Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Guest actors in "Dearly Departed"?

Author

Message

jayzehr
Celebrity

Joined: 8/11/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 537

Topic: Guest actors in "Dearly Departed"?
Posted: 6/09/08 at 7:57am

I was reading about a production of Dearly Departed that used different members of the commuity each night to play the role of Bud. Anybody here tried that? Or what do you think? A check in the "pro" column would be that with prominent leaders from the community it might boost attendance. I could think of a lot of negatives as well.

IP Logged

pdavis69
Celebrity

Joined: 3/26/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 437

Posted: 6/09/08 at 9:40am

Personally I think it spoils the show to ever actually see Bud. This connects with a thread in the props category where the discussion turned to the difference between allowing the audience to use a bit of imagination (in that thread a car vrs car seats). I believe actually using a Bud particularly in the funeral home would be a big mistake.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

IP Logged

jaytee060
Star
Star

Joined: 1/18/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 63

Posted: 6/09/08 at 2:36pm

I directed a production a few years back when we had the mayor, some city councilmen and even the local newspaper reviewer play the part of Bud. It was greatly received by the audience. It really didn't help in the ticket sales as we kept the idenity of the local celeb secret. We simply said in the ads "with a suprise guest star".

As to not seeing Bud, the first scene is written so you have to see him. However, we did do it with Bud holding a newspaper in front of his face for the entire scene until the very end at which time he dropped the paper and performed a most eloquent (and hysterical) dead scene. The audience roared.

"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"

IP Logged

jayzehr
Celebrity

Joined: 8/11/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 537

Posted: 6/09/08 at 3:13pm

Did you have him keel over backwards as written in the script? If so, how did you manage that?

IP Logged

pdavis69
Celebrity

Joined: 3/26/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 437

Posted: 6/09/08 at 3:34pm

When I am wrong, I am wrong and in this point I was wrong. I had forgotten all about the first scene when he dies. All I remembered was the funeral scene. Just one more good reason for actors not to drink during performances.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

IP Logged

jaytee060
Star
Star

Joined: 1/18/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 63

Posted: 6/09/08 at 3:53pm

Here is how we did it:

Mama says "Bud, are you listening to me" At which point Bud dropped the newspaper. stoop up, grabbed his chest, groaned and died.

There was no falling over backwards as we didnt want to injure the Mayor.

"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"

IP Logged

MartyW
Celebrity

Joined: 2/02/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 555

Posted: 6/09/08 at 4:24pm

Just on the "How we did that scene" portion of the thread (wouldn't work if you wanted to use a celeb) When we did this show we did the first scene with mama sitting at the end of the kitchen table with bud (played by the same actor as Ray Bud w/ wig) facing up stage at the table reading a paper.. On the cue line, bud fell forward and was able to make a "thud" effect as he hit the table (without hurting his head of course)

Great show.

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

IP Logged

jayzehr
Celebrity

Joined: 8/11/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 537

Posted: 6/10/08 at 3:59pm

I was thinking that if a hidden portion of the floor was sufficienly padded, a mattress or something, then Bud could keel over backward without risk. But I guess that's probably asking too much for a guest actor to take a chance at.

IP Logged

avgsuperheroine
Player
Player

Joined: 6/04/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20

Posted: 6/22/08 at 9:08pm

We had bud next to the kitchen table in a reclining chair. Someone backstage flipped it back--he died with a bit of a "jerk" to knock the chair over backwards. Because the chair was a recliner it left his boots sticking straight up in the air when he died.

Back to the question though, I think it's a neat idea to have other folks play that part.

Dramatically Correct Cast Gifts
Costume Shop Organization Tips

IP Logged

b6307
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 7/14/05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:46pm

The director, a great "physical" comedy type, played Bud and about stole the show. We did the bit at the kitchen table with Momma yakking on and Bud there sitting eating his cereal. Didn't say a word through the whole scene just sat there eating and actively ignoring his wife's yammering. He even did the bit about adding teaspoon after teaspoon of sugar in his coffee, tasting it, then adding about 5 teaspoons more. Hilarious stuff. Then at the end of the scene he just slumps forward rather dramatically with his face ending up in the cereal bowl (which, of course was half full of actual cereal and milk). What a way to start the play!

