Sweeping Generalizations

Caught, again!

Here I go, making sweeping generalizations about "Austin actors," and I get a comment from RobertS, who played Jonathan Brewster in "Arsenic."

Isn't it funny how, as soon as the Sweeping Generalization rears its ugly head, it gets swept away?

There are many actors from Austin who have come out to work with us who have been absolutely wonderful! Too many to list their names, saying, "These people are nice." I just have to learn not to go tarring everyone with the same brush.

To be honest, the actors I refer to in such disparaging terms are in the minority. A lot of actors come to play with us because we have a reputation for quality, and they just want to be a part of that. Or just because they have room in their schedule and we are putting up a show they have always wanted to do. These people enhance our stage, and we hope they come back.

We always hope actors have fun with us. I really hate having caused anyone to have had a bad time here. I never intended to do that. In the case of the actor who insisted on spandex and giraffe print, SHE told ME what she wanted to wear! She apparently had no confidence in me. She didn't know me. Why should she assume that she knew more about costuming than I did? I have a costuming style that is probably "amateurish," which may have been the source of the problem. I tend to bring in a Burbie-load of suitable costumes, and then figure out what will work for whom. If nothing works for a particular actor, fine. I'll bring something else tomorrow. For that actor, nothing worked the first time, so she sent me emails with pictures of what she wanted. Frankly I didn't care that she was the lead. To me, she's just one of about 27 bodies I had to clothe, and SHE was the one with the attitude.

And the tattooed Lady! Well! She's going around with a deer head, complete with antlers, permanently inscribed on her shoulder. Right. She's an actor. She can expect, nay, even seek out, roles that place her in a different time period. In almost any time period besides ours, women didn't wear tattoos. I fully admit that my snarky comments about her tattoo could have been interpreted as an attack by a person who a) doesn't know me, and b) has no sense of humour. However, I still maintain that her vanity ink job makes more work for the costume and/or makeup person. And, for "The Women," I had 19 people in 27 roles, some of whom had multiple costumes for their single role, as the action of the play covers several years and these are New York High Society dames. No, I did not want to have to remember that her shoulder needs to be covered. So, let's see; that gown is out, and so is that one...and on and on. Did I mention that this is the 1930's, where almost any evening gown is going to expose the shoulders?

~sigh~

Maybe I'm not the terrific costumer I think I am. Who knew the job involved so much PR?

Should I wear a sign that says, "I'll make you look like a million bucks, but I might piss you off in the process?"

Anyway, back to RobertS.

I am here to tell you that he is an actor with terrific talent, amazing skills, a great attitude and a winning personality. All in all, he's a really nice guy.

And he sure looks good in a pin stripe jacket!