Equity bans Quaid for life, fines him $81,000- Page 2

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:37pm

In addition to the "I Hate Hamlet" incident, Nicol Williamson was involved in several other "spats".

During the Philadelphia try-out of the play "Inadmissible Evidence" he punched producer, David Merrick - and in some retellings (correct me if I am wrong) "deposited him in a trashcan behind the theatre" (though this could have been an exaggeration by Merrick to drum up publicity for the production).

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 3:36pm

Yeah- they talk about the incident in the Merrick bio "Abomnible Showman" and it sounds like for once in his life Merrick was out-bastard-ed and wasn't quite sure if he should hush it up or splatter it across the front page.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 3:48pm

OT - but pity about Williamson. I saw him give a riveting performance as HAMLET, and would have liked to have seen him in other live theater. But I've read I HATE HAMLET and it is dreck. I'm surprised he did it at all.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:29pm

It is too bad for show and its creators. They obviously needed a better Contract Lawyer. It is difficult to believe they allowed Quaid so much control over their Production.

It is good that the group will recover some of their losses. I just feel the Quaid's came in with an attitude that Broadway was not Hollywood. So they had more clout than anyone else. I guess if they can close a show, they did.

I'd be surprised if he loses his Equity Card for life. He should pay for everything wrong that he did. Now his reputation will be dragged around with him though. He is a good Comedian but it seem obvious, he has no place on a Broadway Stage.

Though I can't help but imagine the stunts he would have played on Stage. I would not though want the Cast harassed and I don't see how he would go on a Stage and not try to act like an idiot.

Of course, considering most of the parts that he has played in the past, maybe he really is as much of a doofus as he pretends to be?

[kooky]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:35pm

Holy Crap ! Those Quaid's are nuts !!!!!!!!!

[Robos89]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:41pm

Whoa...these Quaids are jokes!!

[carolineorchange]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:50pm

Well I guess the producers were so eager for a "star" name attached with the show, they kinda rushed into it not fully understanding what they put themselves into!!!

The Post chronicled the whole thing from previews. The fact that it's still happening is just wonderful/awful. A true train wreck.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:20pm

Quaids attitude is not a new thing, studios have reported about him being difficult in the past

[winston89]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:23pm

I remember reading somewhere ( I think it was on this forum) that the rest of the cast was going to fight Quaid in court on the clause that without him there is no show. I think that it would be smart of the cast to do that. Mainly because if the article is true. Then the Quaids couldn't touch that show even if they wanted to due to their loss of an equity card.

I agree that it looks like the producers wanted a "star" name so much so that they went with Randy and pretty much gave him whatever he wanted.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:33pm

If they wanted to get rid of him they should have just closed the show down so the contract was terminated, then re open a few days later with all involved in the "new" production under new contracts lol

[JRybka]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:35pm

the quaids need some qauid-ludes....Get it? Get it?

Okay I thought it was funny.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 2:34am

What did Mandy Patinkin do during The Wild Party?

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 2:45am

Updated On: 5/8/09 at 02:45 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 5:48am

This story should be made into a musical. It has "Say Darling" written all over it.

Just don't get Bloviator Patinkin for the Quaid role.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 11:34pm

You know, I hate all these threads about "what do you think about 'x' movie being made into a musical"...

But for some reason, this whole story just seems like great material for a musical (or even play or movie). You've got what seems to be an actor with an over-inflated sense of himself. An out of control wife (manager too?) who's feeding into that monstrous ego. An out of town tryout for a western Shakespearean adaptation. The rest of the cast who's being terrorized by the star and the wife. It just seems like this could be milked for so much crazy material. The producers of Lone Star Love should give up on that show and create a show out of all this drama.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 11:36pm

Or at least pitch it to Law & Order.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 11:40pm

Banned for life from Equity.. well at least he can keep busy touring!

As to replacing him... depending on how his contract is written it could be quite costly to fire him. He would probably have to be bought of his contract whis is most likely a year's salary. This is whay some shows with stars do not close as soon as they should.. it was cheaper to run ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at a loss for 6 months than to close early and pay out Sarah Jessica Parker's contract.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 12:32am

Well he would only be able to do a tour if it was non-equity, no? And I doubt he'd want to take any paycut to do a non-equity tour.

He hasn't done much stage work so I doubt this ban bothers him that much. And if he's hard to work with and it's aleady known in the industry, I doubt this hurts his chances of landing another movie.

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 10:32am

Forgive my stupidity, but does "banned for life" mean that we will never see Quaid on stage or screen again?

[WordedGrace]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 11:31am

One word: YIKES!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 11:45am

Nick, It means that he will never be in a Stage Show that has union workers (ALL of Broadway, the majority of off-Broadway and most large regional theatres)

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 12:52pm

Yes, he's now doomed to a life where he can only do movies and TV and make far more money in far less time than he would onstage.

The power of Equity ...
Updated On: 2/25/08 at 12:52 PM

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 3:12pm

"Well he would only be able to do a tour if it was non-equity, no? And I doubt he'd want to take any paycut to do a non-equity tour."

I was being sarcastic about the number of shows that are going out on tour non-equity. Forgive me for being so obtuse.

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 6:06pm

Thank you, jacobtsf.
I was getting really excited at the prospect of never having to see Quaid act again, but the world goes on, I guess.

[TiffanyB]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 4:07pm

I heard there had been some type of settlement on this...anyone know anything?
Any newer articles?