Further Tales Of Previous Employment
Long ago in a galaxy far far away I was involved in The Arts, proper theatre not some amateur dramatics lark I hasten to add.
One of the most memorable shows that I worked on involved the legendary Wooster Group from NYC. The Wooster Group membership is like a who’s who of avant garde theatre and features/featured, amongst others, such luminaries as Ron Vawter, Spalding Gray, Kate Valk, Peyton Smith & Willem Dafoe.
Anyhoo…As I understand it part of the deal when the contracts for their visit were inked was that we (the hosts) would throw a large party at the end of the run. Being the hospitable lot we were this did not present a problem. We duly hired a ballroom and on the last night of the Company’s stay we threw back the booze and danced the night away.
Ok, I know it’s quite a dull story…I’m getting to the good part.
In order to access the venue we had procured for the evening one had to pass through a public bar (the ballroom was upstairs). On making this journey one of my colleagues spotted a TV producer that was a friend of our venue and their other half enjoying a drink in the bar. When this news was relayed to the party it was decided that we should dispatch someone downstairs to invite the couple to join us for a drink, which we duly did.
About five minutes later the TV producer and spouse appeared. After exchanging pleasantries it was quite apparent that spouse (a minor TV celebrity) was somewhat the worse for wear and to be avoided whenever possible.
Long ago in a galaxy far far away I was involved in The Arts, proper theatre not some amateur dramatics lark I hasten to add.
One of the most memorable shows that I worked on involved the legendary Wooster Group from NYC. The Wooster Group membership is like a who’s who of avant garde theatre and features/featured, amongst others, such luminaries as Ron Vawter, Spalding Gray, Kate Valk, Peyton Smith & Willem Dafoe.
Anyhoo…As I understand it part of the deal when the contracts for their visit were inked was that we (the hosts) would throw a large party at the end of the run. Being the hospitable lot we were this did not present a problem. We duly hired a ballroom and on the last night of the Company’s stay we threw back the booze and danced the night away.
Ok, I know it’s quite a dull story…I’m getting to the good part.
In order to access the venue we had procured for the evening one had to pass through a public bar (the ballroom was upstairs). On making this journey one of my colleagues spotted a TV producer that was a friend of our venue and their other half enjoying a drink in the bar. When this news was relayed to the party it was decided that we should dispatch someone downstairs to invite the couple to join us for a drink, which we duly did.
About five minutes later the TV producer and spouse appeared. After exchanging pleasantries it was quite apparent that spouse (a minor TV celebrity) was somewhat the worse for wear and to be avoided whenever possible.
A little later Willem Dafoe joined the party and knowing that the majority of eyes in the room were on him took up a position close to the bar with Wooster Group Director Elizabeth LeCompte.
It quickly became apparent that the “tired & emotional” spouse (a minor TV celeb remember) was somewhat starsturck by the attendance of a bona fide star like Mr Dafoe. After several minutes spouse could not contain themself any longer and duly strode across the floor towards Mr Dafoe. By now all eyes were on the unfolding events.
What followed was one of the most embarrassing spectacles I’ve ever witnessed.
Minor TV celebrity duly accosts Willem Dafoe and offers up a hearty handshake with the greeting of “I’m xxxxxxxxxx (name removed to protect the guilty) you may have seen me on the TV”
Now what was obviously lost on the minor TV celeb was that Willem Dafoe is an American and like most Americans lives in the USA. Minor celeb meanwhile could only be seen, at this time, on STV (Scottish Television to those who do not know). How the fuck did minor celeb think that they may have registered on Willem Dafoe’s radar?
It quickly became apparent that the “tired & emotional” spouse (a minor TV celeb remember) was somewhat starsturck by the attendance of a bona fide star like Mr Dafoe. After several minutes spouse could not contain themself any longer and duly strode across the floor towards Mr Dafoe. By now all eyes were on the unfolding events.
What followed was one of the most embarrassing spectacles I’ve ever witnessed.
Minor TV celebrity duly accosts Willem Dafoe and offers up a hearty handshake with the greeting of “I’m xxxxxxxxxx (name removed to protect the guilty) you may have seen me on the TV”
Now what was obviously lost on the minor TV celeb was that Willem Dafoe is an American and like most Americans lives in the USA. Minor celeb meanwhile could only be seen, at this time, on STV (Scottish Television to those who do not know). How the fuck did minor celeb think that they may have registered on Willem Dafoe’s radar?
A classic example of having no perception of your actual worth.
Should you ever get the chance to see The Wooster Group in action I’d suggest grabbing it with both hands as they rarely disappoint.
More information on the Wooster Group can be found here.
www.thewoostergroup.org/
2 comments:
What a coincidence, like Mr. Dafoe, I am an American who happens to live in America.
Great story! Some of us actually have the sense to leave celebrities to their privacy when we see them in public places.
uuuuhhhhh, was William wearing a kilt ;-)
Although I am a fan of the theatre luvvie - I think I would rather have spent my money on the ticket to see this particular show in the bar.
Good story Dave.
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