American Idiot Star Sacked The Day Before Opening Night In Melbourne - Noise11.com
Linden Furnell

Linden Furnell

American Idiot Star Sacked The Day Before Opening Night In Melbourne

by Paul Cashmere on February 28, 2018

in News

American Idiot star Linden Furnell has been sacked from the Australian production of the show the day before opening night in Melbourne.

Furnell was dismissed for making a comment to a fellow actor about ‘menstruation”. He was sacked by the company Shake & Stir for being in breach of company policy.

The decision to sack Furnell, who has had no prior altercations, has raised a serious issue about over-reaction in the theatre world. The sacking of Craig McLachlan from the Rocky Horror Show is now in the courts with Craig suing for defamation. An accusation against actor Geoffrey Rush in King Leah by the Sydney Theatre Company was also met with legal action.

The severity of Furnell’s sacking is potentially another legal time-bomb. Considering how swift action was taken and with no prior ‘convictions’ Furnell will definitely have a case to pursue and probably a good chance of winning. Considering that while the comment may have been ill-concieved, Linden had nothing to gain finacially, for his career and it wasn’t a powerplay which is really what the #metoo movement is all about.

Furnell has addressed the sacking on his Facebook page. He says, “Yesterday I was fired from American Idiot on account of ‘serious misconduct’. I wasn’t asked to explain, give my account, dispute it or attempt resolution”.

Linden has owned up to what happened. “Those that know me well, are probably accustomed to my impulsive mind and somewhat inactive filter…

“One night I wasn’t careful and made a mistake. It was a particularly hot night in an old theatre without suitable aircon and we were both comically sweaty. Without thought, I made a crude allusion to menstruation amongst the banter. It was in poor taste and a lame attempt at humour. The kind of thing you say to make your friends go “euugghhh gross”.

“I found out later that same night via a text conversation with her that it had made her very uncomfortable and thrown off her show. Naturally, when I discovered the fact I apologised immediately and said that I would do what was necessary to avoid making that mistake again and reassured that I definitely did not intend to cause hurt or discomfort. I made a poor judgement call, assumed too much comfort in a work friendship. I apologised again for the upset caused”.

Furnell has accused the producers of the show of having “a knee-jerk reaction”. “The producers had a knee jerk reaction, probably as a form of damage control / prevention and I found myself fired without so much as a conversation”.

“I made a mistake, owned up to it, was immediately fired,” he concluded.

Furnell’s understudy Ben Bennett has taken over the lead role of Johnny and played the part for opening night in Melbourne. In what is almost a remarkable magic act, the producers of the show had the official program reprinted and on-sale for opening night with Bennett in the credits.

American Idiot, featuring the music of Green Day, is on in Melbourne until March 11, 2018.

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Related Posts

Tre Cool, Green Day, Soundwave, Ros O'Gorman, Photo
Green Day Perform Complete ‘Dookie’ and ‘American Idiot’ At Show

Green Day played 'Dookie' and 'American Idiot' in full at an intimate club show.

April 24, 2024
Green Day's American Idiot Australian cast 2023
Green Day’s American Idiot Returns To Melbourne

I wasn’t a fan of the first Australian production of Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ in 2018. It felt bombastic. This new production from theatrical.presents is more organic and focused back on the message.

March 13, 2023
Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day, Soundwave, Ros O'Gorman, Photo
Green Day Drop Plans For ‘American Idiot’ Movie

Green Day have abandoned plans for a movie version of their rock musical and album American Idiot.

February 12, 2020
Adalita, Phil Jamieson and Sarah McLeod share the roll of St Jimmy in American Idiot the Musical. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
American Idiot Is Not A Show For Everyone REVIEW

I just didn’t get American Idiot. Is the background on this show based on Mel Brooks ‘The Producers’, about a company that tries to make money by producing a sure-fire flop … but then it takes off?

March 1, 2018
Sarah McLeod
Sarah McLeod And Adalita Join American Idiot Cast

Sarah McLeod of The Superjesus and Adalita, formerly of Magic Dirt, have been announced to play opposite Phil Jamieson in the Australian production of Green Day’s American Idiot.

November 27, 2017
Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day, Soundwave, Ros O'Gorman, Photo
Green Day’s American Idiot Plays Australia January to April

Green Day’s American Idiot musical will travel Australia from January 2018.

October 1, 2017
Green Day - image By Ros O'Gorman, noise11, photo
Green Day Play Dookie Live For Start To Finish VIDEO

Green Day played their breakout album, Dookie, in its entirety in London this week.

August 23, 2013