…everyone has them and most of them stink.
I don’t know how many times I’ve actually uttered that statement, but it seems to be the catch phrase of the moment. With the review at the BeeHive there’s been quite a lot of conversation about our little production of the show. It seems that everyone (well not everyone because we’ve had about 2,500 audience members) wants their voice heard. There’s banter about the cattiness of theatre folk in Fresno, the show, lighting, sound issues, the set… blah blah blah. Bottom line, people want to talk.
As an actor in the show I cannot be a part of the banter because, of course, I am biased. I was party to the everyday struggles that the audience didn’t see. I know what I’ll say on the Internet, in print versus what I’d tell my friends in confidence. And not everything is as it seems… but isn’t that always the way it goes? It’s called self-preservation. It’s called good PR skills. It’s called ‘what people don’t know won’t hurt them.’ And as an actor I can read the criticism and realize that the majority of those commenting have NO idea what they are talking about. Sure, if they ready Fresnocentric and what I posted there about the show then they would have a clue about the trials and tribulations but I still left details out of those postings as well.
I find it humorous. I find the banter more dramatic than what’s going on on stage. I’m thankful my performance is not getting criticised, but hey, if it does, it’s one person’s opinion. If I believe my good press I have to believe my bad press, right?
July 15, 2008 at 10:18 pm |
I am one of those who actually believe that a level of candor can help engage audiences of a theatre company. I think that WSF should have a blog that gives updates on both the progress and setbacks of a production. Regular attendees love to have that birds-eye view of productions and it can actually give audiences a sense of emotional connection to the production.
That said, however, I’m not a fan of the confessional rehearsal blogs. The difference between being candid and being confessional is simply the level of self-indulgence of the writer. A candid writer will be up front and speak plainly about the issues involved, but will also try to be constructive in their candor. The confessional writer tends to use the public blog as an emotional outlet and winds up being, yes, bad PR!
But all in all, as far as that discussion is concerned at the Beehive, I go with the old maxim “there’s no such thing as bad press”. If people are talking about WSF, it means that we’re establishing an institutional base in the community.
And that’s a good thing.
July 15, 2008 at 10:18 pm |
PS^^^ is Heather Parish.
July 15, 2008 at 10:21 pm |
I agree with you Heather
press is press regardless! 
July 16, 2008 at 6:45 pm |
it would be hard for me not to want to set people straight.
July 25, 2008 at 4:59 am |
hon
i’m glad you dont worry too much about the crap on the beehive. it is amusing to see the bullshit fly and people list their credits to justify their opinions, but all of this blogging is happening because people no longer sit in bars or at home and get drunk with their friends and loved ones. that was when we used to talk, bitch, gripe, glorify, castigate shows we’d seen. i hope you have enjoyed the run and hope to get there saturday night. i have heard really nice things from people who are not just my friends. even my snooty friend who’s the fresno state music prof loved it and he went the night of the fucking country concert. was it his love for shakespeare or his hatred of c/w? hard to say. in any case, thanks for your work and energy and good karma. break a leg in SF. late.