Gibbs Calls for Tech Killings

Geoff Gibbs slams a current Blue Room production:

"Jacquie Reid in her one woman show Crime! The Musical survived one of the most devastating first nights I have ever witnessed."

"Had she shot the sound technician, murdered the director, dismembered the designer and garrotted the lighting operator everyone in the audience would have defended her action as justifiable."

In between taking shots at practically everyone involved in the production, Gibbs does find time to compliment Reid's performance as "a significant addition to Australian cabaret repertoire by an exceptional woman."

Check out the review at the link below:

Firstly I would like to point out that Geoff Gibbs seems to have fallen in love with his own eloquence in this review. (Although "Opening Nightmare" is very cute.)

Secondly I would like to state that whatever technical difficulties were experienced in this show (which I haven't seen) the problems, to my actual knowledge, began much earlier.

It is all a question of organisation. Even the most inexperienced Technician can run an excellent show with enough practice. A good Technician can just as easily be nobbled by rushed technical set-ups and insufficient rehearsal time.

But remember the first law of theatre: Blame the Technician!

Not having seen Crime: The Musical
Nor knowing anyone involved with it...

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Geoff Gibbs review...
This is what a good review is all about, well written and, dare I say it, poetic in its emotion (either positive or negative)

The review as an art form is one that has been achieved by very few people, and those whose reviews are still read decades after what they've reviewed has sunk into the mire of theatricalk obscurity, are read for one reason and one reason only, the lyricism of their vitriol.

Will any reviewer ever be remembered with as much fondness as the great Dorothy Parker:
"[Katherine Hepburn] ran the full gamut of emotions from A to B."

"And it was the use of the word 'hummy' that Tonstant Weader first fwowed up!" (Review of The House on Pooh Corner, written under the name Constant Reader)

Paul Treasure

...then we take Berlin....

I must add my favourite Peter-Fry-ism:

"Peter, what did you think of that musical?"
"I came out humming the set..."

or in a similarly jocular/jugular vein:
"I didn't like the show but I saw it under adverse conditions: the curtain was up."
"Well, I've had a splendid evening, but this wasn't it..."

et al.....

El

The main rule in theatre is the 5 'P's

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Production.

One day THEY might put up a monument or statue to "The Technician" - as thank God there will never be one put up in honour of a critic.

In most cases, beyond equipment failure, "the technicain" never sees a run through or even a Tech Rehearsal "Cue to Cue" as most Director's - even the pro's - have never heard of it.

The ultimate responsibility is on the head of the Director and thier mechanist "the Stage Manager" for the smooth show run - by the same token, those tech's who believe they should only do thier own cues are another story.

Actors have a good many hours rehearsal to polish and get it right - some are never able.

Technicains have to be able to do it right first time every time and never fail - with little or no rehearsal.

As Malcolm said the first rule of theatre is - so we get on with it.

Have a good one - Toi Toi Toi Chookas

Joe

Paul Treasure wrote:
-------------------------------
Not having seen Crime: The Musical
Nor knowing anyone involved with it...

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Geoff Gibbs review...
This is what a good review is all about, well written and, dare I say it, poetic in its emotion (either positive or negative)

The review as an art form is one that has been achieved by very few people, and those whose reviews are still read decades after what they've reviewed has sunk into the mire of theatricalk obscurity, are read for one reason and one reason only, the lyricism of their vitriol.

Will any reviewer ever be remembered with as much fondness as the great Dorothy Parker:
"[Katherine Hepburn] ran the full gamut of emotions from A to B."

"And it was the use of the word 'hummy' that Tonstant Weader first fwowed up!" (Review of The House on Pooh Corner, written under the name Constant Reader)

Paul Treasure

Thank god there is someone around who knows what they are talking about! Yes, the Stage Manager *is* the person who has responsibility for the smooth running of the show. The technicians - sound/lighting ops, flymen, other stage workers, even they are dependent *during* the show on the SM - if the SM doesn't call the show perfectly (calling the cues, etc) *of course* there will be technical difficulties, and *of course* who will people automatically blame but the sound/lighting op or whoever's talk it is - but in the end up basically everything is reliant on the SM! It is the SM who takes almost full responsibility for the organisation and the running of the show, from day one of pre-production long before rehearsals even start, before the actors have been auditioned - they are only answerable to the whims of the director! So stop bashing the technicians - neither am I telling you to start in on the Stage Manager, but just keep that in mind the next time you are in the audience at a show that seems to be experiencing technical difficulties - just think about things a little!

I'm flattered at being quoted by none other than Pappa himself& I'm encouraged to add a couple of personal favourites.
From the late & great Colleen Clifford when talking to the cast after a show she hadn't liked."Wonderful Footwork everyone"!!
AND; another "generic " comment in those circumstances--"That must have been lots of hard work"
That one can apply almost equally no matter what the end result looks like!
AND;a lovely quote I heard while living in London,which a Muso like Pappa will appreciate came from an Oboeist(?),who when asked who had conducted the concert he had played at the previous night said,"Oh,I forgot to look!".
OOROO ALL.