Ann-Margret's understudy in Whorehouse

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:54pm

Did anyone catch Ann-Margret's understudy in the national tour of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas a few years back? She missed all but one or two performances in Dallas, and I was lucky (or unlucky depending) enough to actually see AM. Who was the understudy? What was she like?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:59pm

I saw Ann-Margaret, the poor dear. It was like she'd never been on a stage before.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:59pm

I saw Ann-Margaret, the poor dear. It was like she'd never been on a stage before.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:13pm

I believe her understudy was the woman who played Doatsy Mae, but the actress's name escapes me.

No, she wasn't great, I rather enjoyed seeing Miss A-M in this show ... star presence and a Bob Mackie costumes to boot!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:14pm

Well, though Ann-Margret has performed 'on stage' countless times (in Vegas, Radio City Music Hall, on tour, etc.), she's never performed in a play in her life. The revival tour of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS was her stage acting debut.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:14pm

She had sustained an injury to her wrist when I saw her, so bless her for going on with the show, but the only presence I felt from the second row was the presence of vicodin.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:17pm

She seems fine on the cast recroding. It's one of my favorites. Especially the new song.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:37pm

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:45pm

Cats, I'm sure it had to do with her injury, because I know she's been on a stag before. It was just really bad. She flubbed lyrics, looking to others to feed her her lines, and basically wandered around like a zombie with weird half-grin at all times.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:52pm

I like the new song, but I really want them to reverse it and "Bus From Amarillo"'s position. BFA works better at the end, and "Friend to Me" fits the Act I context better.

I was *not* terribly impressed with her vocally though.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:57pm

She gave a more than acceptable performance the night I saw her in Indianapolis.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 8:21pm

I didnt like her in birdie
I marginally enjoyed her in newsies

I never saw this sadly

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:08pm

Her u/s was Roxie Lucas who played Dotsey Mae.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:27pm

I happened to attend her June 16, 2001 perf of "Whorehouse" in San Antonio. (I referred to my Wall of Theatre ticket stubs for the info.) As I remember it, I went to go see it only because of Ann-Margret. It was an o.k. show. I wanted to see AM on the stage, having remembered her from those television specials of the 70's and some of her miniseries work. from RC in Austin, Texas

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 10:46pm

I went with my high school theatre group. I don't really remember much, other than not being impressed and wondering why they didn't have "I Will Always Love You" at the end. (Granted I was 14 at the time...)

[jbdc]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:54pm

She broke her wrist when she tripped over her cat.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/27/08 at 10:23am

Unfortunately, I saw Ann Margret in the tour. She was the only cast member using one of those concert mikes, so you got the impression that Miss Mona was inexplicably always on a phone call. And she never opened her mouth more than about a quarter of an inch. Her speech was slurred and by the end of the second act, she was a bit wobbly on the set.

I wish I had seen Roxie Lucas as Mona. Her Doatsy Mae was the best thing about the production.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 2/27/08 at 11:30am

Roxie was great, and Rob Donohoe's MELVIN P THORPE was fantastic, too! I thought Gary Sandy was not bad considering he had to act opposite a beaded piñata full of vikodin.

I saw the tour on its second night out and AM literally would point to a spot on the stage and walk to it to deliver lines.. she was pretty dreadful.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/27/08 at 12:08pm

and Rob Donohoe's MELVIN P THORPE was fantastic, too

He was ok. But it's hard for me to judge since I had the real Melvin P. Thorpe, Marvin Zindler, sitting directly behind me the entire show. His snoring was a bit distracting (I'm not kidding).

Updated On: 2/27/08 at 12:08 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/28/08 at 9:56pm

And some fun for all:

Ann-Margret 'sings' "Bus From Amarillo" and "Friend to Me"
BFA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qADIq2PKYGw
F2M - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC2ggmAQLBM

Roxie Lucas sings "Doatsey Mae"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDJ_YduzIGQ

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 2/28/08 at 10:23pm

Donna Granata designed the costumes for the tour - except for Ann Margarets, whose costumes were by Bob Mackie. When the understudy went on, did she use the ones for Ann Margaret or did Ms. Granata design those?
Does anyone know?

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 12:07am

Wasn't Bus from Amarillo the last song of the show at some point? Thought that was pretty powerful.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 1:41am

blaxx-
Yes. Sort of. It started out as a song for Angel, and then at some point during previews they gave it to Mona. At that point it ended Act 1, and the cast album was recorded. Towards the end of previews, they decided they needed a stronger song to end the show, and it was moved to the end of Act 2.

When Ann-Margret came on board, she wanted a new song, so "Bus From Amarillo" got moved back to Act 1, and "A Friend to Me" ended the show.

That said, given the scene at the end of Act 1 between Ed Earl and Mona, it makes more sense for "A Friend to Me" to go there. "A Friend to Me" has a more uplifting feel, whereas "Bus From Amarillo" is sadder and more in tone with what is going on.

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 3:15pm

I've heard alot of stories about this show, I still thinks she sounds good and looks Great....She is a Legend....
Updated On: 2/29/08 at 03:15 PM

[dfwactor]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 5:56pm

I saw this Whorehouse. It was pretty weak. Mona must be a strong singer/actress or the show will not work. AT ALL.

Best Mona I have seen (out of five) is Julie Johnson of Das Barbecu fame. JJ did it for Casa Manana at Bass Hall in Fort Worth about 8 years ago. She stopped the show with Bus from Amarillo.

But now I am off the topic of AM and her understudy. Apologies.