Roles That Never Leave the Stage

[NameGreg]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 11:37am

What are roles that are always onstage in their respective shows? Im guessing this applies to most one man shows. The only straight example that comes to mind is Pierre in Great Comet who was always present in the center, often playing piano when he didnt have a direct role in the ongoing action. Nora from A Dolls House Part 2 is an almost perfect example as well, only being offstage for about 10 seconds at the beginning and end. What other parts apply to this?

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 11:42am

Man In Chair - Drowsy Chaperone?
Does Bobby ever leave the stage in Company?

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 12:12pm

Littlechap in Stop The World.....
Katurian in The Pillowman (technically he's offstage for about the first minute of Act Two, but even then he's screaming from the wings, so for all intents and purposes is on stage the entire show)
The Lady in The Scottsboro Boys
Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha (I think? I'm not 100% certain on that one, but I believe he's typically on stage the entire show)
Most productions of Marat Sade have the full cast on stage the entire show
And then of course depending on how they're staged, shows like Cabaret (if the actors double as musicians) or Laramie Project may have actors on stage the entire time

[StardustsChild]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 12:14pm

This was a specific production choice, and not written into the script, but once Booth enters at the top of Assassins, he does not leave the stage. Mantello worked with a sort of haunting motif, so he was always crouched somewhere in the background even if he wasn't involved in the action.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 3:24pm

I'd argue the cast of Godspell as a whole counts, John/Judas and Jesus for sure. The rest of the cast disappears briefly to transition from "philosophers" into "clowns," for lack of a better way of putting it, but other than that short costume change, they never leave the stage, even during intermission. (At least in most productions.)

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 3:34pm

Most of if not at all the cast of Once was onstage the entire time.

[lachri5]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 4:47pm

Floyd Collins in Floyd Collins

[jpbran]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 4:51pm

It has been a long while since I’ve seen it, but doesn’t most of the cast of Come From Away stay on stage most of the time?

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 4:52pm

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Cassie ever leaves the stage in ACL until the “bows”.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 4:56pm

FosseTharp said: "Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Cassie ever leaves the stage in ACL until the “bows”."

Paul monologue?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 4:58pm

jpbran said: "It has been a long while since I’ve seen it, but doesn’t most of the cast of Come From Away stay on stage most of the time?"

They all leave the stage at various times.

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 5:02pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "FosseTharp said: "Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Cassie ever leaves the stage in ACL until the “bows”."

Paul monologue?"

Thanks! I’ve done the show twice, first as on Cut Team, then Larry.... I should have remembered that. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 5:09pm

FosseTharp said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "FosseTharp said: "Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Cassie ever leaves the stage in ACL until the “bows”."

Paul monologue?"

Thanks! I’ve done the show twice, first as on Cut Team, then Larry.... I should have remembered that."

Lucky you! Larry's a gem of a part.getting to do those great dances AND watch everyone else. So fun.

Updated On: 3/7/21 at 05:09 PM

[C.Jack]

Posted: 3/7/21 at 11:15pm

Most of the roles in Edwin Drood but specifically the Chairman.

[NameGreg]

Posted: 3/28/21 at 5:39pm

Original poster here.

I forgot one perfect example; Antonio Salieri in Amadeus.

Even when there’s a scene that he’s not present for, his actor is still onstage, only ever leaving for the intermission, where he admits that he has to pee. Clearly a joke about the actor’s need for a similar break.

Peter Shaffer was also clever for including several scenes where Salieri is scripted to eat onstage. These moments were very likely to added so that the lead actor can keep up his energy for this extremely demanding part.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 3/28/21 at 6:14pm

NameGreg said: "Original poster here.

I forgot one perfect example; Antonio Salieri in Amadeus.

Even when there’s a scene that he’s not present for, his actor is still onstage, only ever leaving for the intermission, where he admits that he has to pee. Clearly a joke about the actor’s need for a similar break.

Peter Shaffer was also clever for including several scenes where Salieri is scripted to eat onstage. These moments were very likely to added so that the lead actor can keep up his energy for this extremely demanding part."

Peter Shaffer did a similar thing for Equus. He writes in the production notes that the whole cast remains on stage, except for Alan's father in Act II.