Melissa Errico Fired From PASSION?- Page 5

[Kad]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 9:48pm

It's not uncommon for productions to go up without having all the contracts signed. Sometimes things happen: some artists operate as corporations, which requires some different things, and there are of course the agents agents and other extraneous factors. But it could be argued that rehearsing and performing is tantamount to signing the contract. By going through the process, you've essentially agreed to follow the rules set down to go through the process. I don't know of precedence, though.

Performers certainly can't be expected to know every clause in every Equity rulebook by heart- there are too many of both things. But how does one reach Errico's age and breadth of experience and be, apparently, so ignorant? Section 5 of the contract she scanned very clearly says that the Rules are part of the contract despite not being physically on the document she was to sign. And one of the first things that occurs in an Equity production is an Equity meeting, which is not exactly a short talk and touches on all these things.

And I confess to being at a loss to why she's sharing this. As I said before, it does NOT make her look good.

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 9:49pm

I feel put off every time Gaveston refers to us as sociopaths.

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 9:54pm

Here's what I don't get. If she had been cleared of vocal rest and, as she says, was able to perform that week, why did the producers fire her on Sunday? They obviously didn't want her coming back, but why? I don't believe the "continuity" excuse.

Updated On: 6/12/13 at 09:54 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 9:54pm

Gaveston, I'm afraid I can't agree to your terms--that you sling mud and then set the terms of discourse.

I'm frankly surprised by you in this thread.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 9:55pm

Logan, I apologize if I misunderstood a post you meant as a joke.

But please don't let's start urban legends: I never called any group of ya'all "sociopaths".

***

Kad, I don't know about Equity specifically, but I think there's plenty of precedent that would hold that a contract existed between Errico and management. For one thing, she admits she merely "forgot" to sign and submit the contract; she doesn't even claim she objected to its provisions.

Intending to sign and behaving as if you have (and being allowed to do so by management) would all be evidence of a binding contract, I think.

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 9:57pm

Oh, Gaveston, I love you.

I know you didn't call us that. I'm just a sarcastic bitch.

And Reginald better keep your name out of his mouth.
Updated On: 6/12/13 at 09:57 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:00pm

I'm frankly surprised by you in this thread.

So, Regi, everyone is allowed to joke but I?

What do YOU call a person who doesn't experience an empathic connection to those who suffer everyday misfortunes?

Now, do I really think the poster in question lacks that capacity? No. But THAT's WHAT S/HE WROTE and I merely hinted at the logical extension of the argument.

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:04pm

Don't feed the Reginald, my love.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:04pm

Thanks, logan, but please don't hurt my good friend, Regi. He and I are just having a misunderstanding due to there being no tone of voice over the internet.

Really, folks, some joking aside, all I meant to say here was that I feel sorry for Errico's disappointment. I haven't even argued that the theater was wrong.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:07pm

If a poster had made that assertion, Gaveston, you know I'd agree with you; no one did.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:09pm

I'm sure everyone would probably agree with Logan that I'm a troll, so I'm happy to yield the field to him and his like.

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:13pm

But really, why do ya'll think the producers didn't want Melissa coming back if she was able to?

Was she omitting noxious gases in the dressing room due to that strange diet?

Reg, you were only a troll when I thought you were being mean to my Gaveston. If Gaveston forgives you, I forgive you. I'm easy that way (as well as in several others).

Updated On: 6/12/13 at 10:13 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:15pm

I feel sorry that Errico became ill and lost a role she so obviously identified with and saw as a career highpoint. I feel sorry that situation occurred.

But these blog posts? Her rambling, bizarre blog posts, where she managed to link her sadness to that of disabled children and The Year of Magical Thinking? In which she shows that she doesn't understand basic contracts and paperwork she has been asked to fill out since she started working? What are we to make of these? She's turning an unfortunate situation- in which no side really did anything wrong- into some odd writing exercise that says to me nothing more than that she should start seeing a therapist.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:19pm

I don't know what parallel universe I've entered where Reginald is a troll. Nothing he's said on here has been unfair or troll-esque. I'm confused as to why suddenly we're not allowed to discuss Broadway actors in a less-than-positive light. This is Broadway World, after all. As has been said numerous times, Melissa Errico wrote a public blog post and opened herself up to criticism and comments. No one here has been rude, we've simply been questioning how someone with so much experience comes off as green as she does.

But I suppose that makes me a troll.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:20pm

Logan, you thought trolling is when one poster disagrees with another? You should probably keep thinking of me as a troll, because I often disagree with others, though I hope I'm always polite about it.

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:21pm

Could it be her blog posts are revealing to us what the producers had slowly became aware of during her run and that's why they didn't want her back?

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE THEIR OPINION ON WHY THE PRODUCERS DIDN'T WANT HER BACK!!

I'm this close to starting an incoherent, slightly disturbing blog of my own.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:23pm

I may be a glutton for punishment based on other readers' assessments, but does anyone have the link to Blog 5?

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:25pm

Reg, I know the definition of a troll. You, as it turns out, are not a troll. You are a mildly irritating gnome.

And givesmevoice, I never called anyone a troll. I used the word feed not troll because I wanted the arguing between Reg and Gaveston to stop and get back to why Melissa was fired. So the only parallel universe you've gone into is one without humor

I don't think Reg is anything. I WAS JOKING WITH GAVESTON.

You'd think a bunch of theater queens, or heterosexual Broadway enthusiasts, or whatever we are would have a BETTER sense of humor.

Jesus Christ! What is this Huffington Post? Updated On: 6/12/13 at 10:25 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:27pm

Thanks, givesmevoice. But I actually never criticized Errico. As I said, I'm only sorry I never saw her in the role.




Updated On: 6/12/13 at 10:27 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:29pm

Good one, Logan.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:36pm

Someone in a Tree:
Blog Five

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:37pm

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE THEIR OPINION ON WHY THE PRODUCERS DIDN'T WANT HER BACK!!

I live 3,000 miles from off-Broadway and what follows is speculation:

I suspect management was losing money. Their advertising mentioned Errico and no doubt her fans bought tickets. (Errico fans may not number in the millions, but even *I* know who she is.) Performances "sold out", but when Errico fans arrived and found her understudy on, some asked for refunds and it was too late to re-sell those tickets.

I'm guessing from the blog, but it looks like this state of affairs continued for three weeks ("Days 1 through 18"). Even if they only lost a few seats per show, the losses would mount quickly in a small theater.

As of Day 18, management only knew that Errico was due for a check-up on Tuesday (Day 20). They had no way of knowing if she would be cleared to perform.

So they decided to cut their losses and replace Errico permanently to stem the bleeding.

Again, ALL OF THE ABOVE IS SPECULATION on my part. I have no inside knowledge.

[logan2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:40pm

So everyone has an opinion on whether Melissa should have blogged or not, what the definition of a troll is, and the extensive Equity rule book, but no one has an opinion on why the producers didn't want Melissa to return?


Is this happening or is it the meth.

And right when I post this, I see that Gaveston answered my question. Sorry Gaveston. Updated On: 6/12/13 at 10:40 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:41pm

Are we all friends again? I hope so.

I agree with Kad that the blog is ill-advised. It may inspire sympathy from someone like me, who loves Errico's voice but has no stake in the issue; but I doubt the people who hire actors will appreciate it.

But, hey, social media are still fairly new to a lot of us. Look at the misunderstandings in this thread alone! Perhaps Errico is "more to be pitied than censured", as the expression used to go.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:42pm

I'm sure whatever Gaveston says is correct.