Torn between two... - Actors Forum is the Community to Talk, Learn and Study Acting.

Koigokoro · 03-05-2007, 04:45 PM

Hello everyone. I am in a sticky situation that has led me to these boards asking for help. Please read this, even though it is long and may sound like I am just complaining. Thank you.

Today at the end of the rehearsal for our Sears Drama Festival play we were going to enter into the competition, our lead actress pointed out the obvious: everyone in the entire cast wants to quit. When I say everyone I am not desiderating. Ever single last person in our acting cast nodded three head. I am torn in the middle of it, because I whole-heartedly support dropping this play (something I have never thought I would do... EVER!), but I have wanted to act all year, and have sacrificed everything to act for the festival.

First off, I will explain what this play has been through:

Our school really wanted to focus in on the festival this year and make it to Toronto. We decided to forfeit the usual December play so we could start writing a student-written script, but unfortunately that fell apart due to lack of time. Then we pulled out a tonne of plays to do. We had our harts set on a comedy this year so we chose Cop and the Anthem. Very good play, and we all loved the script, but the small group of us who had been writing were very disappointed. Anyway, we held auditions and the director and stage manager casted us. Many of the serious actors (although I will admit not all) had gotten the smallest of parts, adding to the disappointment. There are (from what I know of the cast) four or five of us who take acting seriously and plan to peruse it as a career after high school, this including myself. Anyway, about a month in our director moved away and the stage manager took over for another month or so until the new teacher was found. So over three months we have had three directors. Along with that, the week for the competition for our area was moved to the week of our March break. Most of the cast can't make it, so we have been looking for other areas. We still don't have a place, and I doubt we will get one. Over all, the acting side of this is disappointing for all of us. As one of the cast put it today "It isn't any fun anymore... there is no motivation to this... If feels more like homework than a play."

I agree with what was being said, but I will be very sad if we throw away the play. For one, I have never quit a part because I didn't like it, and there were many parts I have gotten that I hated. Nor has our main character (the girl who voiced this in the first place), who I know is very dedicated, or anyone else that I know of.

I also agree with the directors that we sound like a group of prima donnas. It is unfair to our dedicated stage crew and tech crew, and it is unfair to ourselves because we have put in a good amount of work. And above all, it is unfair to our current director, because this is her first play with our school and she is a very nice person and talented director.

Anyway, I know this is lengthy and I apologize, but I really do need some advice. I am torn in the middle of wanting to quit and wanting to persevere to the end... I know I sound like a complete bitch, but when the whole cast wants to quit then it proves that something is wrong with the play.

Thank you agian,
-Koigokoro <><

Ps, sorry if there is bad spelling, I did my best.

Russjns · 03-05-2007, 07:31 PM

I read this twice and I'm not sure the reason you are potentially deciding to quit...is it because no one can make it during March break? Or is it because you just aren't having fun anymore?

If no one can make it, then it seems like there isn't a way to do it....can't perform without actors.

If it's because no one is having fun anymore, then I would strongly question why? If you guys made a commitment to do this piece, then you owe it to everyone else who has given there time (not just the actors) to make it happen. Those stage hands, costume people, technicians, etc. all have put in an effort to make this happen, and just because a few actors, or all the actors, aren't "having fun" doesn't really cut it, in my opinion. Fun is what you make it, and for you that are planning on making a career out of this, then it's a perfect opportunity to work hard and inspire. You will be on many sets that aren't "fun"....in fact, a lot of them aren't, (at least in my Hollywood, CA experience) Unless, that is, you show up an make it fun.

I hope this helps, and I truly hope you can band your castmates together!

Sorry, too, if I didn't comprehend exactly what you were saying.

Koigokoro · 03-05-2007, 07:44 PM

What you say makes sense, and I do agree it wouldn't be fair to quit. We may not have a spot in the competition anymore, and are most likely not going to get one, but we would probobly find somewhere to preform. Reading over what I wrote I do think I should have calmed down before writing it. *blush* I sound a bit foolish. ha ha!

Anyway, I have put real thought in it, as well as descussed it with my friend that is not part of the cast, and we have pretty much narrowed it down to one really big thing: we arn't really a cast. The last show we put on in the festival went on, and we got four awards, but my friend says that it is because we were really working together as a cast (it was probobly one of the best teams I have worked with). She told me to "find a way to make a cast out of all the actors". I am thinking she is mostly right. I think all the changed and dissapointments are just making us frustrated.

Does that sound cheezy? Does it even make sence? Whats your though?

By the way, thankyou for taking the time to read that! I didn't think anyone would!

Russjns · 03-05-2007, 07:56 PM

Your friend is wise. I have to say that it really sucks when the actors you work with aren't jelling. But it is very common. It is rare, and it should be cherished, those times when everyone gets along perfectly and you all work great together. It's really one of the greatest experiences an actor can have. Too bad it doesn't happen all the time.

I think it shows strong character to be a person that can be a leader and bring all the castmates together. It seems like having all those switches really wore on the group, but that stuff happens, and finding a way to make it work is really just as important as giving a great performance.

I don't think you sounded cheesy. I know what it's like to be fired up and just purge it all down. You're going through a frustrating time. It makes perfect sense.

I tend to think of all acting experiences as learning experiences. As I'm going through it, I'm asking myself, what is happening that I like, and what would I do differently next time. You obviously don't want to have this situation happen again, so chalk it up to a learning experience and ask yourself how you can better it next time.

Good luck with everything!

Koigokoro · 03-05-2007, 08:03 PM

So, you think I should talk to them? I don't really know how. I don't consiter myself to me much of a leader, although I do try. You think I should just get the cast together and talk about it with the director there? I mean, it might help a lot, but I don't want to have it turn into a hart-spilling-hate time. I am really sympathetic to our director because it's her first month at our school!

Malka · 03-16-2007, 03:36 PM

Quitting is up to you, since no one on the forums knows every last detail about this dilemma.

Personally, I think you should quit, because there WILL definately be other opportunities for you to act. Others may not agree with me, but my opinion is that you shouldn't let a dream get in the way of anger. I mean, wouldn't you rather be happy and searching for parts than frustrated and in a play?