Schumacher knew there was a problem causing harm at a cast member when it may not have been completely evident at the time. Have there been any accidents in Mary Poppins yet?

[dancinfan]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 5:09pm

I don't know about accidents per se, but I know that the swings are constantly on due to injuries, both chronic and acute, (as well as the usual vacations and personal days). There is one swing who was on, injured himself, for more than three months straight. When he finally got a day he thought the men would all be in, he was thrown on at intermission because of a sudden act one injury.

[misto625]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 5:15pm

Who is the swing you are referring to? On a related note, does anyone know who has been playing Adrian Bailey's roles since he was injured?

[dancinfan]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 7:25pm

I don't know who has been going on for Bailey since his accident, but I do know people who have been called in to audition for his track since it happened. Some have said yes, some have refused for various reasons.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 3:50pm

I spoke to one of my stunt co-ordinators who'd been injured in a high fall. He pointed out how little real info we have about the site of the injury. Is the ship completely hollow? there were no supporting struts or lines within the area? The reason is that if Adrian Bailey struck other things on the way down that would reduce his velocity which greatly reduce his final impact. In my friend's case he took a fall off a building realized it had gone wrong and literally aimed himself to the sid of the building hitting fire escapes, the wall anything to slow himself down. He hit the ground splayed ( difussed the force) and was in ICU for about two weeks, but ( and this is the main point) he eventually returned to his line of work. Oh, there are some minor limitations ( ok doesn't do the high falls any more but still alot of major fight work, car work etc) and I can only hope Mr Bailey will have the same good fortune.