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So now that I'm here...
I think I might be willing to do theatre again. I've added it to my interests, which I was thinking I wouldn't do. I've stopped denying that, even was I was over-worked and under-paid, I really enjoyed it.
As a hobby. That was my problem with everyone who wanted me to do a show or two in college; I don't like pro theatre. I don't like the training for pro theatre. I don't like the actors (mostly) and I don't like the directors (mostly). Both sets are pretentious and hate that you're in their way when you try to do your job. I don't like the way you're expected to do just one job and no-one appreciates you for it.
But there's a little, tiny community theatre maybe three blocks from our flat in Philadelphia, and I'm thinking of checking it out. I can paint, and sew, and build sets, and use power tools, and stage manage, and asm, and organize run crews. And I like to do lots of that at once. What's the fun in just being the stage floor painter when you can work in a community theater and attempt to work out set design for $200? Why should the fact that I can stage manage prevent me from running backstage and taking soda to my crew and fixing the broken trellis during intermission?
In a community theater, they actually appreciate people who know how to use jigsaws, reupholster a chair using a staplegun in three minutes, hand-hem velvet, change gels, and call cues. Golly. I could be unappreciated, work for free, garner remarkable bruises, and run around like a chicken with my head cut off when the feather duster prop goes missing three minutes before the show. Where else could I do that?
As a hobby. That was my problem with everyone who wanted me to do a show or two in college; I don't like pro theatre. I don't like the training for pro theatre. I don't like the actors (mostly) and I don't like the directors (mostly). Both sets are pretentious and hate that you're in their way when you try to do your job. I don't like the way you're expected to do just one job and no-one appreciates you for it.
But there's a little, tiny community theatre maybe three blocks from our flat in Philadelphia, and I'm thinking of checking it out. I can paint, and sew, and build sets, and use power tools, and stage manage, and asm, and organize run crews. And I like to do lots of that at once. What's the fun in just being the stage floor painter when you can work in a community theater and attempt to work out set design for $200? Why should the fact that I can stage manage prevent me from running backstage and taking soda to my crew and fixing the broken trellis during intermission?
In a community theater, they actually appreciate people who know how to use jigsaws, reupholster a chair using a staplegun in three minutes, hand-hem velvet, change gels, and call cues. Golly. I could be unappreciated, work for free, garner remarkable bruises, and run around like a chicken with my head cut off when the feather duster prop goes missing three minutes before the show. Where else could I do that?
Damn right
(Anonymous) 2003-08-29 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)Louis
P.S. Have you been reading a lot of british novels or what? "theatRE"? "Flat"? Weirdo. 8]