Howdy all,
Was looking for some advice on a situation that I know is going to come up on my next tour. I have a group of actors who all know each other and have a lot of history with each other going out on a non-union national tour for the first time. This in itself is a new situation for me, I've never had more than two actors know each other prior to going out on tour. Anyway, two of the actors already hate each other - from previous shows that they've done. Going into the dressing rooms and hearing them talk, I'm hearing things that I don't normally hear until a good 5 or 6 months into a tour. Now, my dilema is this - I've never had to deal with this at the begining of a tour. The Artistic Director, in his happy land, is all excited that he has all locals going out this year who all know and like each other. My boss at the theatre has told me to 'just smile and nod' when they come to me and complain.
I know what to do when it starts to interfere with the show, which I have zero tolerance for, but I was curious if anyone had any advice on how to stop / slow it from getting to that extreme in the first place? They've figured out that I'm not taking sides, but that hasn't stopped the one girl from hinting that if the guy can't do the show her way then 'there's the door'.
I'm just used to being at the point on tour of saying 'I know you don't like so and so, but you only have to deal with it for the short time left'. Now I'm in the situation of 'I know you hate so and so, but you agreed to do this knowing their on tour with you'. Anyone have any adivce on this one? I know I'll get no support from my home office while I'm gone.
-Centaura