(no subject)
Last night, before our final evening performance, the power cut out. Freak lightening hit a tree and brought a line down. The house manager and other SM thought that maybe we could keep our guests’ interests for an hour if we needed to via impromptu song and dance until (hopefully) the power came back. The audience seemed okay with that idea, which impressed me as the temperature and humidity were both way up. While kids scrambled to get chairs and I was racing around the building to see if there were any breakers we could throw, our intrepid director decided that, no, instead of waiting for the power we would have the show. In the cafeteria. Without any ventilation or air conditioning. With failing emergency lights. Daylight rapidly fading.
I suggested to Trish that this wasn’t such a good idea for all the above reasons (including the fact that we would be well past the room’s capacity). She blew me off. The house manager tried to explain the same thing. She shooed him away. Katie, the other SM, tried to explain the problem…Trish chewed her out in front of the kids and the audience. It took three board members to tell Trish, flat out, that the show wouldn’t go on.
In the mean while one of the girls from our cast succumbed to heat exhaustion.
I’ve known this woman for 23 years and after this childish stunt, I’ve come to the decision to cut her loose from my own life. If I had owed her anything, I’ve paid it back in spades through hard labor and patience. I simply can not respect a director who would put a cast, crew and audience at risk simply to satisfy her own ego.
In many ways, this has been coming a long time. But I’m content with my decision. Some relationships are simply to caustic to be anything but damaging, and I simply can’t work for someone I no longer respect, nor can I feign a friendship with such a person.
I've worked through this afternoon's show and will continue through the show that was tacked on for tonight to cover last night. The set will be struck and all elements will be taken care of in a professional fashion. After that, I’ll be done.
I suggested to Trish that this wasn’t such a good idea for all the above reasons (including the fact that we would be well past the room’s capacity). She blew me off. The house manager tried to explain the same thing. She shooed him away. Katie, the other SM, tried to explain the problem…Trish chewed her out in front of the kids and the audience. It took three board members to tell Trish, flat out, that the show wouldn’t go on.
In the mean while one of the girls from our cast succumbed to heat exhaustion.
I’ve known this woman for 23 years and after this childish stunt, I’ve come to the decision to cut her loose from my own life. If I had owed her anything, I’ve paid it back in spades through hard labor and patience. I simply can not respect a director who would put a cast, crew and audience at risk simply to satisfy her own ego.
In many ways, this has been coming a long time. But I’m content with my decision. Some relationships are simply to caustic to be anything but damaging, and I simply can’t work for someone I no longer respect, nor can I feign a friendship with such a person.
I've worked through this afternoon's show and will continue through the show that was tacked on for tonight to cover last night. The set will be struck and all elements will be taken care of in a professional fashion. After that, I’ll be done.