Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan are doing some kind of touring production of Waiting For Godot. I believe that is a smart people's version of Waiting For Guffman. I kid, I kid. Anyway, I guess Patrick and Ian are fairly uptight about their performances and want everything to be just perfect. On Monday night, after the play, fans were lined up to meet the actors and get their autographs.
Well according to Scotland's Daily Record, Patrick Stewart went ballistic on one of the fans waiting in line. His crime? He took a picture during the encore of the show. The encore as in the pair were taking a bow. The encore as in the play was over. The encore as in people were standing up and getting ready to leave. The encore as in it is not a required part of the show and is instead a gratuitous self indulgence for the actors and a way for the audience to participate.
Anyway. Stewart was signing a program when he spotted the guy who took a photograph during the encore and said, "Are you the a**ehole who was sitting at the front tonight? You know, what I really want to know is how you can sleep at night? I really hope you're pleased with yourself."
How can the guy sleep at night? He took a photo during an encore. I bet he sleeps pretty damn well thank you. I understand traditions of the theatre are different here compared to Scotland, but he makes it seem as if this guy has committed the greatest crime possible. It was a play. At the end. It was over. It isn't like he stood up during the performance to take a picture and told Patrick to move a little to the left so he could get I an and Patrick in the same shot. Calm down Patrick. Get Lt. Ohura and go to Vegas for the weekend or something.
wow, sounds like a drug-induced pissy fit. what a jerk.
ReplyDeleteWhat a Drama Queen LOL.
ReplyDeleteWhat is his problem??
Isn't there a no camera policy though in a lot of theaters?
ReplyDeleteHate disagree with Enty, but this is actually kind of a big deal. Most theatres in the UK have strict no camera policies. I've been to plays and if ushers even see someone with a camera, they are asked to leave/turn in their camera for the duration of the performance.
ReplyDeleteThis is not just out of etiquette, but it's quite distracting for the actors/crew members on stage. I've actually seen Ian McKellan on stage, and he walked out onstate in character about 20 minutes before the actual performance. He only "broke" character when he shook his head at someone who pulled out a camera.
I don't know why, but I just didn't expect that kind of behavior from him. That makes me a bit disappointed.
ReplyDeleteNo pics means no pics. Geeez! More people should speak up around here when folks are rude.
ReplyDeleteIt could very well have been more than just the picture, too...
ReplyDeleteSorry - but I'm on Patrick Stewart's side on this one. No cameras means no cameras. Am glad he confronted the guy about it. Wish more actors would do that (both from a performer and spectator point of view)
ReplyDeleteWell, geez, it was during the bow, so big deal. (And I myself have been a thespian.) I think the guy in question should have said, "MacBeth! MacBeth! MacBeth!" in reply. Heh heh heh heh ....
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter hoe PS acted toward this idiot. No recording devices are allowed in theaters. Period.
ReplyDeleteUmm, Enty, I think the phrase you are looking for is "curtain call" not "encore." Ovation would work, too.
ReplyDeleteBut these days cameras also mean phones. You could just as easily take a pic with your cellphone especially if you were front row.
ReplyDeleteWhat are they gonna take phones away? Please I know many a person these days who could misquote the gun slogan about cold dead hands with their cell phone.
I am mixed with this one If it said no cameras ,then the rules apply to everyone. If it didn't say no cameras,then PS was being a big old DIVA.
OT: big ol' apologies to Mooshki for making a comment that looks bad to me today and not following up in support of Mooshki. Mooshki can police a board for me anytime.
ReplyDeleteBack on topic: if the photographer was a known paparazzi to Stewart, then I say, go star trek dude! Otherwise, I say, quit being a bitch.
Thanks, but no apologies necessary. :) If we all had the same opinions about things, it'd be pretty boring!
ReplyDeleteHe's a complete egomaniacal prick. When he appeared on Bway in Ride Down Mt Morgan, he used the two curtain calls to lambast the producers for inadequately promoting the play instead of thinking MAYBE he's not the draw he thinks he is (the play also sucks, but that's not the point).
ReplyDeleteHe was brought up on charges by Actors' Equity and forced to apologize.
That being said, it is considered copyright infringement, and the curtain call IS part of the performance, staged by the director and is protected under the same rules as the play itself. And if the person taking the pic uses a flash, it can cause an actor to be momentarily blinded and fall off the stage.
It's true, cameras aren't allowed at all. People do try and take pics anyway, but one needs to be sneaky. Clearly this guy wasn't too clever about it!
ReplyDeleteLast time I saw a Stewart rant was at a Q&A after a performance of Hamlet. He had plenty to say on the subject of the audience coughing 'like a TB ward' during the performance. But he was right - it was constant, loud, and a real distraction. He does seem like an irritable old sod, though.... ;-)