Re: RAT Reading Series --What Brecht thinks

[InTheLime@aol.com]

In a message dated 99-10-16 02:06:03 EDT, you write:

<< You ought to reimburse Karen for her plane ticket and expenses. That 
should 
 be the least to make amends. >>

Hm.  It sounds to me like we haven't heard the whole story here, and yet the 
attack dogs have already been released. 

If  (as both sides seem to indicate was the case) Karen actually told Brad 
she was already going to be in town visiting her mother, then I don't think 
Brad is any way responsible to reimburse her if she decided to add an extra 
week onto her already scheduled trip.  It is quite possible to have a reading 
of a play without the playwright being present.  I've been involved in 
readings of numerous plays where the playwright wasn't present.  It's a 
bummer that Karen finds staying with her mother an extra week such an unhappy 
situation...but that's a debate for another time... and that's certainly not 
Brad's fault either!

I've reread both the original postings, and it seems to me that Brad very 
clearly had no idea Karen was planning a trip to come hear the reading.  It 
is certainly not his responsibility to pay for her choice to make such travel 
plans!

I mean, seriously, who makes travel plans without a signed contract in hand 
documenting the reason for the travel plans?  At the very least, such action 
is not indicative of a sound business mind -- and there's no court in the 
country that would hold Brad responsible for Karen's choice to make travel 
arrangements without a written contract in hand -- especially when she was 
already planning to visit home anyway. 

Although I respect Brad's choice to accept complete responsibility for the 
miscommunications and dropped balls, I'd add that responsibility is a two-way 
street in any business arrangement (thus do we have such things as 
"confirmation" and "contracts").  But what BS it is to say that because Brad 
has been overworked that he shouldn't be doing a reader series?  If I'd 
thought that way, I wouldn't have a six year old ensemble theatre company to 
my credit!  Congratulations Brad on actually doing something that you care 
about - and being able to admit that it's tough!

Of course, then again, I think this whole argument would have been better 
handled between the two parties rather than as a public slaughter house.  
But, ah well, without such public hangings, what would we all have to chew on 
as rats?  Eh?

--Aileen McCulloch,
Vagabond Acting Troupe
Philadelphia, PA