Was There Bad Acting on DS?

[ProfStokes]

I also analyze DS because it is worth analyzing.  In fact, I'm continually surprised how much the show lends itself to analysis.  

I agree with you completely, Vlad!  Even though there are several shows that I prefer to DS, (please, I don't want anybody to set a curse on me for saying that) I don't feel inclined to discuss any of them.  I don't belong to any discussion forums/groups other than those connected to DS.  I don't know if it's the serial format of DS, the variety of characters, or the richness of certain story lines that make me feel this way, but I could discuss its content and its performers endlessly.  Chalk that up as one more great feature of the show!

ProfStokes

[Midnite]

It never made sense to me that stage-trained actors (with no television experience) such as Frid, Parker, and KLS regularly kept the overacting well in check while a handful of others did not, if the over-the-top style was what the directors truly wanted.

However, something that would tend to support your view are comments Lara Parker has made ... I'm pretty sure that in one the Pomegranate Press books she expressed her horror at being continually asked to blow things up to a point far beyond any realistic human emotion or behavior.  If that's true, we can be thankful that she and many others were either unable or unwilling to produce such "acting" and instead gave powerful and nuanced performances.  Actors like Powell, on the other hand, and the one who played Aristede (sorry I can't remember names), and a few others, apparently had no problem accommodating.  As a result, their performances are viewed by many viewers to be quite wretched much of the time.

Maybe someone can put this question about what the directors wanted in terms of performance to one of the panels at the upcoming festival?

The subject came up at the DS tribute in L.A. last Spring.  Jerry Lacy described working on the show as hard as well as fun since he had to get up for performances because every morning Lela Swift (who was sitting further down on the panel from him) would tell him, "We need more.  More."  He said that one day he decided to let her have it by really pouring it on for her and she reined him in, saying he should save it for later when they'll need it again, and that's when he knew what she wanted.  Lara Parker agreed with him that directors always wanted more theatricality, saying that Hank Kaplan used to give out grades for it.  She said he'd open the dressing room door and say, for example, "B minus".

Unfortunately, no one thought to pose a question about it to Lela directly.

[hooked]

The show had bad acting many times even by the actors that most would call the GOOD ones.  That  fact can not be disputed in any acting class anywhere.  We do not need a post to find this out.  It is a fact that is well known.  I just was wondering where this point was being taken.  When it is stated as a fact (which it is) then some conclusion must be made to bring  a closure for the idea.  Now that there is general concensus that there was bad acting on DS what can we do?  Did I mention that there was some bad acting on DS?  Let me put it another way..the acting on DS was (a lot of times) BAD!!  My opinion is that the acting on DS was bad.  Hmmmph!!

[Julia99]

because every morning Lela Swift (who was sitting further down on the panel from him) would tell him, "We need more.  More."  He said that one day he decided to let her have it by really pouring it on for her and she reined him in, saying he should save it for later when they'll need it again, and that's when he knew what she wanted.  Lara Parker agreed with him that directors always wanted more theatricality, saying that Hank Kaplan used to give out grades for it.  She said he'd open the dressing room door and say, for example, "B minus".

Unfortunately, no one thought to pose a question about it to Lela directly.

That's an interesting commentary because I have posted before that the Henry Kaplan directed episodes seem more nuances and "less stagey" than the others, particularly Lela.  And in particular, under Henry's direction, Grayson seemed more restrained.  I always assumed it was because Lela was intimidted by Grayson and didn't give her **any** direction. . .but my take on whats been said here, is that these actors were constantly told to go over the top. ..hmmm, interesting tidbit.

[Philippe Cordier]

The show had bad acting many times even by the actors that most would call the GOOD ones.  That  fact can not be disputed in any acting class anywhere.  We do not need a post to find this out.  It is a fact that is well known.  I just was wondering where this point was being taken.  When it is stated as a fact (which it is) then some conclusion must be made to bring  a closure for the idea.

Sorry, Hooked, I'm not going to rise to the bait.  You read my posts and for whatever reason choose to misunderstand and misrepresent them.  I'm sorry you didn't find anything here worthwhile to discuss, but I'm sure there are plenty of other posts and threads that are more rewarding to you.  I do have to say that I personally find your smugness offensive (e.g., advising others to "RELAX" when they were thoughtfully responding to your "questions").

Jennifer wrote:

what i find a lot is people who can't believe anyone cares about any old show and if you mention DS they just think that because of the kind of show it was it must have had bad actors! some days i laugh my head over some of the bad acting scenes and others I'm moved to tears over the wonderful acting!

Jennifer, dear, I believe you've intuitively grasped the raison d'etre of this discussion (and is it possibly you've done so without having gone through the entire other thread which was the setup?)!  Wonder what so many others found so difficult about this ...  Honestly, if only you had responded earlier, some of us wouldn't have spent so much time spinning our wheels ...

Thanks to Midnite for providing strong evidence (backing up the MB) concerning what the directors wanted in terms of acting.  I must say that's a bitter pill to swallow (but I'm trying to do so   )!  It sounds like according to the directors' "grading scale," the Addison Powells gave better performances than the likes of Parker, et al.    Perhaps this revelation (to me, at least) about the directors' views on the acting will provide the necessary closure some felt this topic required a priori for some reason.

Julia99 wrote:

That's an interesting commentary because I have posted before that the Henry Kaplan directed episodes seem more nuances and "less stagey" than the others, particularly Lela.  And in particular, under Henry's direction, Grayson seemed more restrained.

I don't think I had ever read your comments about this in the past, Julia99, and I definitely hadn't been aware of this from my own viewing.  I've never examined the various directors' styles very closely (that may have to wait till my third viewing!).  BTW, J99, I was just thinking last night that our paths haven't crossed since the VN days!  Good to "see" you again.  

-Vlad

[hooked]

Well I am not here to win you over Vlad so I too am sorry that you must be so condescending in your response to my post to your great debate. Unfortunately you are unable to give a definitive answer as to what your point is...Still. I dont see what the big deal is..give an answer and you will have closure for a question.  Its that simple.

[Midnite]

Well I am not here to win you over Vlad so I too am sorry that you must be so condescending in your response to my post to your great debate. Unfortunately you are unable to give a definitive answer as to what your point is...Still. I dont see what the big deal is..give an answer and you will have closure for a question.  Its that simple.

Well, I'm ending this exchange now, though I do intend to respond to your query on the Testing board.  As to your point about no one answering your questions, hooked, I actually think that everyone that has replied to you here has gone out of their way to answer as best they can and I can't imagine that further explanations can be offered to you that wouldn't be a rehash of what's already been said.  

I'm not locking this topic at this point because others may want to add their opinions about the acting and directing on the show.  However, ANY further comments from ANYONE for or against the issue of whether this is a valid discussion topic will be removed.  As is stated in the guidelines, "The purpose of these forums is to discuss DARK SHADOWS, its characters, actors and storylines."  Since the quality of the acting on the show is obviously something that other posters have found interesting enough to want to share their views on it, it's not your place to question the validity of the discussion, to demand closure, or to declare the debate pointless.  I'm the only person here that is required to read each and every post on this board, so please consider moving off of threads in the future if you don't like the subject matter.  And in this particular case, I have two suggestions to offer you:  either you can reread the replies given to your messages because I don't understand why you continue to insist that you're not getting any "definitive answer", or you can stop reading this topic entirely as it obviously is not to your liking.

In addition, the quote above is missing its last line because I removed it.  Ridiculing another poster is never acceptable.