Actors getting colds during a run- Page 2

Posted: 1/3/06 at 2:01am

everyone reacts differently to meds...i get WIRED on the non drowsy stuff! and sometimes i get wired on the drowsy stuff too!
its best to experiment with meds when you aren't expected to be top notch and when you find something that you know you can trust while performing, then go for it!

[Doogie]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 2:18am

Rath, depending upon how bad the cold is, I agree, for the most part, if techniqe is there, you should be able to sing through it. Speaking tends to hurt my voice more when I'm sick. A speech pathologist told me its because when you sing, your cords gear up and go for the duration of the song, but when you speak its start, stop, start, stop.

[Rebekah]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 2:31am

I'm not an actor but as an audience member I wonder how the actor wants to be portrayed. Is he/she more interested in "The Show Must Go On" or does he/she want to be remembered as being in good voice? I remember hearing one actor I won't mention but thought how glad I was to hear him a second time when he was in such a better voice. I would have been disappointed had I only heard him the one time.

Not to be funny but sometimes the affected voice isn't such a bad thing! Kind of pleasant!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 7:37am

To address the puking issue - I think if you're that ill, no one (including yourself) should be forcing you to perform.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 9:58am

Raithnait, that's awfully glib and unsound advice to give to impressionable and oftentimes, untrained singers on this board.

I'm not a singer so I don't pretend to know what's what but common sense would dictate that you shouldn't do it and moreover, people like you who think it's heroic to plow through get everyone else in the cast sick. How does that benefit anyone? Put the understudy on.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:32am

Rath is right. If you know the right techniquem, you can sing through a cold. I actually find that the quality of my voice improves when I've got a stuffy/runny nose.

[Blanche]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 2:41pm

Rath, maybe you've never done much Community Theatre, but most do not have understudies. Singtopher did what lots of folks have had to do. Go on sick, or cancel the show, or have the stage manager go through the show with book in hand (not really an option). I'm sure nobody forced him to go on, he just didn't want the show to suffer.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 3:09pm

I understand the community theater/no understudies issue, but I thought we were focusing on Broadway on this thread.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 3:12pm

I think the disconnect in this thread is that some posters ARE speaking of when one is too sick to go on and some are speaking of when you are not feeling great but you CAN go on. There is a huge difference.

My opinion is that if it is going to affect the performance, don't go on. Most people can storm on through despite allegies and a soft cold and noone would be the wiser. But, if you are going to have coughing fits or sound like CRAP or have extremely weak energy or the obvious stuff like puking, you need to stay home. And audiences just need to cope.

People gripe when performers are out, but then they gripe when the performer goes onstage and gives a weaker performance or forgets their lines. Well, what the hell DO you prefer??

[dramaparoxysm23]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 3:21pm

I don't know about everyone else, but when I'm sick, the mere THOUGHT of getting up and doing anything makes me tired. I've performed while sick, and once I get up there I almost forget I'm sick, it's so exhilarating. Once I get off, I want to collapse, but maybe that's how it is with some actors. (Or maybe I'm just strange.) Just had to put in my two cents.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 3:52pm

I've performed while sick, and once I get up there I almost forget I'm sick, it's so exhilarating. Once I get off, I want to collapse, but maybe that's how it is with some actors.

That's exactly how it is with me, too. So either we're both incredibly strange or there are more people like that than you thought.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 4:09pm

It's that theatrical rush. Maybe humor and acting are truly the best medicine. Patch Adams was right!

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 4:31pm

Several years ago, I had to go on for two performances of "Deathtrap" (playing the lead role of Sidney Bruhl no less) with a horrible case of the flu. These were the final two performances of a twelve performance run. The final show I had a fever of almost 103 degrees, but since it was community theatre, the show went on. At least many in the professional theatre have an understudy or stand-by. It's been my understaning that in community theatre, if you can breathe, you play.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 4:48pm

It's been my understaning that in community theatre, if you can breathe, you play.

Pretty much. We're doing a production of "Oliver!" and the only person who has an understudy is Oliver.

Posted: 1/3/06 at 6:20pm

one problem that occurs...a actor goes in and does show after show on a cold and it becomes a much bigger problem because they needed to rest...bronchitis, phneumonia, infection..laryngitis!! you name it. sometimes sitting out ONE show with a cold makes all the difference and you'll be back on your feet.
broadway 8 shows a week for 52 weeks a year...you have to be in tune and listen to your body. you have the WHOLE year to think about and perhaps trying to get renewed for another year. its not the same as getting yourself through a weekend or a short run...its about pacing and consistancy on broadway.
PLEASE, once again...keep in mind that everyone has a different constitution and tolerance for illnesses. so general statements probably aren't the best way to go here.
for ME...i would rather be remembered as the one who NEVER cracked and sounded flawless every time they were seen on stage instead of someone who sounded POOPY!! i had an amazing understudy too, so i KNEW i could count on her to be amazing and probably better than me! i was LUCKY and so are all of the people who got to see her even before she became the star she is today!!! Updated On: 1/3/06 at 06:20 PM

[stage_door76]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:01am

Forgive my possible ignorance at your ambiguous discourse on your great understudy...but, praytell, who was she? Which star are we discussing?

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:15am

I had to answer a question on the first page by Roninjoey, and yes, I passed out right on the floor, Over the suitcase I was packing from the NyQuil. I folded a few shirts, bent over to put them in place and stayed there till my lover rescued me and refused my calls to "Let me sleep just 2 more minutes.
I'm scared of the stuff now.
Thanks for asking.
By the way - not to be gross, but sometimes when you get ill you deal with runs during your run which is awful as well. That happened to me once and no pills would stop me up, It was stage, restroom, stage, restroom. That gets reaaly old REAL quick!
But hey, What we wont ALL do for love, Right Guys?
P.S. I LOVE YOU RATH!
(Yes, I am a member of her official fan club so I can say that!)

Updated On: 1/4/06 at 05:15 AM

[stage_door76]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 4:56am

Andrew -

Still no word on your friend the star...?