Comments on: Fans Banned From Bringing Trek Memorabilia To Stewart’s Play

By: jdawg

jdawg — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:34:32 +0000

These are the people that give the fans of a particular franchise called Star Trek …. a bad name.

By: Franbro

Franbro — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:20:22 +0000

Hey, I love TREK as much as the next guy but as someone who works backstage on B’way, (and have actually met Mr. Stewart) I completely agree with the idea. I worked at cat on a hot tin roof recently and everyday there would be several “collectors” who were actually just ebay sellers lining up to try and get james Earl Jones’ autograph on TONS of Star Wars memorabilia. These people did NOT buy a ticket to the show, had no interest in what JEJ the actor was doing currently and were just trying to get as many items signed as possible before Mr. Jones became exasperated. To his credit he actually did sign quite a bit. But he knows they will most likely go right on Ebay afterwards.
It is very rude and inconsiderate behavior.
Also, buying a ticket to a performance does NOT guarantee you an autograph. If the actors feel like it, it’s up to them. But it is NOT included as part of the ticket purchase price. They are signing something for a patron to be considerate. When someone rushes up with a bunch of memorabilia from 20 years ago, it just basically smacks of, “I know you’re acting in this but I REALLY dug you in (earlier stuff)…”
The theatre and the stage door is not the local comic-con.
It has nothing to do with whether one thinks that say, TREK was BENEATH Mr. Stewart. I’m sure at the premiere of a TREK film or at a convention he would have been more than happy to sign some TREK related stuff.

And the idea of showing up dressed in Star Trek uniforms to see a non TREK related show? I’m sorry but that’s just asinine.

By: Sponica

Sponica — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:48:38 +0000

Hopefully they bring Hamlet to the Brooklyn Academy of Music like they did with MacBeth. That being said, despite Patrick Stewart’s part in Star Trek history, he was a Shakespearean actor LONG before TNG came around. It wouldn’t be right for a member of the audience to make it blatantly clear they only care about a small portion of Stewart’s career.

Whenever there’s signing opportunities there are always rules. I remember when Leonard Nimoy did the book tour for the Alien Voices CDs, the rules for the appearance were he was ONLY signing Alien Voices and I am Spock.

Barnes and Noble had a limit on how many books (and which ones) that Neil Gaiman would autograph when he was doing the book tour for Anansi Boys.

The RSC rules are no different in my mind.

By: De Baisch

De Baisch — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:59:23 +0000

Honestly, I’m surprised either one is signing anything at all when potentially faced with folks like the one mentioned in this article:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/goss/view/26302/I-need-to-see-the-doctor-/

I have no doubts that the woman mentioned in the article and the eBay-mongers are the chief reasons for the ban.

By: Cato the Llama

Cato the Llama — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:00:49 +0000

A fine loophole indeed!

Let’s also not forget “The Defector,” wherein Stewart and Spiner as Picard and Data perform Henry V in the Holodeck.

Oooh, and even better . . . what about in Time’s Arrow when the crew were trapped in the US in the 1800s and work under the guise of being an acting troupe. They rehearse A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I think it would be terribly fun to take a Star Trek photo of Stewart playing Picard playing a Shakespeare character. I dare say even the snootiest of RSC actors would have to give a chuckle at that. Seems to be something befitting good olde English humour. :)

By: Gep Malakai

Gep Malakai — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:36:19 +0000

Ah, but what happens if you bring a replica prop from TNG’s “Emergence,” when Picard and Data are staging “The Tempest?”

A loophole? ;-)

By: Cato the Llama

Cato the Llama — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:50:48 +0000

#98. No, actually I don’t think any of us here would be upset if someone showed up to a convention with Non-Trek stuff to be signed. If someone wants to take an X-Men or a Stage-relate product to a convention, let them.

Also, everyone is suggesting that these people are coming to the play JUST to get their “toy autographed.” Why do you think it has to be that way? Many of you are portray Trek fans as one-dimensional freaks who are ONLY interested in Trek. I have more faith in “our kind” than that . . . I heavily suspect that many of us would LOVE to see Stewart light up the stage and throughly enjoy the play . . . so what if we were lead to love his acting through our *ahem* “Childish” show?

Then again, many classical theatre types wouldn’t consider our kinds capable of thoroughly enjoying their classy and sophisticated thheeeatah performances. After all, they are better than actors. They are thespians! For Sooth!

I’ll leave this with one final thought . . . “You haven’t heard Shakspeare until you’ve heard it in the original Klingon,” -General Chang.

By: Plum

Plum — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:35:46 +0000

This thread shows terrific class from many posters. Nice work. :)

My opinion, if redundant (on this thread) by now…

Showing up at a none-fan event as if it was… is rude to all those who came to see something else. get it?

Really, when I go to see Shakespeare I don’t’ wanna see some ass in a Trek uniform. And in the future, I’d love to see a P. Stewart King Lear. Don’t mess it up for me.

Show some class people (as many of you have). Weird, this a so much more reasonable forum that TrekBBSS posts. *chuckle*

By: OR Coast Trekkie

OR Coast Trekkie — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:32:22 +0000

I have no problem with banning Trek memorabilia. This isn’t a Star Trek or Dr. Who convention. You are there to see the actors play Shakespearean roles… unless you are just there for the purpose of getting your toy autographed.

Think about it in reverse: How would you feel if someone came to your Trek convention and had a picture of Patrick Stewart in a non-Picard role and wanted it autographed? Wouldn’t you say to that person “This isn’t Shakespeare time” or something along those lines to them?

Those actors aren’t in those plays b/c they are interested in reaping more benefits for Star Trek. They are trying to reap benefits from other work. They would far more appreciate you telling them how wonderful they did in the play rather than how they as Picard inspired you.

By: The Underpants Monster

The Underpants Monster — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:32:20 +0000

#88 – I’m a regular theatergoer, and I can honestly say that that bringing odd play-related stuff is just something people tend not to do, so there wouldn’t BE any process in place to monitor it.