Do you ever feel that understudies are underrated?- Page 2

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 3/9/08 at 12:12am

My heart kind of sank when I saw that Heather Parcells was out but Lyndy Franklin was amazing!!! I told her as much when I randomly bumped into her on the street.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/9/08 at 12:17am

It depends on the show though. If I go see a show for a particular star (aka CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF for Anika Noni Rose, GYPSY for Laura Benanti, etc) I would be quite disappointed if I get an understudy. If I go see a show like WICKED, PHANTOM, or a touring show--except if a star is touring which rarely happens--then I really don't mind who I see in the part as long as they do justice to the material.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/9/08 at 12:21am

My heart kind of sank when I saw that Heather Parcells was out but Lyndy Franklin was amazing!!!

Lucky. I've seen one understudy for Judy and she was horrible. Saw Lyndy Franklin as Kristine and Maggie. Her Kristine was funny, but her Maggie was BRILLIANT.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/9/08 at 12:47am

A few years ago, during the height of Wicked-mania, a friend and I took a trip out to New York to see Idina, but she was out for the week. It didn't destroy my experience.

And like another_reprise, I was at August: Osage County at the Wednesday matinee when Deanna Dunagan was out and Susanne Marley went on, and I absolutely loved her performance.

My basic theory with understudies is that they were hired for a reason, so I try not to be too disappointed. I'm often pleasantly surprised, or in the case of August, completely blown away by their work. However, I do understand the disappointment when the sole reason you go to see a show is out.

[turquoisefish]

Posted: 3/9/08 at 6:19am

I have seen a lot of shows in London and on tour an seen a lot of understudies. I have enormous respect for them, if they are covering a 'name' then there can often be a groan when their name is announced which can't be nice.
I greatly preferred Annalene Beechey to Helen Dallimore as Galinda in Wicked (London) and love CJ when she covers Elphaba. In The Drowsy Chaperone's short run the understudy covered Mrs Tottendale for the end of the run, She was about 50 years to young for the role but was amazing, played the role a bit differently of course but if you had no prior knowledge of the show you wouldn't have noticed a problem.
When I first saw The Woman in White Michael Crawford and Maria Friedman were both out and I was dissapointed but I got over it.

I don't want to be negative but there are understudies that can't hit the high noted (I am thinking of the narrator in Joseph here) but it is still a difficult job knowing 2 or more roles in a show.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:41pm

If you are going to see a show with a bona fide star and they are out then I think you have a right to be disappointed.

However, I think it ridiculous to get all up in arms if there is an understudy on for an actor who you don't even know who they are.

Let look at Spring Awakening for example:

There are no above the title stars in that show.

The person (tourist) who has no prior knowledge of Spring Awakening or it's cast members isn't going to be able to tell the difference in the quality of performance between Lea Michele and Alexandra Socha. A groupie who sees the show ovbsessively (as they do) would be able to tell a diffence, good or bad, but not a tourist.

Understudy does not equal "less talented." There have been plenty of times when I have seen an understudy and preferred them over the original actor contracted for the part.

Before Meredith Patterson took over the role of Peggy Sawyer in the 2001 revival of 42nd Street she was Kate Levering's understudy. The first time I saw the show I saw Meredith and really disappointed that I wasn't seeing Kate even though I really didn't know who Kate was. I went back the next after seeing Meredith and saw Kate and found that I didn't miss anything special. I preferred Meredith over Kate.

Updated On: 3/10/08 at 03:41 PM

[lildogs]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:49pm

"bonefied star"

You mean like Sylvia Miles?

(It's bona fide)

Smart-a$$ aside, I saw Hunter's understudy in URINETOWN and I thought he was a much better singer and as good an actor. He just wasn't as cute (and I don't think Hunter is all that cute).

[Tom1071]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 4:44pm

Thanks for the correction.

Wasn't Sylvia Miles the old lady on the first episode of the 5th season of Sex and the City who liked to crush her lithium and sprinkle it over her ice cream?
Updated On: 3/10/08 at 04:44 PM

[jrb]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 4:58pm

I have a few friends who regularly understudy and I have to say that it is one of the most thankless jobs around.
Not only is there a lot of work and far too little pay, but you have to deal with that disappointment that has become the subject of this very thread - but from the other side.
Imagine what it must be like for people understudying big stars, or even Tony nominated performers. Knowing that the audience came to see the person for whom you are filling in. That must be nerve wracking, to say the least.
I know that the window of time between Tony nominations and a few months after the Tonys is especially scary for understudies. That's when the audience is most interested in seeing a personality or a specific performance. Must be interesting.

[lildogs]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 5:00pm

"Wasn't Sylvia Miles the old lady on the first episode of the 5th season of Sex and the City who liked to crush her lithium and sprinkle it over her ice cream?"

Probably...she sleeps in the studio.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 5:45pm

I usually go to shows to see certain performers. I'm a lil bit disappointed when I get those white slips in my playbill but once the show starts I'm ok with it. As long as the understudy can sing and act I'm happy with it. When I saw The Phantom of the Opera I had the alternates and I thought they were better than the leads. In Rent I got Merle Dandrigde as Joanne and thought she was alot better than the lead(whos name excapes me right now). I saw Megan McGinnis in her understudy days in Les Mis and it's no wonder she got the role of Eponine when Celia left. I think Lisa Brescia(standby) is extremely underrated. She's AMAZING.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 7:14pm

I wouldn't say underrated, necessarily. But definitely underappreciated.

[itsagift]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:22pm

Do your creative self a favor. See a Chorus Line on Sunday. Jessica Lea Patty is not only the best Cassie, her Diana and Maggie are great performances, also.

[steven22]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:37pm

in feb 2006 i saw katie adams s/b in wicked instead of Megan Hilty..and I saw Hilty a few months before and I thought Katie Adams was much better

caryn lyn manuel is MUCH better than nicolette hart in rent

[LittlexFallxOfxRain]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:30pm

Yes, yes, a hundred times yes. Eryn Murman and Karmine Alers to name a few.