Great Old Actor's story

[Patash]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 9:33am

Forgive me for this old gem, but it was repeated at a party last night and I'm still chuckling.

Many years ago a struggling young actor went to a friend and said, "I'm so excited. I'm finally getting my big break. I've been cast in a Broadway show."

"Really? That's fantastic. What is it?"

"It's a new show about a Doctor who commits an insane woman to a mental hospital and it takes place in New Orleans."

"Oh, what part do you play?"

"I actually play THE DOCTOR!"

"Amazing. So what is the name of the show?"

"Well, they're thinking of calling it A Streetcar Named Desire."

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:33am

Cute story.

Thanks for sharing it.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:43am

Always enjoy that story - it summarizes the (necessary) actor's point of view very well.

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:48am

A variation on the theme I often hear is about a young aspiring actor getting turned down again and again from auditions for the new hit play. No matter what, no one wants to let him audition for the title role, even though he's sure he'd be a perfect Godot.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:58am

Puts me in mind of the story of the noted 19th-century Shakespearean actor who broke up during a production of MACBETH. As he began the famous soliloquoy, "She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow," an old woman in the audience was heard to observe loudly, "Well... that would be Monday, then!" Upon hearing this, the classical actor done plain just lost his ****.

I've never been able to substantiate this story or uncover who it's supposed to be about, but it was told to me as a youngster and still makes me giggle.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 11:27am

So, a panhandler is begging in the theatre district, and he approaches an old Shakespearean actor and asks him if he can spare some change.

The old actor replies, "Neither a borrower or a lender be - William Shakespeare!"

The panhandler counters with, "F@&k You!!! - David Mamet!"