| re: Awful audience behavior | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 02:19 pm EDT 07/27/22 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 02:07 pm EDT 07/27/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Awful audience behavior - Mrwedmatinee 10:32 am EDT 07/27/22 | |
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| Unfortunately it's not just the audience. I was music directing a regional production of Hello, Dolly, back in 2000. Small orchestra, visible at the back of the stage. One performance, I had a sub violinist coming in. Someone I had worked with before once, but didn't know particularly well, but trusted his playing. But, when places call was given he hadn't arrived yet. We held for a few minutes but then decided we had to go without. Then, halfway through the overture, he comes bounding in (remember, the audience can see all this), awkwardly makes his way to his chair, and joins in with us. I was at least glad he was finally there, even if he probably should have waited to take his place. But his playing was a little erratic (not bad but not always "on" either), and he was being a little fidgety and joke-y during dialogue scenes, poking me with his bow a lot and things like that. When I finally was able to confront him about this during intermission, that's when I noticed the smell of liquor on his breath. At that point, as professionally as I could muster, I told him he needed to go home. He refused. Luckily, this wonderful big/tall guy who was on the crew was overhearing this, and he stepped in and asked if I needed any help. He gladly escorted my drunk violinist out of the theatre. Act II may have been missing an important orchestral part, but at least it was much smoother. And no, I have no idea what happened to the violinist. Never worked with him again. It's also the only time I've ever had to fire a musician. Still makes me sad. And angry. But mostly sad. |
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