[NEohioPAL] Honoring Commitments- Final Chapter (A Happy Ending)

[Ryan Bergeron]

You know, I really have to comment on this ongoing thread....I've been more than willing to simply read along without chiming in, but I need to comment since it's resurfacing one more time.

 

I really have to say that it is a bit childish to continue harping on this actor. It's bordering on just plain mean-spirited sour grapes. The fact that you are not naming him makes it no better. You cannot lecture on how to take the high road while childishly dragging someone thru the mud. Is it really worth this much effort to damage the reputation of someone who wronged you? This whole need for "revenge" more or less.... the choice to partake in that kind of behavior is one of the exact criteria I use in determining who is a professional and who is an amateur. This actor did something that you think was wrong. Fine. Maybe it was. Don't work with him again. If you need to talk to directors at other theatres, fine. Do it in PRIVATE in a PROFESSIONAL context that comes from a sincere desire to save other producers/directors the grief of going thru this. Don't repeatedly air your dirty laundry and cast allegations and judgements at someone in public. It's just tacky, and it speaks poorly of the professionalism of you and your theatre.

 

If this actor is as terrifying to deal with as you say he is, he will tie his own noose. A professional should know better than to sling mud. If I were this actor, frankly I'd be laughing at the amount of effort and energy you've been wasting rather than learning the lesson you're trying to teach. It sounds like your production was indeed made stronger by his departure. Congratulate yourself and your cast for a job well done under difficult circumstances and MOVE ON. Even though you have valid points to make, all i hear for all of your outcry about it is "I'm sure those grapes were sour, anyway".

 

Thanks for listening, and best of luck.

 

Regards,

 

Ryan Bergeron


 


From: DVangaasbe at aol.com
Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 18:04:22 -0400
To: neohiopal at listserve.com
Subject: [NEohioPAL] Honoring Commitments- Final Chapter (A Happy Ending)


Several weeks ago, I wrote two e-mails concerning actors who do not keep their commitments to theatres who have cast them in productions.  Included in those e-mails were discussions of why theatres and playhouses should make sure those actors honor the commitments at hand.  I, at those two times, stated that we would persevere and move on.  Well! I have excellent news.  One of my actresses remembered a little seventeen year old fireball she had acted with and we auditioned this fireball and discovered much to our delight that she was far better than the fellow who dropped us to go play a minor part in Beauty and the Beast in Canton, Ohio.
 
Once Upon a Mattress played to enthusiastic crowds all six nights.  The jester, Sarah Brazier, along with our Princess Winnifred (Jackie Piatt), King (Ray Olivera), Queen (Sandra Schmeltzer), Prince Dauntless (Jon Neumann), Lady Larken (Tara Shooks), Sir Harry (Steve Long), and Minstrel (Matt King) brought the house down.  Sarah was a tremendous replacement actress and worked well with Ray and Matt during several scenes.  Her rendition of Old Soft Shoes was far superior to the young fellow who left us.  So we were blessed in our greatest period of need.  Divine Intervention- I do believe so.  A good memory of an actress - I definitely believe so.  Are we happy with Sarah Brazier? Yes we are.  Are we happy with all the actors and actresses who participated in Once Upon a Mattress, you bet your sweet bippy. (Shades of Rowan's and Martin's Laugh-in) Those actors and actresses include the above and Lisa Van Gaasbeek, Shannon Levesque, Sarah Price, Rachel Zachardy, Drew Hutchinson, Theresa Graves, Laina Cohen, and Irene White.
 
As for the actor who left us.  Well! he has a very short memory.  In 2006, when we did The Odd Couple, he wanted to play Oscar Madison real bad and to tell you the truth he was very good.  However, he was working at another playhouse doing Cinderella and he wanted to play the king's part in that.  We honored his commitment to the other playhouse and moved our production two weeks back so he would have sufficient time to get ready.  We ran rehearsals and got everyone up to speed so when he came in we could hit the ground running.  That occurred.  He got to play a part he desperately wanted to play while honoring another commitment.  It seems that when he got the small part in Beauty and The Beast in Canton, Ohio, he seemed to forget who we were.  I do hope that the director of Beauty and the Beast does not have the same situation occur to him in the future since all he had to do was tell this young man to honor his original commitment.  However, with the arrival of Ms. Brazier, I am glad he did not have that heart to heart with this obviously short in memory young man who will never grace our stage again.  No unsuspecting cast should have to put up with those antics.  
 
David Van Gaasbeek
Director
Canal Fulton Players



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