Fw: Encyclopedia and Debate

[Gaetan Charlebois]

>On Mon, 2 Nov 1998, Karen Fleury wrote:
>
>> What people tend to forget, in general, is the artistic form
>> that stage management expresses themselves in best:  calling the show.  When
>> this is done well, it goes unnoticed.  The timing of a show often hinges on
>> the flow of cues in addition to the action on stage.  When the calling is
>> done poorly, it is disastorous.  Everyone is aware of mistakes; not just the
>
>
>I'm sure I'll get slammed for this one, but I'm feeling ornery and it'll be
>nice to see this list heat up again...
>
>
>I wonder how repeating the cues and recreating what the director and the
>designers have set during the rehearsal process constitutes artistic
>expression? Should the encyclopedia list all of the lighting board
>operators who have ever hit a "cue" button? (Provided they didn't miss a
>cue, of course)
>
>Perhaps finely crafted prompt-books should be thought of as pieces of art.
>That I can see. Maybe someone could start a museum and an encyclopedia
>devoted to beautiful Canadian prompt-books.
>
>But seriously, it seems to me that Gaetan is looking to include people
>who have made significant contributions to the theatre in Canada. Ok, ok,
>so you could make the case that anyone who has ever been involved with any
>show has made a contribution to Canadian theatre... Why aren't all of the
>actors who have ever performed along side those mentioned in the
>encyclopedia also named? No one can deny that the artists who are listed
>are deeply indebted to their colleagues onstage and off, but, to repeat
>previous posts, where do you draw the line?
>
>I am certain that there are SMs who work creatively in the realization of a
>piece, some whose contributions have been exceptional and who will be
>included, but I don't think that the kind of work Karen is talking about -
>calling the show and maintaining its integrity throughout a run - is
>where this creative activity takes place - no more so than in non-artisic
>management positions.
>
>I can hear Canada's SMs declaring open season right now.
>
>I hope you prove me wrong. ;)
>
>Cheers,
>Alastair Jarvis
>
>____________________________
>Emerging Canadian theatre artist: How do I get into the encyclopedia?
>Gaetan: Practice... practice.

I like how this debate is going. But I remember it was like a similar
debate I had some 20 years ago at the Banff centre. There were a bunch of
playwrights in the Colony who would go to the exhibits of the macramé
artists and scoff at them. They made the distinction be artists and
artisans/craftspeople. What I saw, among some truly hideous plant-holders,
was legitimate art. So some macramé creators were artists.

So I would suspect that there are craftspeople/artisans who elevate what
they do to an art form. I know, as a critic, that I have mentioned
lighting-board people for getting all the cues just right and aiding the
rhythm of a work (and slammed a few who did not do it right). However,
aside from seeing the work, on a given night, of a stage manager, how can
one judge if, in the long-term, they are artists or artisans/craftspeople?

I know, here in Quebec, we are starting to treat assistant-directors as a
separate and valued artist. Because I do not know, on any given show, what
the asst. has done, I do not ever mention them in a review. I think the
same applies to SMs. When I was a director, I had SMs who took down all my
notes, conveyed them to the cast in tones more dulcet than I could offer
after a bad rehearsal, and therefore saved morale. Is this an art? I've
also had stage-managers, when I was a playwright, who would phone me up and
tell me what a particular director was doing to my play. Is this an art?
It's a job. Valuable as all hell. But unless, with each show and depending
on the director being worked with, I can see the exact contribution made by
the SM (so that praise and blame can be attributed) I can't see how, as a
body, they can be regarded as artists? It is greatly appreciated work, but
the best SMs are the most invisible.

Gaetan Charlebois