Cast List

So the cast list was posted for The Taming of The Shrew today. Here were some of the responses:

"Today was my first really bad day at Poway High. Not too bad seeing as I've been going there for over a year :) :) :)"

"Not gonna lie, the cast list is a joke. You did amazing and Swan screwed up big time making some people leads and not others"

"I've never seen such a god awful casting in my life!"

"THE WORST EVER. FUCK SWAN"

"Sorry, but brother and sister acting as lovers is bullshit...I do feel bad for them because that is flat out awkward and embarassing..."

"Well, I guess today was an overall crappy day for most people, but we've got a loveeeelyy three day weekend ahead of us, and quite honestly, I don't care that I'm only ensemble in the play. I love my Theatre Guild family and I don't care how many lines I do and don't have. :)"

"hahaha you are going to be in the most controversial play of your lifeee... do you not see everyone's reaction?! it's insane"

"Everyone hates the cast list and wants to drop out"

"I'm gonna cry. I TOLD you it shouldn't have been me! Everyone is cast wrong though so obviously everyone includes me. :((((((((( I'm approx. 5 min away from tears"

"Can we make an 'I hate Swan' group?"
"Yes... I'm getting a group to boycott the show...my stepmom approves...also we're trying to get Swan for discrimination"
"YES YES YES"

"I have no comment about the cast list. I love everyone in Theatre Guild whether you got an ensemble or a lead, and that's never going to change"

"Okay theatre people, you are all so amazing and even if you guys didn't get the part you wanted or you don't like the cast list, this show is still going to be so much fun and so great! I love you all and please do not get upset over one show. It will all turn out good."

"Hahaha I love the theatre drama!!! What good fun!"

"I know I'm going to open myself up to 'you-got-a-lead-shut-up' comments here, but damn-- the casting for Shrew was horrendous, some REALLY good people got shut out"

"I would like everyone who's unhappy with the casting to remember that there were sooo many amazing people who auditioned, and it's incredibly hard to narrow it down. Disappointment is inevitable, but please try to be understanding. I'm really sorry to all those who didn't get the part they wanted :( You were awesome too!"

"Everyone has to deal with what they have, it's just a high school play!"
"In life, shit happens."
"AGREED."

Now let me give you my response.
I feel awful about all the negativity regarding the cast list. It's REALLY sad that people are dropping and even threatening to boycott because they didn't get the parts they wanted. Come on people. This is a high school play. Everyone gets shafted at some point. I did last year, along with most of the other juniors. A lot of the juniors got shafted this year too, who are really REALLY talented. Yes, they probably deserved better parts, but there's nothing to be done about that now. Whether or not they continue on and have two more successful years depends on the attitude they take in regards to THIS play. You can either be bitter and quit, or you can put on a happy face and suck it up, because THAT gets you brownie points for future productions.

There are TONS of new people this year who have never done productions with Poway before. If the people who are the most talented and most looked up to in the theatre drop, how is that going to look for all of them? It's a horrible example! They'll be trained to be primadonnas for the next four years, and they'll train the generations to come in the same way.

I feel bad telling people to suck it up and stop complaining because this year I DO have a part and I am happy with what happened to me. But I was in the EXACT same boat as the people who are complaining this year, and I didn't complain like that. Insulting the cast list is insulting the people who got cast--yeah, you probably don't agree with some things, but it's still hurtful. This play is still going to be SO fun. The minor characters and the ensemble actors MAKE THE PLAY. The costumes are going to be fantastic, the scenery is going to be fantastic, and there are TONS of small parts with lines that haven't been cast yet. And people, please--insulting the director is only a negative reflection on yourself.