Sweeney Todd Standby Question

[craftymarley]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 10:50pm

So I saw Sweeney tonight for the first time (loved it btw). Elisa Winter was on as Johanna and another standby was on as Fogg. I was looking at the playbill during intermission, and I noticed that the standbys don't always play the same instruments as the actors they're understudying and some of them play instruments of characters they don't understudy. So there are two qestions here. What happens when someone goes on and plays a different instrument? And what happens when a standby covers a musical part of a character they don't play? Do they play the instrument from off stage? Any help would be appreciated.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 10:52pm

One of two things, I believe: the understudy will play what they do, if there's overlap between their instrument and the regular one, and someone else will cover the other instruments from another location on stage. For example, when Donna Lynne was out, the Pirelli cover played flute, and someone else played accordian. Donna Lynne plays both.

The other option is like what I saw last week, when Ben Eakeley went on as the Beadle. Alex plays trumpet, and Ben plays clarinet, but since they're in the same key, he just played the part on clarinet.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:15pm

my personal favorite is when ben eakley plays anthony, the johanna standby plays cello, and he holds patti's triangle

[TheAudrey3]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:23pm

When Dorothy went on as Lovett this past weekend, she played most of the same instruments, including tuba; but only in certain places. I.E. She didn't play tuba during "The Contest" but did during "Pirelli" (or says my friend who knows the tuba facts a bit better than I)

[craftymarley]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:47pm

Where does Elisa play cello from? Is she off stage? Does he only play triangle the entire show?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:54pm

I think she sits in a little corner in the back of stage right, a bit behind and to the right of Ben's Anthony. I've never seen the two of them go on, unfortunately, so I'm not sure like how well seen she is or if she comes under lights, etc.

Saturday was really exciting with 3 standbys in. It was the first time more than one standby has been in, and I guess this night was the second. For those of you who went those nights, what did you think of them? I thought everyone on Saturday was great. Very different from the usual actors, but great in their own way.

[xoxRogue]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:56pm

When Donna was out: Jessica Wright plays the flute and Elisa Winter plays the accordian and keyboard, just to state specifics (Donna plays three instruments. ).

As Pirelli, Elisa was "offstage", expect when she went to play the keyboard, which I believe that would mean she was "offstage" playing the cello when Ben went on as Anthony.

Updated On: 7/18/06 at 11:56 PM

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:00am

"Offstage" = in the black.

They do blend in very well back there, and are more or less invisible.

[craftymarley]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:33am

So what did she wear? Did she sing or move around at all? Was she in some kind of character? Or did she just try to draw as little attention to herself as possible?

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 12:48am

Pretty sure she wore black pants and a white shirt. She might have had a tie as well. I saw her get up once and walk across the back of the stage, but it wasn't something I paid much attention to. She was definitely very conscious of drawing as little attention to herself as possible.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 1:11am

Crafty, how did you like her as Johanna?

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 4:37am

I know Lauren is out all week and I am going to be seeing the show again Friday. Im hoping only Lauren will be out because even though ive seen it multiple times with the full cast, this is the first time I will be sitting in the front row and I would prefer as ffew understudies as possible.

[craftymarley]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 6:09pm

Well I have to start by saying that I went to NYU with Elisa, but didn't really know her. I did however see her in a mainstage that Micheal Cerveris did there and I didn't really like her in it. So lets just say my expectations weren't terribly high.

But after seeing her I have to say I really enjoyed her as Johanna. I think she made the character really likable. And I liked her voice; it didn't seem too polished or opera-y which gave her a very innocent quality. I'd be interested to hear what people who have seen Lauren think of her portrayal, but I thought she was great.

[Benjamin Barker2]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:31am

I have seen and enjoyed both Lauren and Elisa in the role. Both had different takes on it. Elisa's Johanna was a bit more depressed and reserved, while Lauren's portrayal was more quirky. Although I preferred Lauren, Elisa's performance was very good as well.

[TheAudrey3]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:39am

wickedrentq - 2 standbys went on Sunday as well. Patti was out, and Dorothy was in, as well as Alexander being out and Ben being in.

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:07am

"As Pirelli, Elisa was "offstage", expect when she went to play the keyboard, which I believe that would mean she was "offstage" playing the cello when Ben went on as Anthony. "

So when the standby is "offstage"/in the black, do they ever come forward and sing the role, or does someone else act the character while they sit back and play instruments?

Sorry if it's a stupid question. The whole "in the black" thing just has me confused.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:28am

Someone else acts/sings the character while they play the instruments.