I agree, Scott. A break is a break. If you're anything like me, I want that time on my break to be as "theatre free" as possible. I love my job, but I like to think about other things when I can and have conversations that don't always involve work.
As far as a preshow pep-talk, I agree your comment as well, Scott. It's not our role to be the person to pep everyone up. In fact, I don't think that the role belongs to anyone. We're all here to do a job, and we don't necessarily have to be in a cheery peppy mood to do so. The actors are the same. Onstage they need to play their characters, but if they aren't in great moods themselves, that's really none of my business. I consider their individual mood part of their personal life. If they're really acting strange, I might ask if there's something wrong and something I can do, but there's rarely a time where that is necessary. And with AEA actors, be careful, because unless it's scheduled before 1/2 hour call, you can't ask them to gather for a talk. 1/2 hour is their time in the dressing rooms.
In larger organizations, I might not even see the whole crew before the show. They have their own department and don't need me to supervise them. As far as getting them together before the show for a pep talk, I don't think that's my role either. They do their job and if they are having problems or making a mistake, then I have a chat with them...otherwise, I say hello and go about my business. This isn't to say that I'm not friendly with them. I'll often sit in the crew break room or the greenroom and chat with them, but it's not usually about work unless I have a specific issue that needs addressing...and it's never to cheer them up.
I don't always come to the theatre in a peppy mood either. I don't mope about the place, mind you, but I am not in a great mood all the time. I love...and I mean love my job, but it is a job and most jobs don't require the person to be cheery and bubbly. I'm always positive and energetic around the actors, but I'm not always in the brightest and happiest moods every day.
As long as everyone does their job as best they can, I have no reason to pep them up or bring people together.