Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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?

In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels comes to mind first.

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Fantine is in both acts.

-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

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

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

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

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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.

http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Both Riff and Bernardo in West Side Story.

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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.

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

June and Tulsa in GYPSY

I adore the black band holding on the Phantom's mask. ~ Jenna2

#10

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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.

#11

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Mrs T from Avenue Q
Miss Andrews from Mary Poppins

Everything in life...is only for now.

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

#12

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

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

#13

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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 broadwayislove@earthink.net 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

#14

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

The Dindon's in La Cage Aux Folles.

#15

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Perón's mistress

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia

#16

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel

#17

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

#18

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

King Herod - JCS

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

....but the world goes 'round

#19

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#20

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Pirelli - Sweeney Todd

....but the world goes 'round

#21

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Trix, the Dominatrix in DROWSY
Ulla in THE PRODUCERS

"These rabid fans...possess the acting talent to portray the hooker...Linda Eder..." -The New York Times

#22

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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).

#23

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#24

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

Sarah in Ragtime dies at the end of Act I.

Whoever says money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to shop. - Bo Derek

#25

Characters That Are Really Only In One Act

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

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

http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer

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