PLAYWRIGHTS CORNER-supporting characters

 Subject:  PLAYWRIGHTS CORNER-support. char

Author:  Herone, Sofie et al

Uploaded By:  HOST WRTR SOFIE

Date:  6/21/2000

File:  061300 (15399 bytes) 

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WELCOME TO THE PLAYWRIGHTS CORNER CHAT - CO HOSTED BY HOST WRTR HERONE AND HOST WRTR SOFIE.  Tonight's topic, Supporting Characters.  We don't go in for protocol, but let's keep it on topic.  Later, we'll have our SHAMELESS PLUGS and general chat time. 

Mondays

10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT), Writers Grill

Playwrights Corner - Topics of interest to playwrights, moderated by HOST WRTR Herone, HOST WRTR Sofie & HOST WRTR LUD.

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HOST WRTR Herone: I write a lot of ensemble plays too -- but, for example,

if you have a large cast play

HOST WRTR Herone: someone is going to be more subordinate

OnlineHost: CurtisProd has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: I learned that in REHEARSING CYRANO.  With a cast of 14,

it can be an ensemble show,

HOST WRTR Herone: but some roles are more equal than others. ;-)

Librettist01: Interesting profile you don't have, PH.

Librettist01: I mean FH..

HOST WRTR Herone: I no longer worry as much about the "bios" of some of the

more minor characters the way

HOST WRTR Herone: I used to.

FHouser103: Not much history

CurtisProd: Good Evening fellow and fella playwrights one and all.

HOST WRTR Herone: hi Curtis

Librettist01: Oh, don't think that!  I'm sure you've got a great story to

tell!

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi there Curtis

Librettist01: Hi, Curtis...like to see some "fella" playwrights!

HOST WRTR Herone: on the ICWP list we have sisters and misters :-)

HOST WRTR SOFIE: yep, sister listers

CurtisProd: Sorry I missed your play at the flatiron, but I was in Puerto

Richo.

HOST WRTR Herone: How do you all write your minor characters?

Librettist01: It's beginning to sound like a  revival in here...

HOST WRTR Herone: do you approach them differently than you approach writing

your leads?

Librettist01: I don't, wonder if that's a defect..

HOST WRTR SOFIE: sometimes my minor characters demand to be major

HOST WRTR Herone: mine too, Sofie

Librettist01: When Wounded Bird was produced, I found out my most minor

character wasn't...

HOST WRTR Herone: I try to "hear" them just as clearly.

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HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi KD

KDBagwell: hello

HOST WRTR Herone: I have noticed that some more cinematic plays you can tell

the "minor" characters

Librettist01: The director gave him a key scene at the conclusion, with a

little stage business.

HOST WRTR Herone: by who gets to double a lot.

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Librettist01: Except that Shakespeare deliberately put in characters that

would be doubled...

HOST WRTR Herone: In big big cast plays you more or less expect that to

happen.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: his characters did so much to bring along the plot..

HOST WRTR SOFIE: let us know what was going on off stage

HOST WRTR Herone: There are "plotty" minor characters -- ones necessary for

plot moments --

HOST WRTR Herone: and minor characters who seem to be more about character

color.  

HOST WRTR SOFIE: I just played one in an Agatha Christie play (TEN LITTLE

INDIANS)

HOST WRTR Herone: i.e., a contrast to the leads -- 

Librettist01: Doesn't the economics of the theatre today limit plot

characters?

HOST WRTR Herone: they become "doubled" characters, frequently

CurtisProd: Here, here! or Hear Hear Lib.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: I think "Mrs. Rogers" was there to let the audience know

the characters were all

HOST WRTR SOFIE: on an island

HOST WRTR Herone: But yes, they frequently get written out and replaced by

exposition. 

HOST WRTR SOFIE: several times

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Librettist01: Would be a good laugh if someone just walked across the stage

swinging a palm tree...

HOST WRTR Herone: One of the playwrights I've been working with has ended up

dropping a "utility player" 

HOST WRTR SOFIE: sounds like something you plug in, Herone

CurtisProd: Over 4-6 characters and you've knocked yourself out of many a

theatre.

Librettist01: I'm trying to keep my musical down to about 8 characters.

HOST WRTR Herone: Yes -- and in the early drafts he was little more than a

small appliance.  

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HOST WRTR Herone: Now the few off-stage characters are doubled by a less

minor character.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Here's to the toasters and mixers of our work

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi BTB

HOST WRTR Herone: but I do enjoy going to plays from the 30's, 40's, and

50's and seeing all those "texture"

HOST WRTR Herone: characters.  Wow!

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HOST WRTR Herone: Knowing that a producer would pay for 13-17 bodies on

stage.

HOST WRTR Herone: You had much richer work possible.

HOST WRTR Herone: you could show a society, not just a family 

Librettist01: In the 30s you were trying to put people to work I suppose.

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HOST WRTR SOFIE: sounds reasonable

Librettist01: 30s and 40s rather...

