Ear Piece For Lines
Ear Piece For Lines
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#1Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:47pm
NY Post article today mentioned that Bruce Willis needs ear piece to do his lines in current play like Al Pacino. The article seems to be OK with that for older performers (Cicely Tyson, James Earl Jones etc) but think it is rather pathetic for someone like Mr. Willis. It was also said there are quite a few teleprompters for Mr. Pacino also to help him. I wonder what the thoughts are of others about this, I would think this would hurt the performance especially if there are malfunctions. It also can't be easy for the other actors on stage with them. At the price of Broadway shows, I want the actors to actually know their lines and not recite them like the numbers in a telephone book.
#2Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:48pm
The question no one answers, though, is if Pacino has an earpiece AND three monitors, why can't he still get the lines out?!
Ear piece made me think of this old Cheech and Chong bit: https://youtu.be/gB5HsDRRPRY
Updated On: 11/6/15 at 02:48 PM
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#3Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 3:31pm
http://nypost.com/2015/11/05/pacinos-not-alone-willis-needs-an-earpiece-to-remember-his-lines-too/
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#4Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 4:17pm
So much has changed about Broadway so this should not be that much of a shock.
Earpieces are a hell of a lot less unobtrusive than bulky monitors.
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 11/6/15 at 04:17 PM
#5Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 4:20pm
Seems rather kind to say they need these "to remember" their lines. Sounds like that ship has sailed...
#6Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 5:04pm
This has really annoyed me about Cicely Tyson's Tony win. She was fed her lines and her blocking through and earpiece and is rewarded for it. Not OK with me. And yes, I'm sure everyone will cry "she's a legend" but I don't care.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#7Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 6:24pm
"So much has changed about Broadway so this should not be that much of a shock.
Earpieces are a hell of a lot less unobtrusive than bulky monitors."
In this day and age, it does not shock me but it disappoints me. I feel it is unprofessional to your fellow actors and the audience not to know your lines. IMO - if you can't remember your lines than you don't reserve the role. I understand these are big names that are supposed to sell tickets but maybe this type of publicity hurt the box office.
Updated On: 11/6/15 at 06:24 PM
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#8Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 6:26pm
"This has really annoyed me about Cicely Tyson's Tony win. She was fed her lines and her blocking through and earpiece and is rewarded for it. Not OK with me. And yes, I'm sure everyone will cry "she's a legend" but I don't care."
I agree with you. If you can't remember the lines then it should be performed by somebody else.
Updated On: 11/6/15 at 06:26 PM
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#9Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 6:35pm
Just curious - have any of you who are so upset by actors wearing earpieces actually seen any of these performances?
...and if you have, would you have known by the performances that they were wearing them?
If the answers to either of these questions is "no", then why are you so outraged? If you don't like the idea of actors using this crutch for whatever reason, don't go see those performances, but prompting, either through notes on the scenery or props, or even with an old fashioned prompter (an actual human, usually hidden onstage), have been going on as long as performances have been being held.
Does it bother you when actors are on book at Encores!? After all, you are still paying about the same price.
Updated On: 11/6/15 at 06:35 PM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#11Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 6:46pm
Mr Roxy said: "Good point about Encores."
Not really at all. With Encores you know that you're seeing a performance of a show that is rarely performed and the actors have a shortened period of time to prepare. The Encores shows I've seen had everyone actually off-book so it's not a blanket assumption.
I saw Cicely Tyson's performance and didn't enjoy it. Did I know she was being fed everything? No. That doesn't change the fact that a performance where someone isn't fully prepared should be rewarded with a Tony.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#12Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 7:08pm
"Earpieces are a hell of a lot less unobtrusive than bulky monitors."
You mean less obtrusive.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#13Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 7:13pm
"I saw Cicely Tyson's performance and didn't enjoy it. Did I know she was being fed everything? No."
So you didn't know that she was being fed lines, but you attribute your lack of enjoyment of her performance because "she was being fed everything" (if that was in fact the case)? I'm not being argumentative, I just want to be sure I understand you.
I don't know that she was using an earpiece, but if she was, many people would want to see a beloved performer under any circumstances, even if, for whatever reason, they cannot completely trust their memory. I understand if you are not one of them, but I am glad I was able to see Marion Seldes and Angela Lansbury together onstage, even though the play was dreadful and Ms Lansbury was using an earpiece.
"That doesn't change the fact that a performance where someone isn't fully prepared should be rewarded with a Tony."
That's not a fact. That's your opinion.
"Mr Roxy said: "Good point about Encores."
Not really at all. With Encores you know that you're seeing a performance of a show that is rarely performed and the actors have a shortened period of time to prepare."
