Ben Platt Put On Vocal Rest — Page 2

Oh dear goodness. You know who I once saw as an understudy? Andy Karl in the national tour of Disney's On the Record in the early-to-mid 2000s (had to entertain an elementary schooler).



Like they said, you never know who is going to be on or off. Just enjoy that you are seeing a show.

Skylark3...Still see the show, it is amazing. From what I hear Colton is so great in the role too! Different from Ben but still so right for it. And hey, maybe you'll be able to say I saw the show the day it won the tony!

I have a ticket for tomorrow night, so I am holding out hope that he will be back. If not, I will be disappointed, but it happens. I'm sure I will love the show anyway.

Updated On: 6/9/17 at 09:28 PM

Margo319 said: "Yeah, this person is Minority Reporting themselves. Chill, dude/chick.



"

Awesome and super helpful. I hope he is out when you go next week! Because You're "sure he'll be back by then" (based on nothing).

Updated On: 6/10/17 at 01:16 AM

Margo319 said: "HAHA. I love how you single me out while others call you "insufferable", which you are. He won't be out next Friday, sweetheart. He'll have plenty of REST this weekend! Kiss Kiss.





"I hope you're right, kitten, ?? Also, it appears I'm not the only insufferable one.

Updated On: 6/10/17 at 01:26 AM

Skylark3 said: "Insufferable? Actually, I'm just colossally disappointed.no more,no less.



I think we all can agree that you will deserve to be really disappointed if Ben is not on on Sunday, especially since you are flying in from out of town. That has happened to me several times, so I understand how you feel to some extent.



But just keep in mind that many, probably the majority, of people reading your comments also live outside of New York and cannot comprehend the possibility of having the money to fly into NYC for the weekend and pay big bucks to see a broadway show as expensive as DEH. I am sure the way you specifically described your situation received very little sympathy from many readers. I think you should take a step back and tell yourself you are really fortunate to be financially and physically healthy enough to make the trip regardless if Ben is on.

Updated On: 6/10/17 at 03:16 AM

Skylark3, if it makes you feel any better, I was in your position a couple of months ago. We get regular-price tickets for Dear Evan Hansen, which seemed quite lucky just a few days in advance, and then Ben Platt was out sick the Sunday before we're supposed to see him on a Wednesday. Rumors fly about him taking the week off because he's ill and it's Passover. I comfort myself with the positive things I read about his understudy's performance. It ended up working out. Platt was in Wednesday's show.

The year before, I pay more money than I ever have to see entertainment (OBC of Hamilton) and things are looking good. I'm seeing the show on a Tuesday. Everyone seemed to be around except for Oak. Lin-Manuel Miranda is just back from a vacation. But then he gets sick at the Monday show, has laryngitis, needs to rest his throat, and he's out for our show. Now, Hamilton is a somewhat different musical, in that there were a bunch of people I was really hoping to see, but Miranda in his own show after I'd learned the cast recording by heart, that was going to be special. You know what? I actually met him, standing around outside the theatre, said a brief hello, went inside and immediately forgot he wasn't in the show once Javier Munoz took the stage.

You might not see Ben Platt on Sunday afternoon. But if you don't, you will probably see the rest of the cast, including a likely winner in Rachel Bay Jones, and a co-favorite for Best Musical on the day of the Tonys. It's going to be a pretty revved-up audience regardless. And worst case, you seem to be in a position to pay extra money to see it later if you want to see him.

You are obviously an experienced theatregoer. I don't blame you one bit for being disappointed, but don't let it ruin the weekend. And Platt, being the trooper that he usually is, might just be in Sunday's show after all.

Updated On: 6/10/17 at 03:46 AM

bear88 said: "Skylark3, if it makes you feel any better, I was in your position a couple of months ago. We get regular-price tickets for Dear Evan Hansen, which seemed quite lucky just a few days in advance, and then Ben Platt was out sick the Sunday before we're supposed to see him on a Wednesday. Rumors fly about him taking the week off because he's ill and it's Passover. I comfort myself with the positive things I read about his understudy's performance. It ended up working out. Platt was in Wednesday's show.

The year before, I pay more money than I ever have to see entertainment (OBC of Hamilton) and things are looking good. I'm seeing the show on a Tuesday. Everyone seemed to be around except for Oak. Lin-Manuel Miranda is just back from a vacation. But then he gets sick at the Monday show, has laryngitis, needs to rest his throat, and he's out for our show. Now, Hamilton is a somewhat different musical, in that there were a bunch of people I was realy hoping to see, but Miranda in his own show after I'd learned the cast recording by heart, that was going to be special. You know what? I actually met him, standing around outside the theatre, said a brief hello, went inside and immediately forgot he wasn't in the show once Javier Munoz took the stage.

You might not see Ben Platt on Sunday afternoon. But if you don't, you will probably see the rest of the cast, including a likely winner in Rachel Bay Jones, and a co-favorite for Best Musical on the day of the Tonys. It's going to be a pretty revved-up audience regardless. And worst case, you seem to be in a position to pay extra money to see it later if you want to see him.

You are obviously an experienced theatregoer. I don't blame you one bit for being disappointed, but don't let it ruin the weekend. And Platt, being the trooper that he usually is, might just be in Sunday's show after all.



"

I live outside of New York and fly in to see shows. When I book my shows, I always have in the back of my mind that actors could be out. I do strategize for the best days and time to avoid it. Nonetheless it happens. There have been a few times that I preferred the understudy over the lead. Nonetheless, DEH is a great show that shouldn't be missed with or without Platt.

It occurs to me that I have the perfect solution. Ben feels fine, he just can't talk. I vote that he shows up and pantomimes his performance while they play the ocr in the background. I'd be happy with that.

While I completely understand the disappointment felt by those who looked forward to seeing Platt, the person that I can really empathize with is Colton Ryan. He is going on for someone whose performance has been repeatedly described as the best or one of the best male performances on Broadway over the past 10-20 years, and Colton will undoubtedly be compared to that performance which will be impossible to duplicate, no matter how competent he is in the role.

It sort of reminds me of Bobby Murcer being called up by the Yankees to replace Micky Mantle as their center fielder. Was Murcer ever the player that the legendary Mantle was? Of course not, but he did go on to have an excellent career with the Yankees. But I would never have wanted to be in Murcer's position as Mantle's replacement.

I've seen the video of Colton singing Waving and yes, it wasn't great. But there's a certain audio of him floating around and he truly sounds fantastic. Different than Ben, but in a good way. Ben or Colton, you'll be able to see and appreciate this wonderful show.