HOST WRTR Herone: even the 50's -- look at Miller and Williams from that

period

HOST WRTR SOFIE: and the larger cast plays were part of the spectacle

HOST WRTR Herone: still lots of folks milling about 

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HOST WRTR Herone: you bet -- it made Broadway an EXPERIENCE

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi netera

Netera: hi there.

Librettist01: Hi, Net..

Netera: Hi Lib.

HOST WRTR Herone: As much as I enjoyed the 3 actors frolicking in DIRTY

BLONDE, I know it would never

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ShanaNicole: Hi room.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi shana

Librettist01: Hey, Shana!

ShanaNicole: Are you critiquing a story as well.

HOST WRTR Herone: have been written that way in the 40's -- you'd have HAD

lots of other actors onstage

ShanaNicole: Because if not I could use some advice.

HOST WRTR Herone: Shana -- this is a scheduled chat for playwrights.

ShanaNicole: Sorry.

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HOST WRTR SOFIE: Shana = sorry I can't get our greeting through to you on an

IM

HOST WRTR Herone: We're discussing how to write minor characters.

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HOST WRTR Herone: That's the thing about musicals.  You can still write a

big cast show.

HOST WRTR Herone: Because there's an expectation for a chorus.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: I constantly expect a chorus -- even in real life

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HOST WRTR Herone: LOL - me too

Librettist01: I'm trying to work mine out so that the "chorus" can be the 4

minor characters.

HOST WRTR Herone: that's a possibility

Librettist01: Especially two of them, which I would see as my dancers.

CurtisProd: How about a chorus of one?  Nahhh!

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Librettist01: I guess that's more of a narrator..

HOST WRTR Herone: Actually, I had a "chorus" of one in one of my shows.

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HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi Pandora

HOST WRTR Herone: maybe we're having trouble talking about "minor"

characters because we've been

HOST WRTR Herone: writing so many small cast plays we've had to learn how to

do small ensemble work!

HOST WRTR SOFIE: oh yeah!  The economics of modern theater

Librettist01: A minor character often has a major plot impact.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: are a bain to the minors

HOST WRTR Herone: it sure is

Librettist01: Shakespeares minor characters elicit some of the finest

performances.

HOST WRTR Herone: I agree.  A minor character can walk off with an amazing

moment.

HOST WRTR Herone: I think you have to give an actor doing a minor character

something special

HOST WRTR Herone: to keep them interested.

HOST WRTR Herone: If they are only doing "spear carrier" lines, it's easy

for them to drop out of shows.

CurtisProd: Money?

HOST WRTR SOFIE: make the character's presence in the play truly count

HOST WRTR Herone: at least on the community level

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Librettist01: They did "Into the Woods" locally here, and one of the most

memorablr 

HOST WRTR Herone: So making them quirky or memorable in some way really

helps.

Librettist01: performances was the official who kills the old lady..

HOST WRTR SOFIE: and really figure out why is this person here?

HOST WRTR Herone: LOL Curtis -- money doesn't even always help

HOST WRTR SOFIE: does the character's presence move along the plot or shed

light on a major character?

HOST WRTR Herone: and in small theatres it's so nonexistant that you have to

make the role itself a plum

HOST WRTR Herone: exactly, Sofie -- 

Librettist01: Just read a treatise about a local theatre in Riverside; they

pay everybody, including the 

Librettist01: box office people.

CurtisProd: Lib. do you recall the name of that theatre?

Librettist01: Money can make a diff I would say..

HOST WRTR Herone: sure it can -- but given two plays liked equally well,

Librettist01: It's the one that uses a campus facility, Curtis.

CurtisProd: It rang a bell.

HOST WRTR Herone: the play with a cast of 6 will have a better chance of

being produced

HOST WRTR Herone: than the play with a cast of 16

HOST WRTR Herone: if money is involved

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CurtisProd: I'm not sure if that's the one.  I'll check tomorrow. Thanks.

Librettist01: Which it always is, one way or another.

HOST WRTR Herone: unless it's one of those "we need to include the whole

acting pool" moments

HOST WRTR Herone: yes -- even if people aren't being paid, there are things

like costumes and even script

HOST WRTR Herone: copying to consider

CurtisProd: 16 costumes, buffets, transportation.......expensive

HOST WRTR Herone: exactly

HOST WRTR Herone: folks -- shall we move on to Shameless Plugs?  

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Shameless Plugs!!

HOST WRTR Herone: do you have one, Sofie?

Librettist01: A role as a minor character gives an actor a chance to really

learn his job sometimes.

HOST WRTR Herone: Lib -- this is absolutely true. 

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Just that we closed TEN LITTLE INDIANS and I'm looking

forward to what's coming next

HOST WRTR SOFIE: ....still waiting.... 

HOST WRTR Herone: LOL Sofie

OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Peg has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: I have great news -- not just one but TWO of my plays will

be produced in Omaha this summer

Librettist01: I better start promoting over the internet, or nothing is

going to come.

HOST WRTR Herone: at SNAPFest -- THREE THE HARD WAY, and then my long 1-act

HOST WRTR SOFIE: WHOOO HOOOOO Linda!

