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March 5, 2002
Getting "Apology for a Pedlar" onstage was, as you all know, a personal dream of mine for quite some time. When I finally obtained permission from the author, I carefully considered several acting groups before deciding to offer the script to Act II.
I shall regret that decision for the rest of my life.
During the year between the proposal and the performance, Robin and I assisted with every Act II production. Twice I volunteered to be an assistant director, because I was told that this was required of Act II directors, and both times I was asked to perform. Each time Robin took up the AD duties, and we did everything that was asked of us. Our entire family helped in whatever way we could.
During that time I thought I was making some new friends, and that we were establishing ourselves as dependable and valuable members of the group. But the relationship quickly fell as we were drug through the spiteful politics which lie at the heart of the controlling faction of Act II. Actors, disgruntled over Robin's first attempt at direction, waged whisper campaigns and openly balked at reasonable requests. One group member who had not been involved in any capacity for at least a year not only succeeded in single-handedly overriding a decision involving show times, but also took it upon himself to explain the delay, and in the process soured the audience's mood against the play.
Before Pedlar had even finished, certain members had already decided that they didn't want Robin to direct again. Debi asked me to take over Scapino before opening night of Pedlar. During the first business meeting after, and quite without consulting me beforehand, she and select other members decided by consensus to hand it to me, saying that the group doesn't normally have the same person directing twice in a season. The most recent effort came last Friday, when Debi called to discourage Robin from even trying to cast Scapino, citing the difficulty encountered with the last play. No argument swayed Debi until Robin informed her that I would be directing after all, due to Robin's failing health.
I could point out that several past Act II directors have been more demanding, less tactful, and have made many more decisions contrary to Act II policy, but such arguments would not sway opinion where it counts. Truthfully, I no longer care to make any such attempt. I have seen a very ugly side of this group and can't wait to distance myself from it.
It's obvious that Act II "policy" has far less to do with what is written in the charter and what goes on at business meetings, than it has to do with what goes on behind the scenes. I'm sure that these allegations will be denied, but I don't have to be a "rocket surgeon" to understand what's been going on here. The powers that be want to exclude Robin, just as they tried to exclude Gus, and yet still include me. This form of politicking is not only spiteful, it's also extremely arrogant.
Robin is resigning from Act II for health reasons. I am resigning because I can no longer look people in the face without wondering what they've been saying behind my back. To quote Debi, "This is supposed to be fun." I'm not having fun any more.
Despite all our efforts, and they have not been inconsiderable, Robin and I are not really considered as valuable members of this group and we never will be, so I'm sure that our resignation will have no lasting effect upon Act II. We, however, are already feeling better for it.
John & Robin Payton