I mentioned the money aspect only because Yankeefan said this:
"At the price of Broadway shows, I want the actors to actually know their lines and not recite them like the numbers in a telephone book."
The money factor is important to him/her. Everyone has a different line they draw.
Updated On: 11/7/15 at 07:13 PM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#14Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 7:43pm
You misinterpreted my statement re Encores. I fully realize encores is a special type of animal. You cannot expect a Broadway caliber show and yet you get that more times than not. If they need prompters or scripts, it is fully understandable.
When they did Superman, they came as close to the original as I remember it. They did not get Superman to fly but it was almost a carbon copy aside from that. A full throated orchestra belting out an overture. The cast was great and the pc police did not change it on any way.The product they put together on a limited budget and short rehearsal period was nothing short of amazing. Looking forward to Waltz in May.
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 11/6/15 at 07:43 PM
candydog2
Featured Actor Joined: 8/11/07
#15Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 8:03pm
I guess it does seem unprofessional, but as long as it isn't noticeable does it really matter?
As long as the performance is good, I'm not too concerned about how they got there.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#16Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 8:48pm
Let's face it, Bruce Willis is a totally dim bulb whose entire career has been predicated on the notion that he just doesn't give a crap. Caveat emptor. Thoughts and prayers going out to Ms Metcalfe.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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wonkit
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
#17Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 10:49pm
Ear pieces should not be used. If there are equally fine performers who can master the language without being fed lines, why reward those who cannot? You might as well say the Mona Lisa is wonderful even though someone else drew it and filled in the numbers for paint by number. If older actors are playing older actors, perhaps it makes sense. But at 80, not 50.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#18Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 10:56pm
I guess I just don't see what's so terrible about it if the actor wearing an earpiece is still giving a competent performance.
Updated On: 11/7/15 at 10:56 PM
#19Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/6/15 at 11:32pm
^Ditto. If it's well disguised, and it typically is, who really cares? They still have to act- having a line or two fed to them doesn't mean they're going on autopilot.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#20Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/7/15 at 12:48am
Well said Phyllis and Wonderful Wizard.
Of course, one must keep in mind that these productions actually exist because Bruce Willis, Angela Lansbury, Cicely Tyson and Al Pacino agreed to do them. It is not as if they auditioned for the roles. The money is put in place because they either said yes to a producer or they went to a producer and said they would like to do a production. The idea that they do not deserve the role makes no sense since without them there is no production at all. One cannot simply change out any of these stars for a fine actor who can remember lines.
If Hamilton and A Chorus Line and can lip sync chorus numbers and Liza and Phantom can lip sync solos then Mary Martin and the above stars can probably be allowed earpieces to help a performance run smoothly for the audience. Yes, Mary Martin was one of the first to wear an earpiece. It is not a new concept.
Updated On: 11/7/15 at 12:48 AM
#21Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/7/15 at 1:01am
If Hamilton and A Chorus Line and can lip sync chorus numbers
Those shows lip sync chorus numbers??
#22Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/7/15 at 1:05am
It sounds like the same argument when people like Britney Spears and such sing to pre-recorded vocals, and people are like, OK, but did you enjoy it? She dances so hard she can't sing!, etc. But it always seems like part of the point is to see an artist do their craft, and it is reasonable to expect a singer to sing, and an actor to know their lines, and that is sort of why we are there, and what we are there to see.
If people don't care, that is certainly their prerogative. But I don't think it is unreasonable to expect that base level of performance to exist.
#23Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/7/15 at 1:07am
I'm confused about whether these ear pieces for lines means that they're being fed all their lines that way, or whether the setup is a safety net in case they forget a line now and then (like an old-school human prompter would have been). Those feel quite different to me.
#24Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/7/15 at 1:24am
If Pacino has multiple screens AND an earpiece, it doesn't sound like a safety net.
AwesomeDanny
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/30/09
#25Ear Piece For Lines
Posted: 11/7/15 at 1:24am
Fascinating to see such negative sentiment here. I remember five years ago, when Elaine Stritch did A Little Night Music, she refused to have an earpiece because of her dignity, which led to numerous long, awkward pauses as she tried to recall her lines. People then seemed to say that she should have sucked it up and used an earpiece like Angela Lansbury, who originated the role in that revival, did.
Also, I don't understand why so many people here think that actors who need help with their lines are not doing their jobs. The job of the actor is to believably and compellingly convey a story. Usually that involves being fully memorized, but some actors can benefit tremendously from the extra help. I don't think anyone mentioned here needs prompting due to laziness, but due to necessity. I would rather see an actor get the help they need to perform the role well than refuse the help they need because they have "integrity" or "respect for the theatre" or something else.
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