Do you ever feel that understudies are underrated?

[MadPhan]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 3:40pm

Does anyone else feel understudies are underrated? I do. I have heard many stories of people upset because an understudy is on. Now, I understand wanting to see someone specific perform the role, but I would rather see the show at all then not. Also; some people think that when the understudy is on the show lacks something. For instance, last month seeing Wicked in Chicago, I noticed the pullout in the playbill saying an understudy was going on for Elphaba. When I told this to my dad, who has never seen the show before and has no knowledge about casts, he was like, "Aw, no... Really?" Turns out the understudy who went on, Dan'yelle Willamson, was WONDERFUL and did the part justice.
What does everyone think about this topic?
Updated On: 3/8/08 at 03:40 PM

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 3:44pm

Depends, I love Patti Lu Pone. I went to Sweeney just to see Patti Lu Pone (mostly i kinda like the music). I got an understudy. I think it is ok to be angry than. Otherwise then it is wrong.


What i mean is that if you are looking forward to see someone in particular and he/she isn't there than it is ok.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 3:48pm

Some understudies are overrated. Some are underrated. Some are rated exactly correctly. And it's exactly the same as the actors who are not understudies.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 3:50pm

I feel that they are underrated. They are just as talented as the lead, or character who normally plays the role.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 3:52pm

Exactly. I went to Spamalot just to see Marin Mazzie, and she was out. I was therefore disappointed with her understudy. However, I usually am happy when I get a few white slips in my playbill, as I may be witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime performance.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 4:14pm

Understudies as a category are incredibly underrated by the general public.
Many specific understudies are overrated by crazy fans.

It just depends.

http://www.broadwayunderstudies.com

Updated On: 3/8/08 at 04:14 PM

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 4:33pm

I have seen some understudies who were better than the stars they were replacing and I've seen some understudies who couldn't hit the notes...In most cases, the understudies are usually excellent although most may not have that unquantifiable "star charisma".

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 4:33pm

Many specific understudies are overrated by crazy fans.

Yeah some people are going chicken killer over at the Palace.

A lot of us think that the Original Cast are the cream of the crop, the replacements are the next best thing, and understudies should never be seen, but of course it just really depends.

In my case though, I've never seen an understudy I preferred to the main cast member (for shows I've seen more than once). I'm sure that there are some understudies out there better than the main cast member. However, initially, I do hate seeing those white slips.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 4:37pm

Um, did you see ACL with Charlotte? Her understudies are FAR superior to her.

Or understudies for Nicolette Hart in RENT? Because almost every understudy she has had this past year has been far superior in my opinion.

[shh282]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 4:42pm

Well some are underrated due to the fact that some people go to broadway shows to see specific actors, when I went to rent in the fall expecting to see Adam Pascal and getting Declan B. and then Luther C, I was so dismayed that I didn't give them much of a chance.


But other times I've quite enjoyed understudies.

wintersky- I loved Nicolette Hart, never saw her understudies though, but idk how any udnerstudy could surpass her

[LittleSally]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 4:42pm

I agree with you VeryNewYork. I'm all for understudies getting a break to show off their amazing talent, however there's a reason the original person was cast in the role and I like to see why. Granted it's not always for a reason I would agree with, but usally I prefer it.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 5:12pm

I have yet to see an understudy for Cassie. I am one of the very few people on this board who actually enjoyed Ms. D'Amboise, although last night I found a clip on YouTube of her Music and The Mirror, and it was pretty bad. Completely different from the last time I saw her last month.

I would like the see the understudy the next time I see the show though.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 5:25pm

Oh good, I think you'll enjoy either of her understudies much more. Nadine is similar in appearance to Charlotte but much younger looking. She can also act, sing and dance at the same time which is apparently quite a feat. Jessica Lea Patty is amazing as well. She's a very young Cassie and she has a fantastic voice.

Luckily there are two days that Charlotte is out every week. Nadine is on on Thursdays and Jessica is on on Sundays.

There are very many people who (over the course of A+A's return when the spotlight was much brighter on the show) who had MAJOR problems with Nicolette. She's a sweetheart and is definitely a likable person but her TMOLM is not my favorite and she doesn't have chemistry with most of her Joannes (she was FANTASTIC with Merle though). She just plays Maureen way too mature and jaded I think. She also screeches through her two songs and is a bit over the top in her performance.

Since Karmine does not go on as Maureen often, I hope you get to see Caren Lyn Manuel. Caren's voice is AMAZING and her TMOLM with Merle is ridiculously great. Haven was also a great Maureen as was Kelly Karbacz.

If you like over the top screeching Maureens then yes, Nicolette is your cup of tea. I really hope you get a chance to compare different Maureens in the future.
Updated On: 3/8/08 at 05:25 PM

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 5:31pm

Thursdays are usually my show nights, so I guess I'll be seeing Nadine the next time I see it, which will probably be next week. Thanks

[winter_sky]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 5:35pm

No problem, hope you enjoy her. She was my first Cassie and I adore her. I think she's fantastic.

[haddaddy3]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 5:48pm

When WICKED came to Cleveland Elphaba was injured and the understudy did like a week of the run. I saw her, I think her name was Victora Matlock and she was AMAZING! She later assumed the role on the tour.

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 5:54pm

I got an understudy for Roger Bart when he hurt his back. I hated the understudy

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 10:24pm

ok, i KNOW this is going to get me skwered, but i gotta say: the first time i saw last year's company revival, esparza was out; the understudy was bradley dean. after seeing raul, think dean gave a more nuanced performance. his bobby was, by comparison, more enigmatic than esparza's.

before you tar and feather me, let me hasten to add that raul's "being alive" was unsurpassed.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 10:42pm

Nadine is similar in appearance to Charlotte but much younger looking. She can also act, sing and dance at the same time which is apparently quite a feat

Speaking of being disappointed by understudies, I could not stand Nadine. I would put her Cassie in the "overrated" category. That said, I really enjoyed her as Val. Jessica Lea Patty was brilliant.

I've had a few instances where I've liked the understudies better than the original performers.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 10:52pm

Ha, love that. I was unimpressed by Nadine's Val but loved her Cassie. Jessica is a fantastic Cassie and Diana. I haven't seen her in her other roles yet.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 10:57pm

Jessica is a fantastic Cassie and Diana.

Her Sheila was really good, too.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 11:02pm

That is one of the few understudies I have never seen. I haven't seen an understudy for Maggie, Sheila or Judy. I hope to see Jessica in more of her roles. I've heard really great things about Maggie too.

[another_reprise]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 11:14pm

I had an understudy for Violet Weston (the actress' name escapes me at the moment) when I saw August: Osage County last Wednesday during the matinee. I thought she was absolutely incredible. She had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
It makes me want to go back down to NYC and see the regular actress in the role, just so I can compare the two performances.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 11:15pm

I love seeing understudies go on! I think they sometimes put in more energy than the usual actor who can (understandably) get tired and start to go through the motions. Additionally, they bring out the energy in the other actors because the understudy gives something new to play off of.
When I saw RENT, most recently, we had six understudies go on, and the show was much better, overall, than with the regular cast.

That said, I'll be really disappointed if I don't get to see Jonathan Groff in Spring Awakening this April. Otherwise, I love me some understudies!

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 11:54pm

This is why a website like BroadwayUnderstudies.com exists. I love seeing understudies in shows. I'm so excited for the At This Performance concerts coming up because I love to see understudies in their element and doing what they're meant to do.

Gobstopper, don't be upset if you end up seeing an understudy. Jesse Swenson and Matt Doyle are both fantastic in the role.