IP Logged

Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Topic: Guest actors in "Dearly Departed"?( Topic Closed)
	Page of 2 Next >>

Author	Message
jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Topic: Guest actors in "Dearly Departed"? Posted: 6/09/08 at 7:57am
	I was reading about a production of Dearly Departed that used different members of the commuity each night to play the role of Bud. Anybody here tried that? Or what do you think? A check in the "pro" column would be that with prominent leaders from the community it might boost attendance. I could think of a lot of negatives as well.

	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 6/09/08 at 9:40am
	Personally I think it spoils the show to ever actually see Bud. This connects with a thread in the props category where the discussion turned to the difference between allowing the audience to use a bit of imagination (in that thread a car vrs car seats). I believe actually using a Bud particularly in the funeral home would be a big mistake.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

jaytee060 Star Joined: 1/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 6/09/08 at 2:36pm
	I directed a production a few years back when we had the mayor, some city councilmen and even the local newspaper reviewer play the part of Bud. It was greatly received by the audience. It really didn't help in the ticket sales as we kept the idenity of the local celeb secret. We simply said in the ads "with a suprise guest star". As to not seeing Bud, the first scene is written so you have to see him. However, we did do it with Bud holding a newspaper in front of his face for the entire scene until the very end at which time he dropped the paper and performed a most eloquent (and hysterical) dead scene. The audience roared.
	"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 6/09/08 at 3:13pm
	Did you have him keel over backwards as written in the script? If so, how did you manage that?
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 6/09/08 at 3:34pm
	When I am wrong, I am wrong and in this point I was wrong. I had forgotten all about the first scene when he dies. All I remembered was the funeral scene. Just one more good reason for actors not to drink during performances.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

jaytee060 Star Joined: 1/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 6/09/08 at 3:53pm
	Here is how we did it: Mama says "Bud, are you listening to me" At which point Bud dropped the newspaper. stoop up, grabbed his chest, groaned and died. There was no falling over backwards as we didnt want to injure the Mayor.
	"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 6/09/08 at 4:24pm
	Just on the "How we did that scene" portion of the thread (wouldn't work if you wanted to use a celeb) When we did this show we did the first scene with mama sitting at the end of the kitchen table with bud (played by the same actor as Ray Bud w/ wig) facing up stage at the table reading a paper.. On the cue line, bud fell forward and was able to make a "thud" effect as he hit the table (without hurting his head of course) Great show.
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 6/10/08 at 3:59pm
	I was thinking that if a hidden portion of the floor was sufficienly padded, a mattress or something, then Bud could keel over backward without risk. But I guess that's probably asking too much for a guest actor to take a chance at.
	IP Logged

avgsuperheroine Player Joined: 6/04/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 6/22/08 at 9:08pm
	We had bud next to the kitchen table in a reclining chair. Someone backstage flipped it back--he died with a bit of a "jerk" to knock the chair over backwards. Because the chair was a recliner it left his boots sticking straight up in the air when he died. Back to the question though, I think it's a neat idea to have other folks play that part.
	Dramatically Correct Cast Gifts Costume Shop Organization Tips
	IP Logged

b6307 Walk-On Joined: 7/14/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:46pm
	The director, a great "physical" comedy type, played Bud and about stole the show. We did the bit at the kitchen table with Momma yakking on and Bud there sitting eating his cereal. Didn't say a word through the whole scene just sat there eating and actively ignoring his wife's yammering. He even did the bit about adding teaspoon after teaspoon of sugar in his coffee, tasting it, then adding about 5 teaspoons more. Hilarious stuff. Then at the end of the scene he just slumps forward rather dramatically with his face ending up in the cereal bowl (which, of course was half full of actual cereal and milk). What a way to start the play!
	IP Logged