What was it that Mel Brooks said?
“It’s good to be the King.”
I don’t know that I agree with that one. At least not right now. I, as “king” of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” get to deal with about 30 people every night. It constantly amazes me how someone’s egos will make them behave. I am sitting on a powder keg right now. One of my leads has dropped from the show and I was pressed by an ensemble member last night for the part. The departure of “Judge Turpin” isn’t known by the cast at large. I wanted it that way so that I could conduct my replacement search in peace. You know, kinda like the Bush Administration hiding the truth of … well, about everything they do … so they can do their business without interference from the world at large. So, besides pissing off people that I either didn’t cast at all or cast in parts they didn’t really want, I now have the fun of dealing with this ensemble member when a new “Judge” walks through the door. I hope that his ego isn’t so big that he quits the show because of this. It really wouldn’t surprise me if that happens. So, I’ll deal with it. That’s why I get the big bucks … right?