@JonCarter Thank you. Stratford hired composers and musicians. They composed and performed music to suite the needs of the production of the moment including style and tempo changes to augment and compliment the production. The scene change without its music would have been pretty painful as many cast members depended upon hearing the music to time their moves, entrances and exits. Often lower
level actors were positioned on
stage to stand at attention with their lances, spears and shields, partially to set the tone of the scene but often to carry off tables and chairs used in the scene. The music was the glue that bound the scenes together and set the tempo of the changes. I'll shut up now.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.
Yes indeed. Would that not of gummed up the works, especially for the "fourth spearholder to the right".
"No go, no show." If your go is not called, you DON'T execute your
cue. Speaking in her own defense, I was told there could have easily been extenuating circumstances beyond my knowledge and no time for further explanations on the SM's part.
Gotta both agree and disagree.
Yes in this instance technically you were in the wrong. But the SM should of added some comment in the report in my opinion.
In this kind of show yes, unless for some reason you shouldn't you should always GO when the SM says. Not before, Not after.
However not everyplace is Stratford.
Ive worked with plenty of SMs who are lets just say "inexperienced", especially in "community" and "sem-pro" shows; many of whom are volunteers themselves. They miss
call cues all the time, and I am not afraid to jump in and either disregard or go without the "go" in the right circumstances. Especially when I am positive that there is no reason for the SM to of called it wrong (or not called it), other than the SMs inexperience, lack of focus, ability or attention. But generally YES, I STILL go when the SM says, especially early on in production. But if its closing night and the SM is distracted on her
Cell phone and I know it, I'll go on the
cue when I KNOW it happens.
Other than that, I GO ONLY when the SM says, and will either make a note to the SM (usually waiting first to deliver it to see if the SM makes a note themselves).
So generally Im just saying it depends LARGELY on
environment and then also
circumstances.
Especially if the lighting operator is the
lighting DESIGNER.
@RonHebbard I guess I've never had the good fortune (or mis-fortune, depending on one's
point of view) to have worked in such an organized "Big Time" operation. "Wrote me up"?? "Show report"?? Sounds like a bureaucrat with time on her hands to me--give her something to do! Every company I've ever worked with has been much more concerned with getting a good show to the audience.
IATSE 357, Canadian Actors Equity and PACT; Especially concerning the Stratford Festival of Canada, have a reputation for extreme greatness not to mention this exact thing.
A real story from the
stage, very paraphrased but also second
hand very long ago:
An ASM was working at a Stratford
theatre (Equity Member), during the show when an actor was supposed to make an entrance and the IA
props person was not anywhere to be found. After trying to find the
props person backstage, and the actors entrance passing without a critical prop, the ASM reached onto the
props table and handed the prop to the actor who made their entrance (I believe late). The
props person who is the only person allowed to touch
props on the
props table or put them there (ONLY job backstage during the run is to
hand props to the ASM or actors) returned. Was angry for "stealing their job". Wrote an official report about the ASM who faced penalization and
revue and damaged career.
Thankfully the ASM continued to work there.
The
revue decided the problem was minimal.
Yes this is a rule, and the ASM should NOT touch the
props table AT ALL. But what about "the show must go on" or "we are all in this together". I don't mean to bash anyone or any organization, heck Id love to work at Stratford myself, it was a boyhood dream. Seriously not the organization, but yes the mentality Ive seen expressed by a few, and heard MANY horror stories about. But there is still a part of me that says that the ASM saved the
props person's
butt. Because if the ASM had not done that, the SM would of likely written a report that the
Props person needs to remember to do their job (however not at all as damaging).
So Give and Take.
And Ron, I remember you asking... I don't think any of the XLR2
cue light stuff is still used or installed... Never see it, but also never look for it. I vaguely remember it.