SMs as depicted on stage & in the movies

[themikejones]

I had wonderful the opportunity to see the national tour of White Christmas yesterday.  I loved-loved-loved the show!  Irving Berlin's music jumped to life and the dancing was spot on!   But one thing really bothered me-- as it always does.  I cringed every time the "stage manager" character was in a scene.  It's not that the actor was doing a bad job-- he played the character as it's written and, I'm sure, how he was directed.  But why can't anyone write a good stage manager character?? 

If you don't know the show, the SM character in White Christmas runs around frantically clapping his hands and yelling things like "Places people!!  PLACES!!!!" with the kind of frightened shrill that only an oncoming apocalypse should bring.  I don't know if the writers wanted to create an SM who is the antithesis of what a real SM is like--  just as a joke.  (I have to admit- I don't remember the SM in the movie so maybe they're just copying that.)  I guess it might be funny for actors to see an SM character loosing their shit because a drop hasn't been flown out.  But I think the joke is lost on the general public.  The average joe (like members of my family) go to see White Christmas and then say things to me like "Now I understand your job!"  or "So that's what you do for a living".  Ack!!  Shoot me in the face!!

White Christmas isn't the only guilty party here.  I think others on the board have talked about the SM on Smash (maybe I should have combined this thread with that one actually.)  Even in old Hollywood movies  there is usually the SM is reduced to being that person who knocks on the dressing room door and yells "5 minutes to curtain Miss So-and-so".  It just seems funny that playwrights and directors (who works with real stage managers all the time) would get us SO WRONG every single time! 

Maybe one day there will be a good representation of our profession on the stage or screen.  Is there one out that that I dont' know about? 

[LCSM]

They need a device to build tension. If someone walks onstage and very calmly solves all the problems, you've just killed your play. Easy way to raise the stakes is to lessen the time available to the characters. And since we tell people the time anyways... ;-)

I guess I see it as fairly logical that, being backstage in one medium, we stay "backstage" when transferred to another medium. Not that I wouldn't appreciate a good portrayal of a stage manager. There's a book called Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos, and the main character is a stage manager. Until she becomes a...well, spoilers. But the book describes her job in a positive and knowledgeable manner.

[MatthewShiner]

I mean ultimately, our job is a bit dull - who wants to watch someone do hours of paperwork?  Take blocking?  Sit in a dark corner and say go?

Have you been watching SMASH? The SM is nothing like what a SM does - although we are a human clock to add tension . . . and make a damn good smoothie.

As a dramatic tool, we can quickly add tension . . .

Funny story, I did a production of Crazy for You, and the actor playing the stage manager just imitated me on stage - a very funny inside joke - that I hated . . . but the director loved it.

[themikejones]

There's a book called Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos, and the main character is a stage manager. Until she becomes a...well, spoilers. But the book describes her job in a positive and knowledgeable manner.

I'll have to check that out!  I forgot about SMs in books.  The main character in A Habit for Death by Chuck Zito is a stage manager.  It's a fun read-- and a pretty good portrayal of a an SM.  Well, an SM who also solves mysteries like Jessica Fletcher.  Haha!

[PSMKay]

That reminds me, did anything ever come of that book club for the Nicholas Bracewell novels?

[missliz]

That reminds me, did anything ever come of that book club for the Nicholas Bracewell novels?

Sadly, the first post for book 1 didn't generate any discussion, so I didn't post for book 2. I would love to revive it if people are interested though!

[bex]

Anyone else remember Kevin, the Stage Manager for the Nickelodeon show All That? The cold open for every episode was the cast doing something zany in the green room, and then Kevin would come in with his headset and clipboard and say "Fiiive Minutes. Fiiiive Minutes. Show starts in fiiiiive minutes." and then they'd either go start the show, or occasionally some disaster would strike (like Danny Tamberelli can't find his pants or something) that they would have to fix before the show could start. That was literally all the character ever said- "Fiiive minutes. Fiiiive minutes. Show starts in fiiiiiiiiiiiive minutes."

[BLee]

Slings & Arrows, anyone? It has been awhile since I watched the whole series, but I do recall the stage manager being pretty accurate, minus the meltdown at the cast party that I have no doubt we have all risked having at the craziest times.

[On_Headset]

To this day I haven't been able to watch Our Town without squirming. THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

[LCSM]

Slings & Arrows, anyone? It has been awhile since I watched the whole series, but I do recall the stage manager being pretty accurate, minus the meltdown at the cast party that I have no doubt we have all risked having at the craziest times.

I LOVED the meltdown at the cast party.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBOI7U3FDJA

[jcarey]

My favorite fictional stage manager is Scooter from The Muppet Show. I'm a stage manager and I love puppets, so he is my favorite.



Look at his clipboard!

[MatthewShiner]

My favorite fictional stage manager is Scooter from The Muppet Show. I'm a stage manager and I love puppets, so he is my favorite.

There is some debate if Scooter was a go-fer and more of an ASM, and if Kermit was the true Stage Manager of the Muppet Show.  (Maybe Kermit was the PSM).

[jcarey]

I think in one of the movies (Not sure which one) he refers to himself as the stage manager. It is true Kermit is more of the PSM or maybe Company manager. Something like that.

[Kelasaurus]

There's the SM in Noises Off.

[ejsmith3130]

Slings & Arrows, anyone? It has been awhile since I watched the whole series, but I do recall the stage manager being pretty accurate, minus the meltdown at the cast party that I have no doubt we have all risked having at the craziest times.

I immediatly thought of her! I think it was a great cathartic moment for me when she just yelled at everyone! I own the whole series and love it as a theatre person- I think she is a really great representation. you see more of our job than most other representations, but to be fair it is a series that takes place over three seasons and various styles of theatre as opposed to a single play.