Ghostlight2, you seem to have interpreted my post in a really special way. When I said "Get back to your show, girl" I was joking, which was obvious since I was addressing broadwaydevil and inquiring as to whether or not he was Steve Kazee himself. The joke was that if he was posting on a message board, maybe he should get back to the theatre. It was just that, a joke. My criticism of Kazee stemmed from my own anecdotal evidence regarding his absences. Unlike some people on this board, when new facts are introduced to an argument, I'm happy to assess them and give credit where it is due. I don't really think that's a bad thing, but if you prefer willful obstinance then that's your deal.
As far as the incident I was referring to, yes, this was an Equity actor in a Broadway show. I don't think it goes on frequently, but it goes on enough that similar issues have been a topic of discussion on many a night out in the theatre district. Everybody's got stories about someone, I've heard many.
"Laura Benanti was excoriated a few years back for frequent absences, until the truth eventually came out she was being treated for an injury that her producers forbade her to reveal."
And you think most performances, like those mentioned in this thread named and unnamed, are missing constantly because of a serious injury that they are being forbidden to talk about? Come on. These are the exception, not the rule. And yes, if someone is absent frequently, I see nothing wrong with commenting on it, especially since people spent 100$+ to go see a show, sometimes only because they love a specific performer and want very badly to see them. There's no reason to demonize people for wanting to see the performer they love or the performer who won the Tony for their performance or whatever it may be.
I agree that it isn't fair to demonize actors who have an injury, illness, etc. that they cannot control. I have no problem eating my words and apologizing should I turn out to be wrong. I know others do, but it's not really anything I have an issue with.
"All I'm saying is, could you maybe give these people the benefit of the doubt, unless you know better? They shouldn't have to reveal their private troubles or illnesses to the general public to make it "ok". "
No one is asking anyone to reveal their private troubles every time they're out. Where are you getting that I feel like there should be a police squad questioning everyone who is even a minute late for half-hour? I'm referring to the types of cases brought up in this thread, for the hundredth time, regarding Amy Spanger in The Wedding Singer, Karen Olivo in West Side Story, and those who shall go unnamed that I have personally witnessed abusing their ability to call out over hangovers, boyfriend troubles, wanting to go on a vacation without telling anyone, etc.
Another example I heard from a well know director involved an actress who requested a day off and was not given that day off because of her past attendance and because some very important people were in the audience on that day. She faked sick, faked a doctor's note, and called out anyway. Pictures were later found on Facebook of her attending a friend's party. Oops?
"Get mad, then get over it." - Colin Powell
Updated On: 12/30/12 at 01:31 PM