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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Last Edit: mikem 01:33 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| Posted by: mikem 01:32 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: Maybe deservedly so? - portenopete 11:47 am EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| The Hollywood Reporter article opens with a report of an assistant's hand injured by being smashed by a computer monitor because of Rudin. The article implies that it was a deliberate act, but no witnesses are interviewed, so we don't actually know. Even the horrified co-workers feel that the physical assault was unexpected and somewhat out of character, although they give plenty of examples of him throwing things around and smashing objects while having a temper tantrum. That's the only physical assault I noticed in the article. My personal guess is that the physical assault was unintentional, that he was throwing things around and didn't intend to hit the assistant, although that doesn't negate the fact that he did hit him. Many years ago, I had to interact at work with a mini-version of Rudin for a couple of weeks. Like with Rudin, everyone knew what he was like but no one would do anything about it because he was a top earner. One day, he was throwing things around the room in a temper tantrum, and one of them hit me. It had a sharp edge and drew blood, although it was a minor injury that just needed a bandaid. I am sure he did not intend to hit me, although he never apologized and actually tried to get me fired when I made a complaint about it. And his boss, after he received the complaint, called me into his office to threaten me, saying, "I very strongly advise you not to take this any further than you already have." I was about the age of the assistants in the article. I have a different kind of strength today than I did then. If it happened now, I might have filed a police report so that there was a public paper trail, but at the time I was young and easily intimidated. My time with the guy and his entire department was coincidentally coming to a close anyway, and I didn't pursue it any further. I never saw him or his boss again. Nothing happened to the guy, and I'm sure he continued to behave horribly. I have complicated feelings about Rudin. On one hand, IF we believe the physical assault was unintentional (reckless behavior rather than intentionally trying to hurt someone physically), he isn't breaking any major laws, and his assistants are adults who took the job with their eyes wide open. I'm sure they had other offers. I think that’s why there hasn’t been much response. He’s a jerk, he’s not a criminal. On the other hand, his behavior is really not okay, and I strongly disagree with the contention that, because he is producing something of value, it's okay that he treats people terribly. As someone earlier said, he's not throwing things at Hugh Jackman. He has the ability to control himself but chooses not to. And a Rudin (or Robbins or Merrick or...) with more self-control would still be able to contribute to the theater world in the same way, without being an asshole to powerless people around him. |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: portenopete 04:02 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - mikem 01:32 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| I really appreciated your thoughtful, personal and nuanced account. I am so glad you contributed! I'm glad you emerged from your own Boss from Hell situation relatively unscathed and seemingly with your dignity and sense of self-worth intact. | |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: mikem 12:15 am EDT 04/12/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - portenopete 04:02 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| portenopete, thank you for your kind words. I was really debating whether to post my experience, and I'm glad you found it was worth reading. I was lucky that my time interacting with the guy was short, so it did not have as deep an effect as it would have if it had been a prolonged experience. | |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 01:51 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - mikem 01:32 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| A complicated subject. People always reference Jerome Robbins but there was a seemingly long tradition of directors in the 50s and 60s who were known to be difficult. John Dexter and Alan Schneider to name two. They were mean. Cutting and sarcastic. I have worked for a few directors like that. They usually single out some young defenseless actor to heap withering scorn upon. Greg Boyd at the Alley Theatre in Houston was like that. They wouldn't dream of directing their contempt on their mature and confident stars. Only the ingenues or apprentices. Unfortunately, that behavior is not criminal. Just plain crummy. | |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: scoot1er 10:00 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - Billhaven 01:51 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| I worked with Greg Boyd many years ago, in 1987 actually, and I never witnessed any abusive behavior toward any of the actors in the show. Yes, it was a long time ago and perhaps he changed, but at that time he was always a gentleman and a terrific director, ready to listen to an actor’s ideas and willing to try them out. | |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 10:54 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - scoot1er 10:00 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| The Houston Chronicle wrote about " the abrupt retirement of longtime Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, the Houston Chronicle reported today that more than a dozen current and former Alley employees have said that under Boyd, the theater had a “toxic, bullying atmosphere.” https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Alley-theatre-houston-gregory-boyd-allegations-12492467.php |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: portenopete 04:11 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - Billhaven 01:51 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| Yes, Dexter was certainly legendary. Other British expats as well. That class of directors who emerged- many from the public school system- in the mid-20th century were inculcated in that classist, rapacious mindset where boys were taught to, first, bury any dignity or strength in service of their "superiors" and then learn how to wield it, presumably in service of Queen & Country. This weekend we have been remembering The Duke of Edinburgh, for whom Gordounston was a revelatory experience; unfortunately for his son it was not so felicitous. I never worked with Dexter or Schneider but I did work with other Tony-nominated Brits who could do a good job in making an actor feel small and worthless. Fortunately I was never a whipping boy but I certainly spent the rehearsal period in fear. Perhaps it was this "training" that has corrupted me? But I still feel that I would do it all again if those guys were still alive and creating the productions I saw that were so brilliant and smart and meaningful. The part that troubles me is the way the pendulum has whipped so forcefully the other direction. |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: larry13 04:23 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - portenopete 04:11 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| Just a small clarification: don't know if you meant to say he too was a Brit, but, for what it's worth, Alan Schneider was NOT; he was American. | |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: ryhog 01:45 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - mikem 01:32 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| Intent is not required for assault in NY. Recklessness is sufficient. Also worth noting that there is a separate misdemeanor called harassment, which requires a course of conduct and a purpose (but nothing physical). In a case like this, it would likely be charged also. I am surprised anyone finds any of this excusable for any reason but so be it. | |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: mikem 04:01 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - ryhog 01:45 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| I would personally make a distinction between what is excusable and what is criminal. None of his behavior is excusable. | |
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| re: Maybe deservedly so? | |
| Posted by: ryhog 04:03 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Maybe deservedly so? - mikem 04:01 pm EDT 04/11/21 | |
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| More to the point, all of his behavior is illegal. | |
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