Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 5:55pm

I've noticed that lately, I've played a bunch of characters who feature prominently in Act One and then don't do much of anything later on. It's surprising how many there are.

The ones that immediately spring to mind for me are Fantine in Les Mis, Mufasa in The Lion King, and the Wolf in Into the Woods (I know on Broadway, it's the same actor[s] playing the prince[s], but in both amateur productions I've seen, they've been different actors).

Who else gets to chill backstage for the majority of an act?

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 5:59pm

Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels comes to mind first.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:00pm

Fantine is in both acts.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:00pm

Marge from Promises, Promises. The character is only in the second act.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:06pm

Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde - Mentioned once in Act 1, becomes the main figure throughout Act 2.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:22pm

Depending on how it's handled (With or without intermission), Berthe in "Pippin" comes in, sings a song, knocks the socks off the audience, and is offstage in 10 minutes.

Also, Beverly in "August: Osage County" is done 15 minutes in.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:25pm

Both Riff and Bernardo in West Side Story.

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:41pm

Gabrielle and Nicholas in "Lestat," though Gabrielle was brought back for a token appearance at the end of Act II.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:45pm

June and Tulsa in GYPSY

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:49pm

Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde - Mentioned once in Act 1, becomes the main figure throughout Act 2.

I know it's not the question, but the actress is part of the Greek Chorus in the first act under the name Shandi.

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:50pm

Mrs T from Avenue Q
Miss Andrews from Mary Poppins

Updated On: 7/25/10 at 06:50 PM

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:52pm

Bill Sykes doesn't come in until Act 2 of Oliver.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 6:54pm

Maria in Lend Me a Tenor is in the first and last 15 minutes.
I know it's on one act but [e-mail] is only in the last party of Everyday Rapture.
Maureen in Rent gets to chill for the majority of Act 1.
Updated On: 7/25/10 at 06:54 PM

[JOak]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 7:04pm

The Dindon's in La Cage Aux Folles.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 7:08pm

Perón's mistress

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 7:15pm

Harrison Howell in Kiss Me Kate is only in Act 2

Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray doesn't show up until the end of Act One

Teen Angel in Grease

Richard Henry Lee in 1776

[Jon]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 7:20pm

Actually, if you do the "Somewhere" ballet as originally written, Riff and Bernardo appear in Act 2 during the "Nightmare" section.

In A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, the daughter who is the central character in the novel and movie, doesn't appear until Act 2 of the musical. The entire first act is the "back story" of her parents meeting, faling in love and marrying. Updated On: 7/25/10 at 07:20 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 7:27pm

King Herod - JCS

That's pretty weak, but it's all I can think of now. :-/

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 7:37pm

The strippers are only in Act 2 of Gypsy, although one of the actresses may double as Miss Cratchitt in Act 1.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 7:48pm

Pirelli - Sweeney Todd

[wicked1492]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 9:17pm

Trix, the Dominatrix in DROWSY
Ulla in THE PRODUCERS

[HumATune]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 9:29pm

Glinda in THE WIZ only appears in Act 2 (although I know she's sometimes doubled with Aunt Em).

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 9:33pm

Big Edie in GREY GARDENS is in the Prelude of Act I and then isn't seen again until Act II.

[onedaymore]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 10:13pm

Sarah in Ragtime dies at the end of Act I.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 10:33pm

Doesn't Sarah come back for "Sarah Brown Eyes" though?