*EDIT* - sorry, by the time I finished writing this, there were 5 more replies about how this has been discussed at length, meaning what I said has probably been said before a billion times (we swings should really learn to think before we post...) So feel free not to read on...
I agree in theory. However, what actors have to understand is that these "stage door" fans come with the job. Some actors may view it as a bother or an inconvenience. Others may love it and revel in it, but everyone needs to accept it as a reality. What bothers me are actors who act surprised and annoyed that this has happened, as if they expected to never come into contact with fans - highly unrealistic, especially for stage actors. TV/Film is a little more understandable.
Being a star means that thousands of people are going to know who you are. Your voice is going to reach for hundreds, even thousands of miles away from the stage where you perform. And if you are particularly good, you are going to touch the lives of people you haven't even met. Because of this, you're going to get all kinds of feedback - people who are "in love" with you, or think you'd be the best of friends. People who are "convinced" that they know you simply because they've heard you sing, seen you act, read an interview, or even possibly met you briefly.
Of course these are very misguided feelings, but the power of a performance is stronger than a lot of people understand. People will relate to plots or stories personally and feel a real and deep connection with a character. Oftentimes, this feeling will translate over to the particular actor, who may or may not be anything like the character in question. But what many actors don't realize is that coming out the stage door, saying hi, signing a playbill, anything - gives the fan some form of validation and fulfills (to a point) the sense of connection they developed after seeing/hearing the show.
Now before you yell at me for claiming it's the actor's responsibility to handle the emotional issues of their fans (broadway fans? emotional? issues? never!), I'm not saying that at all. Like OntheAisle said, their job is to give a good performance. That's why they went into the business (hopefully). I'm just saying that to one person, what seems like a fleeting, inconvenient moment consisting of coming out the stage door and greeting some people, to another is a heartfelt, meaningful experience that they will always remember. Hell, look at half the signatures of BWW users - quotes from actors spoken directly to them. Do you think any of these actors remember saying these things to the fans? Maybe, but probably not. But it meant enough to those fans for them to display it as their signature - something they're proud of.
Ok, so I rambled a bit. I suppose I could have left all this out and just said "true, but they have to realize it comes with the job." But I think most of you will agree with me regarding how much an experience like that can mean to a lot of fans.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Updated On: 7/28/05 at 11:35 AM
