Michael Riedel and West Side Story Turmoil — Page 2

I think he loves theater. Good theater and responsible performers.

Here, I think he makes valid points.

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Now I dont feel as bad about not seeing Karen a few weeks back.

It wasnt my unlucky night, it's just that she's hardly ever in.

:sigh: good stuff.

Whatever happened to Aléna Watters, the standby they hired for Anita?

It seems like she was out of the picture before she ever even went on.

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I disagree. I think many audience members...whether they know who is who or not....feel cheated when they see so many people out of a performance. The obvious mindset is that if they were understudies, they weren't as strong as the principle cast, and so we're seeing an inferior show. It happens, and one or two understudies people can live with, especially in a large cast like WSS, but when it reaches double figures as it reportedly has done, it does get a bit dispiriting.

Michael Riedel may love or hate theater, and people do tend to complain a lot about him, but he does seem to be the one journalist referred to most often on the chat sites.

^ I don't think that's true. I've overheard many tourists make comments when they see the understudy inserts, disappointed that they are not seeing the "regular" actor, and hoping the understudy is good. For a show like WSS, it may not be about the specific actor, but when they see that Maria, Anita and Tony are all understudies, they realize those are the lead roles and seeing understudies for 3 leads does not make anyone happy.

"By the way, am I the only who thinks he can stop with the Donna Murphy thing? Yeah, she missed shows, and I get that, but it's been 5 years."

Yeah, Donna Murphy, Laura Benanti.

Here's the thing. You SHOW UP.

The wacko thing is that those women are talented to the Nth degree. I adore both of them. But freakin' show up to the show!

Karen Olivo and the whole WSS cast who are NOT showing up to the show, SHAME ON YOU.

And good on Riedel for pointing this out.

Don't blame the gossip columnist for reporting what's actually happening.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not condoning continuously missing performances. That's a performer's job, and that's what they're paid to do. 8 times a week. If you can't hack it, find another line of work or get a sit-com.

But I've also seen just as many audience members who don't know or care who's playing what as I've seen audience members who are upset. Just check the floor as you're leaving and see how many of those slips are left for the house staff to clean up. And when talking to friends, relatives, whatevers who are not as "into theatre" as I am, I've noted that the only thing they ever remember is that they've seen the show. Not who played what role, when they saw it, and in some cases what it was about. WE care about these things, but we're a very small "world."

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But we know why Donna called out...because of a vocal injury.

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I'm not excusing the absences which have been noted on this board many times. Since there has been so much discussion of it here and on ATC there's, obviously, an issue.

The point I was trying to make with my previous post is that I feel the quote about the patrons "screaming" is an exaggeration. Sure, some people are upset about it but I doubt to that degree. That makes it sound like the audiences are close to rioting - which they are not.

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^^^^

the western fascination with showing up to the work sick has always been an interesting one. with some diseases, when you are "recovering" is when you are maximally infectious.

rest assured, if H1N1/H5N1/SARS/"panic virus du jour" ever turns out to be serious, very few of us will be given the choice (self-quarantine will be part of the CDC's/WHO's control measures).

I personally find it ridiculous how often actors call out of their shows. Sure, injury and fatigue and illness are all factors. But take a show like WSS. If you are so injured, so tired, so sick that you call out so often, you should not be in the business of show. It is a grueling profession. Step up or get out.

While I, myself, have never worked on a production quite as big as anything on Broadway, I have done my fair share of shows. Last summer, I took part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This rapid-fire theatre festival required the cast and myself to come in, put together our set and lights essentially from scratch, perform, break it all down, head home, sleep, and do it again the next day. Exhausting? Absolutely. But it's what I expect and long for from doing theatre. It's why I do it.

If you can't take the pressure and the strength that doing a Broadway show eight times a week requires, let someone step in who can do it for you. Who is equally as talented. Who deserves it. You're on Broadway!! Millions DREAM of being where you are!! And you call out?

/end rant

shesamarshmallow: I don't think we're discussing those actors who call out sick with legitimate injuries. Riedel's column and most of the comments here concern those who, instead of going home and getting vocal rest and a good night's sleep, would rather stay up all night and party and then call out sick the next day.

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