To the shock of a great many people, my child, who was widely considered a shoe-in for one of two leads in a musical, was very unexpectedly offered a bit part. We can't turn to friends or the other cast mates we know for help because they are all shocked too, for him and others as there are more casting decision shocks. We nearly declined but he wanted to be involved anyways since he had planned to for nearly a year and had his heart set on it (albeit in a different capacity), I'll be in it with him, and two other mutual friends will also be in it. So for better or worse we accepted anyways.It's just going to really hurt and anger him for a while. The immediate concern is how to keep the pain from showing during the first rehearsal this Saturday and how to handle shocked condolences, how to pretend to be happy for and supportive of the ones who did get the roles, and how to work with a cast that does not yet appear to make sense and may still be unclear after the read through.
Thx
2007-01-23 08:49:47 · 4 answers · asked by AJ 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
There are so many reasons why an actor may not get a part. A less talented actor my get the role because he was taller (or shorter, or heavier, or thinner, or had blond hair, or...or...or...).Being the best is only part of the deal. He has to look right with the other leads of the show.
That your son chose to continue with the show despite the disappointment shows great strength of character, and everyone who knows him should be proud to know him.
It hurts now, but there are two great lessons to take from this experience: 1) there is no value in what is"widely considered" by anyone other than the director, and 2) rejection is a major part of this business. It sounds like your son has the right stuff to learn these lessons and grow because of them.
The idea "There are no small parts, only small actors" is a load of crap, so don't try to console him with that. He will see right through it. The important thing for him to remember is that every part, no matter how small, carries its own level of importance, or the author wouldn't have written it.
I suspect that you are hurting more for your son than he is for himself (as his parent, that is a very natural thing to do), and he will come through this just fine, and probably a little bit stronger for it. Especially knowing that he has the support of his family and friends.
2007-01-25 03:06:00 · answer #1 · answered by actor22 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Continue to enforce that you are proud of him for being the better person and accepting his role anyways. When things are really important to him it shouldn't matter if he got the lead or any part. My girls love just to be involved whether it be on the stage or behind the scenes. Yes disappointment is a part of life and better he learns to deal with it correctly now. Hold your head up, rehearse and you never know if the understudy will require an understudy. By showing them what he can do throughout, he'll shine in his own way and people will trake notice for sure. Sounds like a good kid to me. Have fun with it!
2007-01-23 17:00:23 · answer #2 · answered by Mickey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He had accepted it, that means, he is ALREADY going forward. Good for him. To support him, try to hire extra coaches or get him some kind of extra support in term of helping him get to the new level, to get much much better than he already is - this will give him new hope and new goals. Be proud of him for accepting. I don't think you need to pretend to be happy. You are dissapointed, you didn't expect this, but you are going forward. I'd suggest playing it down a little, at least on the outside.
That's what my dance teachers did, when they didn't get the role that everyone felt they deserved. (They do both teaching and dancing professionally.) When it happened, everyone was like "Oh, we really didn't expect this result, you danced so well, so on so forth..." The way they handeled it was ("We didn't expect it either, but that was judges decision. We will have to work some more and then we'll see".) - They took it, but then they set aside some time and money for extra coaching with the most famous teacher they could find. 1 year later, their career is at totally new level.
2007-01-23 16:55:14 · answer #3 · answered by Snowflake 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's always better to do the bit part than no part. Given that your son will be surrounded by friends, it's bound to ve a pleasant experience.
As to the shocked condlolences and acting happy, be happy, get involved in the work. Focus on the job to be done and have a wonderful time doing it! The work itself is joy.
They don't call it a "play" for nothing.
2007-01-23 18:51:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