Why is it that...

[kateaclysm]

...playwrights seem to ALWAYS include characters in their shows whose names start with L, R, and C, and at least two characters with the same first initial.  Just to make blocking notation that much more difficult.

(I've got two L's, two R's, two G's and a C)

This is a particular pet peeve of mine I did a show earlier this year with 3 or 4 S names, why would you do that?

[loebtmc]

(side note): in Streetcar, three S characters are Stanley, Stella, Steve - often on stage at the same time. Yeah, makes it fun!

[MatthewShiner]

(Picturing how evil playwrights sit down writing a play going . . . hmmmm, how can I make the stage manager's life miserable?)

Another good one . . . three act plays where Act 1 - realistic interior.  Act 2 - different realistic interior.  Act 3 - realistic interior, the same as Act 1.  (Playwright's evil laugh)

[dallas10086]

(side note): in Streetcar, three S characters are Stanley, Stella, Steve - often on stage at the same time. Yeah, makes it fun!

I had to abbreviate them to Sy, Sa and Se. Yeah, that poker scene was interesting to block with all those S's running around!

[planetmike]

(Picturing how evil playwrights sit down writing a play going . . . hmmmm, how can I make the stage manager's life miserable?)

Another good one . . . three act plays where Act 1 - realistic interior.  Act 2 - different realistic interior.  Act 3 - realistic interior, the same as Act 1.  (Playwright's evil laugh)

Cool, a new game for stage managers: Name That Show! My guess for this is: Noises Off.

[loebtmc]

(Dallas10086 - I used S for Stanley, ST for Stella and SE for Steve - but yeah, fun)

[tempest_gypsy]

...the one "break" in which you actually decide to take a break (take a pee, get a soda, discover the outside world still exists, etc.) the director and one of the actors have a vital discussion that is full of information you really need to have and totally changes a whole bunch of stuff?

[kiwitechgirl]

...Mother Nature decided to send us a (big) earthquake the day we were supposed to start changeover?  Our production week schedules are tight enough without losing two days because we can't get into the building, as it hasn't been checked for structural integrity...still, no-one is hurt, everyone still has their houses and the theatre is still standing up (unlike one of the smaller venues in the city, where most of its front wall is lying in the street), so we have a lot to be thankful for.  So what if opening night has to move from Saturday to Wednesday?

[loebtmc]

[OT] glad to hear you are ok, kiwitechgirl - as someone unfamiliar with NZ geography, I had no idea if any of "us" happened to be in the line of destruction or not - please take care, sending light and good wishes to you and all the folks there [return to topic]

[tempest_gypsy]

...when there's a cue you have to take off a visual action, like a performer flipping on a light switch, or turning on a television, the set is always designed in such a way that you cannot see that action from the booth?