A STRANGE LOOP On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 31

The show is being filmed today. For the library? Or a pro shot?

I'd assume they'd want to film without any u/s on?

That's... weird. I feel like from the summer on this show has just been having so many covers on. At all times.

Yeah, it feels like there's more going on here than is apparent on the surface. I understand Jaquel and other members of the cast have been sick, but is this show really that much more impacted by the pandemic/ other illness than most other shows? It seems like everyone has been chalking it up to how difficult of a role Usher is, and that's true for sure. But there are other emotionally draining roles where the actor does not leave the stage and essentially carries the whole show (Hedwig comes to mind as an even more extreme example of this). I don't say this to disparage Jaquel or anyone else involved, it just makes me wonder if there are other factors going on that we're all not aware of.

There is no official alternate for Usher. There never was.

Both understudies for Usher, between them, cover every other role in the show except for Thought #1. Depending on who else calls out in any given show, there is a strategic placement of understudies that will help determine who goes on - hence why some matinees will see Kyle and some will see Edwin.

I’ll use the Friday post-Thanksgiving matinee as an example. Jaquel was out, as were John-Andrew and Antwayn. Since Kyle, in addition to Usher) covers 4/5/6, he has to go on as #4 since Jon-Michael Reese went on as #6, meaning Edwin goes on as Usher.

As I mentioned before, if the role was truly too much for Jaquel, then a standby/alternate should have been hired once the show won the Tony back in June. His attendance has not been good for months. This probably could have saved the show from canceling any performances.

Yep. It also seems slightly offensive to Jaquel to basically say, "you're not a big enough star for us to announce when you're going to be out." I know he isn't a "name", but I can't think of another show where it hasn't been publicly announced when the lead won't be on at certain performances. If he was occasionally sick, that's one thing, but he has a schedule where he's no longer doing most matinees. By not announcing that, you're essentially telling the audience that he's completely interchangeable.

To me, this is Spivey's first professional gig, and one where he's on stage practically 100% of the time. How could he or the creatives have any idea what his stamina would be. That's not to say they've handled it well, because he or the producers haven't, but to imply he'll never be welcome on Broadway again is not very kind. Clearly he has the talent, and if the right role finds him here, he'll be welcome. I think the bigger question is, where are the leading roles coming up that would even consider his type?

Yes, but also no. Yes in that it is financial. No in that it's not about a pay bump. I'm sure an alternate does get paid more, but not that much more. However, if Kyle became the alternate, they would no choice but to hire another understudy. Alternates don't usually cover other roles and, even if Kyle could still officially be an understudy for Thoughts 4/5/6 it would be contractually commanded that, if Jaquel is out and he is available, he must go on. As was mentioned before, they couldn't play the understudy puzzle game with him where he could cover Thought 5 while Edwin goes on. Edwin would only go on if both Jaquel and Kyle were unavailable. So, it basically forces them to hire another understudy to cover Thoughts 4/5/6. It's the pay for a whole other actor that probably caused them not to bump up Kyle.

He was also just cast as Damian in the Mean Girls movie so I wonder if that would open up the opportunity for him to join the tour later on, or at least prove that he can also be cast in other types of roles

Does anyone know what the current merch situation is? A lot of it seems to be sold out online. I'm hoping to grab a window card when I see the show next week.

Last night (12/30 evening) - They had the yellow hoodie ($50), regular sized windowcard ($20), lapel pin ($10), purple tee ($30), NEW black jacket with Thoughts on the back ($70), water bottle ($15) and magnet ($10)

everythingtaboo said: "To me, this is Spivey's first professional gig, and one where he's on stage practically 100% of the time. How could he or the creatives have any idea what his stamina would be."

Fair. Also makes you think they should have thought harder before canning Larry Owens, who for my money was far better in the role and seemed able to show up at Playwrights. I still choose the Off-Broadway cast recording over the Broadway one.

Another frustrating thing about having no alternate is having every performance be a crapshoot. I want to see Kyle and would buy tickets to a performance if he were scheduled to be on. But who knows!