What do you think of the strange and wacky theater folk?

Question

It has been my experience that I have met an awful lot of strange people who are involved in theater. Not that they're bad people, but just people who do strange things like speak with a British or Scottish dialect, even in serious situations, or actors who have to hug each other and act like they've been apart for ages, even though they may be roommates..you know, strange people. Sometimes it gets outright obnoxious. I'd like to know your experiences and opinions. Personally, when I'm in a show, I try to be cordial and friendly and professional and that seems to keep people at arm's length from me. I find this is with college theater and highschool theater students mostly, but then they grow up and become strange theater adults...Again, I don't mean to insult people and I'm not making a generalization. There are actually some actors out there who are on a pretty even keel and have their feet firmly planted right here on our good planet Earth.

Thank you to everyone who has commented so far! I really appreciate your answers.

Answer 1

You've put into words my thoughts exactly!

I had an early acting coach tell me, "Don't become like the vapid people you're going to meet. Continue being an independent thinker." After more than 25 years working professionally in theatre, his words resonate everytime I start a project with one of those strange types. [It's really wretched in musical theatre, with mindless females greeting previous colleagues with faux excited exlamations of, "HI! How are YOU!?" -- without any true zeal in their eyes. Utterly surface and vapid.]

My theory is that there are two reasons that over-the-top actors behave the way they do: the "grand" types maintain their affectations in order to impress others with their great artistic demeanor/intelligence, while the readily affectionate ones are getting their only really affection/approval in their theatre pursuits.

By the way, rest assured that at the higher levels of prestige [I also work in grand opera and have done a few Broadway productions] people don't behave so outrageously. Of course, the trade off is that some of them are instead intense jerks. However, it bears noting that the majority of people I've worked with have been relatively normal.

But I share your approach in a way. When I start a project and don't know anyone there, I tend to be aloof and refrain from immediately forging new relationships -- I'm courteous and pleasant, but primarily focus on the work at hand. For the first few days I surreptitiously size up how others behave, and then start being chummy with the normal, down-to-earth, and genuinely pleasant folks.

Answer 2

You know as well as I do that Theatre Folk are always "On".
Especially the younger ones . The really "On" to the point of obnoxiousness types do not tend to last very long, as they get bored easily.

I think it is kind of fun. How often, in the Corporate World, for example, does someone speak to you in a truly wretched Scottish accent all day long? How often do co-workers squealingly fling their arms around each other at the water cooler?

In my not-so-humble opinion, we could use more of that.

I have worked, kept my head down, and given good,solid,not brilliant but Yeomanlike performances. I am not an Artist. I am a Skilled Craftsman. Professional is an attitude as well as a paycheck.

I do not intend to make light of Professional Theatre as practised, and sweated, by Adults, but c'mon. Aren't we really just kids in the World's Best Sandbox? Why else do we work so hard? People pay us to play. Isn't that why we do this?

Answer 3

That's me. LOL! I'm strange and wacky and crazy and insane and over-dramatic. Ask any of my drama teachers. They'll tell you the same thing. Except I'm in middle school so just imagine what a psycho adult I'll be! Whatever, though. I'm just being me, and my love of theatre's what makes me so crazy. The stage's my home. 'Nuff said. I'd also like to add that I also agree totally with the dude below me! LOL! Even though I'm one of those "on" people. The younger ones, anyway. Toodles!

Answer 4

Playfulness is an asset in the theatre. There is a tendency in theatre folk to be more open and have their emotions more accesssible. For many, those traits help them to deal with the realities in the plays and scenes they work on. Your comments make it seem you are afraid to be open and play outside the structure of the script or formal relationships.

Answer 5

lol, some people are just so darn bubbly! I totally understand where you are coming from. I guess it's just some people's way of being noticed. if one person act's more bubbly than the other, it tends to draw attention, and attention is what they crave.
I have met a few people who just blew my mind with how their passion for life, fame, fortune, and happiness in general, has inspired me. Some of the others I just want to flick in the nose and say, "settle down". lol!

Answer 6

oh my goodness! one of my classmates is one of those wack theater kids! itts soooo funny but at the same time, i like him (not like him like him!) because he doesnt care what others think and he's nto afraid to jsut be himself which i cant say for too many other people in my school. anyways, i like those wacky theater folk. im a theater person and im not like that but i think life is a lot better and more amusing with the wacky people.

Answer 7

Those are the people that dont care what others think of them, and i think that is a big part of theatre in and of itself. I'd take them any day over the egotistical, diva theatre folk who are obsessed with being on a pedestel.

Answer 8

I tend to stay away from those OTT people, although I am crazy myself, I am still down to earth.