Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark? — Page 3

Why are earth is everyone speculating why she left. Who cares? She left. There isn't another injury, she's been out of the show, and she isn't a star.

Great! Now let me introduce you to Stage 2:

Things that COULD go wrong SHOULD NOT go wrong. Wrong should be a RARE event and not common.

"One of the safest places to be in the world is the stage". - Frank Langella

Sorry, love. A performer must go onstage feeling safe, as opposed to thinking of everything that could go wrong.

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https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/RIALTO_CHATTER_Another_SPIDERMAN_Departure_Coming_20101228

"She's some kind of rock star in Australia..."
Really? l live in Australia, and could pretty safely say that 99% of the population would have NO idea who she is.

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Blaxx have you worked on a show or ever signed a contract for working on a show?

Every show i have ever done has a section about accidents on the stage as live theatre is unpredictable. Now I’m not saying injuries happen all the time but they happen far more often than you think. I had 2 in the space of 6 weeks (one concussion that took 5 weeks to clear) and the next a dislocated shoulder. I’ve also had a broken ankle, 2 broken fingers and ripped my knee open due to a piece of glass set getting knocked by another piece whilst i was on stage. We had 3 actors in Fame leave due to injury who were replaced, 1 in Jesus Christ Superstar who took 6 weeks off after an on stage running with a set piece and that’s just a few.

Live theatre is always risky when it comes to working with large set pieces etc (or on roller-skates, as a Dancer), you are right that an actor should feel safe when going on stage but we are not tuned out to the possibility that sometimes things go wrong, our contracts reflect that.

2 Dancers on this show were hurt in rehearsals testing out a stunt, both will have signed a contract with all the dangers pointed out (it will also have been reflected in their pay). Its crap when someone gets hurt but did anyone really think that a show where people are flying around the theatre was not going to sustain some injuries in rehearsals? Cirque sure as hell did and that show is the closest in nature to what Spider Man is.

One actor was hit with a rope backstage, not on stage, backstage. Backstage is always very hectic and i can’t even imagine how crazy this one is, it was an accident plain and simple. And poor Chris who was the only onstage accident has said himself it was simply an accident, human error. It was awful and my heart sank for him when i watched the footage but it was a stupid accident.

Yes it looks like actors are falling out of the sky at every performance (mainly due to the press and some message board members) but the reality is very different.

As for this actress leaving the show, well if she does not feel safe then i personally would leave as well. I have to say though her Facebook status updates seem a tad dramatic about her concussion and the pills she is taking, i had it for 5 weeks and took pills to restore my sense of balance and i was back on stage within 3 days.

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Blaxx have you worked on a show or ever signed a contract for working on a show?

Of course, love. I only talk about what I know which is theater and whores.

Yes it looks like actors are falling out of the sky at every performance (mainly due to the press and some message board members) but the reality is very different.

True, but these have been major and so close to each other. It is my perception that more attention should have been paid not only in the execution of the stunts, but to perform them safely. It just needed more attention.



As for this actress leaving the show, well if she does not feel safe then i personally would leave as well. I have to say though her Facebook status updates seem a tad dramatic about her concussion and the pills she is taking, i had it for 5 weeks and took pills to restore my sense of balance and i was back on stage within 3 days.

That is all I was defending, she has the right to feel unsafe and to go. It might be on the best interest of the show if those who don't feel safe just walk out, otherwise the fear and the tension will just lurk around.

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songandance - Thank God there is someone here who isn't crazed and/or condescending when it comes to this show. Your post was very well put.

I'm an Australian. She aint no rockstar.

Updated On: 12/28/10 at 10:06 PM

Interesting report on this on the news this morning. The guy reading the news said that she had been 'let go' from the show. Interesting how a couple of tiny words can change the whole meaning. I'm wondering just what exactly was said in the official press release.

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Let's hope they are cutting the entire role.

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