Please help me....?

Question

I’m in a production at my university and there is another actress that seems to have a problem with me offstage. I have gotten many nasty comments from her in rehearsals and just ignored her or tried to say something nice to her and change the topic because I didn’t want my attitude to be negative to her on stage. Yesterday we were practicing a fight scene we are both in and she really hurt my arm and really hit me in the nose! I want to say it was an accident, but I really don’t think it was. I asked her to be more careful next time and that she really hurt me and she told me I “should shorten my nose”. This is very immature behavior for someone in their mid 20’s and I’m starting to really not feel comfortable working with her. I don’t trust her at all, which is really bad. My director saw what happened but just said that she needs to pay better attention to what she’s doing. Has anyone else had a problem like this with a fellow actor? How can I handle it professionally?

Answer 1

Happening once, your director may have given her the benefit of the doubt.
Happening twice would eliminate that doubt, but you should say something.
Approach your director in a way that is nice, diplomatic and ask him/her for any suggestions for the good of the show on how you can handle this...do not attack or accuse her of anything, but bring it to his or her attention.
Stay professional by staying in the scene, realizing someone is immature and it will come back to haunt her if you stay in a mature level rather than coming down to her level...

You may want to ask her what her problem is, and if you have done anything...and just hear her out...sometimes it is professional jealousy (jealousy is based on one's insecurity, the pain of someone else having something that the person who is jealous does not have-maybe a bigger role, maybe more talent, looks, maybe something else), sometimes it is more, sometimes it is much less and is just a misperception...

Stay in perspective as you seem to be, because if you come down to her level, she wins...and the show should be the true winner, because if it is everybody wins.

Answer 2

You need to speak to your director. Behavior like hers can ruin a show for everyone involved, and there is no reason why you should stand for it. The fact that you don't trust her--and have a physical scene together!--sends up huge red flags.

Either pull your director aside, or e-mail them to say you have some concerns and would like to speak to them privately outside rehearsal. Sit down with your director and tell them everything you've just told us--be very calm and professional. Frame it in terms of how uncomfortable you are, and explain ways you've tried and make the situation better.

A good director should already have an inkling of what the problem is, or should at least be committed to making it stop. As a director myself, I make it a point to know what is going on with my cast, and foster good working relationships between them. And, chances are, if she's treating you with such disrespect, she's probably doing it to others.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

It is very difficult when actors don't get on. There may not be much you can do, except ask to rehearse the fight at a slower pace (with director or fight director in attendance). Whatever she may feel about you, one very important thing is safety. Ask her if she has a problem with what you do in the fight and could you practice it with a third party watching, to make sure that you both know what the other is doing. Try not to put blame on her (even if it is her fault), as this may make matters worse. Hope she grows up and sees sense soon.

Answer 4

There are psychopathic people everywhere, This girl is dangerous. If your director will not do anything about the situation that corrects it, drop out of the show, It is not worth it.
I wish you were trained in martial arts and would kick the s--t out of her, for she deserves it. I know of a similar incident last summer where an unstable actresss ruined a young man's training at a prestigious school in NYC that would not enforce its own rules agains her because of her race.