I was pretty surprised after the Daniel Pearl tragedy when I realized that being a journalist could be a dangerous profession. Yet I had no idea that actors also lead such hazardous lives until I read in The New York Times last Wednesday that an extra fell off the stage into the orchestra pit in the opening show of “War and Peace” at the Met.
Actually, 21-year-old Simon Deonarian claims he “fell” off the stage. The general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, however, feels Deonarian’s plunge was a desperate act for publicity. Either way, Deonarian got the publicity. As one of 227 other extras, Deonarian was clearly not the center of attention - until he fell. He landed on a violinist’s bow, crushing it. He was then fired from the remaining nine shows.
I consider myself a pretty klutzy person.
Stitches, broken toes and collar bones, concussions, black eyes, ripped finger nails, poked eyes and pebbles stuck in ears all are listed under the “Amy’s Stupid Accidents” category of my life. What, the emergency room? Common grounds for me. But with all that behind me, I still find it hard to believe that anyone could fall off of a stage.
Theater senior Krista Akmon said while it could be possible someone could fall in the orchestra pit during a performance, it’s pretty unlikely.
“Maybe if you got really into your character and you forgot where you were,” she said. “I think a lot of actors like attention. That’s why they’re in their profession.”
She also mentioned that in her five years of performing, she hasn’t seen anything like that happen.
The stage was an unusual dome shape, and some questions have been raised about whether this was safe. But the cast wore rubber-soled shoes for traction and there haven’t been any accidents when a stage like this has been in use.
The love interest and a main character of “War and Peace,” Ms. Netrebko, played by Natasha Rostova, said in The New York Times that, “You have to be stupid to fall into the orchestra pit.”
Theater Professor Frank Rutledge has been involved in theater since 1959 and has seen many onstage accidents occur.
“We’ve had people fall off the stage. We’ve had weapons (props) been thrown offstage,” Rutledge said. “I think (Deonarian) slipped.”
Rutledge also said no actor would purposely fall for publicity, since that person most likely would never be able to work in acting again.
“No actor would do that. No actor would take that chance,” he said. “He got himself fired.”
MSU isn’t free from accidents like this itself. Theater freshman Patrick Hickey fell while rollerskating and holding a boombox during a rehearsal, and was treated for bruises and swelling at Sparrow Hospital.
“I got real lucky that it was just in rehearsal,” he said. Hickey feels that Deonarian fell purposely to put his name out there.
“In the theater world, it’s hard to get your name known. I would say it was just a publicity stunt, and I don’t agree with that. That’s just ridiculous.”
Whatever Deonarian’s motives for falling into the pit were, the fact remains that he has definitely received excellent publicity for this incident.
The New York Times contributed to this report.
Amy Bartner, a State News intern, can be found and tripping over chairs in the newsroom. Reach her at bartnera@msu.edu.
