“What? Not the Regent, again!”

If I were a horror/thriller author, I’d have written the book about the years of creepy, dark and sneaky goings on at the Regent Theatre. And, there have been so many years of the coming, the going, the waxing and waning of managers, artistic directors, general managers, boards of directors, boards of management, members and volunteers. It’s eerie. How could one place continue to be haunted by a basement full of disorder, disruption, artistic meltdowns, fiscal irresponsibility and questionable decision-making? Is this what happens when a theatre in a community fails to be a “community theatre”?

My first book could have included stories of the long lineup of directors (artistic and otherwise) and of general managers being lured into the deep, dark recesses of the Regent only to emerge pasty, shaken, rung-out shells of their former creative selves. The book would have had a cliff-hanger ending with the hiring of Sharon Jarvis and a hint of a promise of more ghoulish behaviour, or perhaps of bright sunny days ahead. We didn’t really want another horror story from the Regent, but we all knew what was going to happen. Just about every stakeholder (and face it, we’re all stakeholders— members or not) was ready for someone who had a background in theatre management, someone who had been there and done that. And, right at the very end of my first book, the two-forone package of Sharon Jarvis and Michael Reason walked into the story. There would be a sequel. As Jarvis and Reason emerged the newest characters in this thriller the audience began calling out to them to “watch your step” and “mind your back” and “don’t go in there” and “look at the clues.” Cue the “creepy, dark and sneaky things are about to happen” music. Somewhere in the telling, County folks on the street began using the Theatre as the basis of ghoulish jokes, teasing our youngsters with lines like, “Hey, do your homework or you’ll end up working at the Regent.” Or, “What do you get when you cross a tsunami with the smell of creative death? The Regent Theatre.”

So was it a surprise (in a creepy, dark and sneaky sorta way) when last week we heard from a friend of a friend, the current Regent Boss has been given a pink slip? When we heard the news, we all had an opinion about what happened, and whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. Whatever we said out loud or to ourselves, we had an opinion. We had something to say about the firing of Sharon, yet we weren’t really shocked, were we? We figured it was just a matter of time until she got caught up in the intrigue. Like any good thriller, it doesn’t really seem to make any difference who you are or what you bring the the stage, sooner or later anyone on the Regent payroll “exits stage left.” It’s never a good exit, there’s never a great big retirement or bon-voyage party in the George Cook Lounge after. I don’t think there’ll be a public celebration or joyous sendoff for Jarvis.

So, what about Sharon Jarvis? The woman we know publicly wasn’t all cuddly and soft. If she made a false step, she did it publicly and there never was any mercy. She wasn’t given to bowing and scraping. She was a manager. From a “community perspective” she seemed to have a plan. She hit the stage running and wasn’t that what the Regent Theatre Board wanted? I don’t remember seeing a Regent Theatre want ad seeking a butt-kisser.

Yuppity yup, I’ve heard a lot of stories about Jarvis’s style of management. I’ve heard all of the good and all of the bad. I’ve wondered why she got involved and on the other hand, why the Board bothered to hire when, most obviously, the Regent Board can manage very well without paid staff. Geez, you could hardly be a public figure in this community without having your knicker drawer turned inside out on a regular basis. We’re all human.

We all had our opinions and swapped stories about how things were going at the Regent. The story of the newest victim, Sharon Jarvis, was just the first chapter of the next book of horrors at the Regent Theatre. Come on, don’t leave me hanging on this one, you know I’m right. So, when are we going to hear what the H E double-cheeks-in-seats really happened the moment after that great big funding cheque arrived and the grin ‘n’ grabs were taken? When is the Regent Board going to come clean about whether it was a financial decision, a restructuring decision or a personality decision to chainsaw the GM? You know, at one time or another, most of us have been employees. It’s just normal for employees to have a bit of an aversion to boards of management, managers, bosses and, in general, being told what to do by people who don’t always have a clue. It’s just the way we’re wired. We want to do what we know how to do and do it the way we figure it should be done. Having a board of directors or management doesn’t always guarantee you, as an employee, will get the guidance you need. I know Sharon Jarvis didn’t get the guidance she needed. She didn’t get the purported, public opinion feedback she deserved. Many boards are made up of people who want to help out, but often they just don’t have a clue about the ins and outs of the organization they’re “managing” or “directing.”

On Saturday, the Regent Theatre Mystery Team of management/ directors invited the community, the stakeholders and the members to the so-called scene to hear their side of the story. Why not? It’s only fair they have a moment to “say what” and show the audience how the leaders lead. The audience sat quietly and heard the carefully scripted words. Moderator Peter Lockyer then opened the microphones to a stream of stakeholders, who all had a take on what really happened. A creative fellow I know said, “Perspective isn’t just for artists.” Indeed.

Maybe it’s time the Regent Board got off the stage and started giving better directions from behind the curtains. We’ve all got perspective.