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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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