Banks Needs Eye Test
Sat, 17 Feb 2001, 04:39 pmGrant Malcolm12 posts in thread
Banks Needs Eye Test
Sat, 17 Feb 2001, 04:39 pmOkay, so perhaps this heading is not news for some people, but if you were after additional proof, you need look no further than Banks' recent review for Barking Gecko's Mice.
A great write up for Gillian Alexy, the young actor beginning to make her way in her chosen profession. Great to see such encouragement! But how unfortunate that Banks could find only one wholly inaccurate word to describe Tracy Woolrych - "newcomer".
Newcomer? Doubtless this was a talented cast, it features Barking Gecko stalwart, Craig Williams, "a veteran performer with Barking Gecko". But to summarise a performer of Tracy's experience as "newcomer" portrays a profound lack of any idea of what is going on around this town. Tracy possibly has more breadth of experience than any other actor in the company - including Craig Williams!
But then if you will only attend funded theatre productions and turn a blind eye to the existence of the other unfunded 90% of the industry, i guess we can only expect to see further displays of ignorance.
Time you got that one eye tested, Ron, before it goes bad too.
Cheers
Grant Malcolm
PS. In case George Dent happens to be reading...
i've written to Banks on a number of occasions over the past year, have never received a response and never appeared in print. A letter to the editor similarly disappeared without trace.
If you print trash here, someone will post and tell you and everone else so. At The West it clearly aint so easy to be heard.
A great write up for Gillian Alexy, the young actor beginning to make her way in her chosen profession. Great to see such encouragement! But how unfortunate that Banks could find only one wholly inaccurate word to describe Tracy Woolrych - "newcomer".
Newcomer? Doubtless this was a talented cast, it features Barking Gecko stalwart, Craig Williams, "a veteran performer with Barking Gecko". But to summarise a performer of Tracy's experience as "newcomer" portrays a profound lack of any idea of what is going on around this town. Tracy possibly has more breadth of experience than any other actor in the company - including Craig Williams!
But then if you will only attend funded theatre productions and turn a blind eye to the existence of the other unfunded 90% of the industry, i guess we can only expect to see further displays of ignorance.
Time you got that one eye tested, Ron, before it goes bad too.
Cheers
Grant Malcolm
PS. In case George Dent happens to be reading...
i've written to Banks on a number of occasions over the past year, have never received a response and never appeared in print. A letter to the editor similarly disappeared without trace.
If you print trash here, someone will post and tell you and everone else so. At The West it clearly aint so easy to be heard.
RE: Myth of the Great Divide
Tue, 20 Feb 2001, 06:57 pmHi Malcolm
Malcolm Crisp wrote:
-------------------------------
> From my personal experiences audiences DO give a damn.
Really? About whether someone has chosen to attach the word Professional to the production? I don't doubt that they're concerned with Quality and i agree wholeheartedly that Expectations play a major part in how many people interpret that. Many of them are even misguided enough to equate P with Q and vice versa. But do they actively discriminate?
i've taken hundreds of calls for bookings over the years and not one person has asked about the professional status of the show. Perhaps we could ask some of the BOCS people reading this board how often they are quizzed by audience members about this?
> Can I posit the opposing idea that the non-existance of the
> amateur/professional divide is a construct perpetuated by non-> professionals.
:-)
I think you may be assuming that i'm arguing for something that i am not. I have not argued that there is no difference between professional and non-professional theatre - i've actually stated the opposite.
But i do challenge anyone who feels that there is an actual division to point out where the dividing line lies - be ready for a barrage of exceptions!
I believe The West has taken an arbitrary decision and Arts Editor, Banks, has the unhappy duty of defending that line drawn in the sand. The unfortunate result is a very skewed, lopsided and misguided representation in The West of the theatre industry as a whole in this state.
Cheers
Grant
Malcolm Crisp wrote:
-------------------------------
> From my personal experiences audiences DO give a damn.
Really? About whether someone has chosen to attach the word Professional to the production? I don't doubt that they're concerned with Quality and i agree wholeheartedly that Expectations play a major part in how many people interpret that. Many of them are even misguided enough to equate P with Q and vice versa. But do they actively discriminate?
i've taken hundreds of calls for bookings over the years and not one person has asked about the professional status of the show. Perhaps we could ask some of the BOCS people reading this board how often they are quizzed by audience members about this?
> Can I posit the opposing idea that the non-existance of the
> amateur/professional divide is a construct perpetuated by non-> professionals.
:-)
I think you may be assuming that i'm arguing for something that i am not. I have not argued that there is no difference between professional and non-professional theatre - i've actually stated the opposite.
But i do challenge anyone who feels that there is an actual division to point out where the dividing line lies - be ready for a barrage of exceptions!
I believe The West has taken an arbitrary decision and Arts Editor, Banks, has the unhappy duty of defending that line drawn in the sand. The unfortunate result is a very skewed, lopsided and misguided representation in The West of the theatre industry as a whole in this state.
Cheers
Grant
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