In For a Penny: Of Olympic Proportions – The Direct Approach

Theatre

By CharlesAndHisTypewriter on Friday, 17 July, 2015 • ( 1 Comment )

In which I contemplate the differences between good and bad directors for a staged reading festival.

*[2022 Update: If the original link (below) no longer works, the entire piece is available in the attached screenshot.]

San Francisco Theater Pub

Charles Lewis III, on directing for the SF Olympians Festival.

Pre-show layout for “Hydra” by Tonya Narvaez

“Cut! That’s a print. Now get that bastard off my set!”
– John Frankenheimer

The quote above from the late film director was reportedly spoken on the set of his 1996 film The Island of Dr. Moreau. Adapted from the HG Wells book of the same name, the ’96 production is one of Hollywood’s most infamous: Frankenheimer replaced the original director, actors shot footage only to be replaced, the weather was hell, the make-up didn’t come out right, the budget and shooting schedule both expanded, the script was being rewritten every half-hour, and Marlon Brando was… Marlon Brando. But it was working with Val Kilmer that drove Frankenheimer to the breaking point. By some reports, the director is said to have gotten so fed up with Kilmer’s diva antics that two came…

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Categories: Theatre

Tagged as: creative collaboration, directing, Greek mythology Greek mythos, Hydra, In For a Penny, indie theatre independent theatre indie theater independent theater, John Frankenheimer, Lars von Trier, Of Olympic Proportions, SF Theater Pub San Francisco Theater Pub, SFOlympians #SFOlympians SFOlympiansFest San Francisco Olympians Festival, staged readings, Stuart Bousel Stuart Eugene Bousel, The Island of Doctor Moreau The Island of Dr. Moreau, Tonya Narvaez, Val Kilmer