HOST WRTR Herone: THE NAMES OF THE BEAST on another bill

HOST WRTR SOFIE: that's so awesome!

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Are you going to the shows?

HOST WRTR Herone: I'm, like, 75% of the new play festival.  It's almost

embarrassing.

Librettist01: Great, you have a lot of endurability with your material...

HOST WRTR Herone: I plan to.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Terrific!!

CurtisProd: Congrats....

HOST WRTR Herone: The shows will run in rep the 3rd week -- so if I go on

Sat and stay Sun I'll see both

HOST WRTR SOFIE: and hang out with Rox

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Great news

HOST WRTR Herone: yes -- she is a wonderful director, and she's directing

BEAST

HOST WRTR Herone: I'm really psyched.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: My biggest plug is that I've been doing notes on a play..

HOST WRTR Herone: So July is bursting out with productions for me -- SF,

Omaha, and Wisconsin 

OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Peg has left the room.

Librettist01: That always helps!

HOST WRTR Herone: great, Sofie

HOST WRTR SOFIE: and my handwriting has improved 

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HOST WRTR SOFIE: okay, so things are alittle slow

HOST WRTR Herone: I'm still dramaturging these 2 plays at Dobama.

HOST WRTR Herone: One writer has already written 4 full drafts of the darn

thing in 2 weeks!

HOST WRTR SOFIE: wow

HOST WRTR Herone: I'm earning my $$, LOL

HOST WRTR Herone: She's finally settling down.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: now that's dedication -- are you spiking her coffee with

Red Bull?

HOST WRTR Herone: former journalist, she's a rewritin' fool

OnlineHost: WASP1946 has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: her play made a breakthru yesterday, I'm really pleased

OnlineHost: WASP1946 has left the room.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: rehi WASP

HOST WRTR Herone: I felt like my comments and guidance has made a difference

HOST WRTR SOFIE: I'm sure it has

HOST WRTR Herone: Because she's been struggling with this dang thing for 2

1/2 years.

HOST WRTR Herone: So having this workshop looming and me on her neck has

gotten her in gear.

Librettist01: I'm a little disappointed about the theatre scene in

California these days;

HOST WRTR SOFIE: I know that kind of struggle

HOST WRTR Herone: How's that, Lib?

HOST WRTR Herone: I'm interested.

Librettist01: nothing but revivals in S. Calif. and not much of a better

situation in the Bay Area.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: me too

HOST WRTR Herone: It's very hard everywhere for new work.

Librettist01: New work in the Bay Area tends to be stuff that has been done

elsewhere.

HOST WRTR Herone: I was talking to 2 people who'd come to Cleveland from

Chicago.

HOST WRTR Herone: One was there 7 years -- she said she got tired of

waitressing and negative income drift.

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HOST WRTR Herone: There are lots and lots of theatre companies there, but:

Librettist01: Plus the touring shows tend to be far inferior to the Broadway

versions.

HOST WRTR Herone: zero $$ and all struggle

HOST WRTR Herone: They are, Lib.

Librettist01: All you seem to read are negative reviews.

HOST WRTR Herone: I always thought Bay Area theatre was far inferior to what

it should be.

Librettist01: For sure!

HOST WRTR Herone: It's puzzling -- you'd think the folks would support the

arts.  But it doesn't always 

HOST WRTR Herone: translate to decent theatre.

Librettist01: For such a sophisticated city, it's a shame.

HOST WRTR Herone: Negative reviews are a problem.  If you have a city with

mostly negative reviewers,

HOST WRTR Herone: theatre will Wither and Die.

HOST WRTR Herone: It's that way in Boston.  Nothing new can thrive.

HOST WRTR Herone: Somebody said something nice to me today at rehearsal.

Librettist01: That always helps!

HOST WRTR Herone: She said that I was the reviewer in town that people

PRAYED would be assigned to their show.

CurtisProd: Scared me for a second.

Librettist01: Because you give an objective, honest appraisal?

CurtisProd: I thought you wrote payed.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: what would make me most nervous

HOST WRTR Herone: I try to give folks a far shake -- and don't go for cheap

shots.

HOST WRTR Herone: fair, not far LOL

Librettist01: Lot of critics do use cheap shots.

HOST WRTR Herone: LOL Curtis-- no, the paper pays me, not the artists.

HOST WRTR Herone: I don't try to be "entertaining" thru roasting people over

a spit.

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HOST WRTR Herone: unless it's truly, truly ghastly and impossible

Librettist01: Its discouraging enough these days for people to go into

acting.

HOST WRTR Herone: But Lib -- I don't know how a town improves its theatre

scene.

CurtisProd: oooops

HOST WRTR SOFIE: well, folks, I'm closing the chat log

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Have a nice evening

OnlineHost: Tallon Jke has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: thanks, Sofie

Helen0997: Night Sofie

HOST WRTR SOFIE: night all!

Librettist01: Thanks, Sof!

CurtisProd: Thanks and the same to you.  Night all.