Sweeney Todd -- any use of U/S for leads yet?- Page 2

[mijofly19]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:44pm

I know that Sweeney started with 4 understudies. But according to my Playbill from two weeks ago (and IBDB), they've added David Hess. He apparently covers Fogg, Turpin, Sweeney, and the Beadle. I dont' know what would happen if Ben and Mano were sick though, since Ben Eakeley is the only one who covers both of them.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:44pm

I think understudies can be doing other shows at the same time though. Like Charolette D'Amboise. She was the understudy for Charity but was heading Chicago at the same time.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:49pm

Standbys are as follows:
Merwin Foard- Standby for Sweeney Todd, Judge Turpin
Dorothy Stanley-Standby Mrs. Lovett, Pirelli
BENJAMIN EAKELEY -Standby Tobias, Anthony, The Beadle
ELISA WINTER -standby Johanna, Beggar Woman
DAVID HESS -Standby Sweeney Todd, Judge Turpin, The Beadle, Fogg
Stephen McIntyre-Standby Fogg
JESSICA WRIGHT -Standby Beggar Woman, Pirelli

Every single person is covered in one way or another. 2 standbys for each character except Patti.

Updated On: 3/9/06 at 07:49 PM

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:51pm

Patti only has 1 standby.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 8:07pm

From what I've heard, if a performer is out, they may have two understudies go one. One as the actor/singer, and one as the musician. For example, I hear that Donna Lynne (Pirelli) only has one understudy who plays the accordion. When Ben Magnuson was out, his understudy didn't play any instruments. Not sure if Dorothy Stanley played tuba when she went on for Patti. That's all I know.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:14pm

Yeah, when Magnuson was out, Eakeley didn't play an instrument (unless you count his adorable helping with Patti's triangle), but I wonder if they let it slide because they at least have one cello player in Lauren? The night Benjamin was out was my first time seeing the show, so I didn't notice anything different about the music. But yeah, if say, Mano's out and his U/S doesn't play the violin, they're not going to just do without a violin, are they? Obviously not.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:14pm

Yes, they did add standbys, including David and Jessica. I think more of the purpose is to try to get rid of the two-for-one standbys thing. Like Elisa, who plays cello, is the standby for Johanna and Beggar Woman. So if she went on for Beggar Woman, someone else would play the clarinet. But now they're having Jessica learn the clarinet, so she'd be able to sing and play the part. I can't say for sure that's what their goal is, but from what I know, it seems that way.

I suppose it's also good in case either the two characters one standby was supposed to cover are sick, or if the character and the standby are sick, the show can still go on.

But Em, your question confused me. Did you mean the above, like if 2 or sick, or just anyone? If you meant one, I think putting "understudies" in the thread confused you. Every substitute in Sweeney are standbys. They are all in the theatre for every performance. There's not one substitute who has another part, as an understudy would. So, does that clear it up?

And there's more difficulties in standing by these parts that meets the eye. Like who would "conduct" when Donna was out, the actor or instrumentalist (mostly the actor), etc.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:20pm

In response to keatonbynumbers:

Benjamin Magnuson and Lauren Molina don't often play the same music on cello. Sometimes Lauren is doing something nice and flow-y while Ben's plucking. I can't remember specifics, but they weren't always together.

And I think the instrumentalist would sniff, or conduct, as Donna does. Because when she does it, she also plays along. Maybe she starts once she is ready and sees everyone else is ready too. An actor might not be able to check on the other musicials, maybe they're already singing something.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:23pm

wrq, I mean, say... say Manoel got sick (don't get sick, Mano!). And his understudy went on for him. There's gotta be an extra swing-type person to play the understudy's part, right? They can't just be short a character.

Updated On: 3/9/06 at 09:23 PM

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:24pm

Benjamin Magnuson and Lauren Molina don't often play the same music on cello. Sometimes Lauren is doing something nice and flow-y while Ben's plucking. I can't remember specifics, but they weren't always together.

Oh, I know. I was just wondering if, since there's two of them, if they didn't feel that missing one of them was too bad. Since there wasn't a replacement cello player for Benjamin. I think there are a few (or at least one) moments when they're both playing (not plucking, etc.) But like I said, when Benjamin was out, that was my first time seeing it and I didn't notice anything "off" about the music.

[Doogie]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:31pm

The understudy situation is insanely complicated, and my hat goes off to each and every one of them.
Updated On: 3/9/06 at 09:31 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:32pm

No Em that's the point. There's no understudies in Sweeney, only standbys. They don't have parts aside from subbing. There's just the 8 main actors--Michael, Patti, Lauren, Manoel, Benjamin, Diana, Donna, John, and Alex. So if Mano was sick, one of the 2 standbys we listed would go on.

Gypsy, I wasn't speculating. They worked out that Jessica (who was acting) would mainly conduct and not Elisa (who was instrumentaling, though that's not a word) except for a couple things piano-related. It was just amusing because the other actors were more confused, wanting to know who to watch/listen for, etc.

I'm surprised Elisa didn't play cello when Benjamin was out; the way there system is, that would seem to be what I think would happen...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:33pm

That's what I thought.

*head.... spins*

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:37pm

I guess they're trying very hard to not have "extra" people onstage. To have someone onstage just playing the cello really takes away from the stifling "asylum" feel of the show--"Well, what's with that chick, she just plays the cello, she doesn't even have any lines!"

(I mean, obviously John Arbo doesn't have a big part, but he does play Fogg so he doesn't just stand onstage and play bass.)

In some situations, I guess it's just unavoidable, though.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:46pm

Sorry, wickedrentq. That was just my speculation. I just say what I hear from friends who saw understudies, friends of friends, etc.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:47pm

GOD! they are all so so so so so so so so so talented!

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:51pm

It's not nice to tease the Donna Murphy fans.

<----Mrs Lovett is my dream roll for the lady on the left. Would be thrilled if she replaced when Patti left...however unlikely that is...

She plays the piano, violin and accordian...though not the tuba...

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:55pm

Oh, and I heard from a friend that saw it with Dorothy in for Patti that there was no tuba used at all.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:56pm

I think the tuba is more of a novelty than it is a contributor to the score. Patti and the tuba, oh my.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 9:57pm

Yeah, I'm kinda okay with that, since I feel uncomfortable with the idea of ever seeing anyone OTHER than Patti LuPone playing the tuba, ever. Patti + tuba = hotness.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:14am

When Dorothy goes on do they put the same kind of black wig on her or does she have a different hairstyle? I mean she looks alot different than Patti and I was wondering how she tackles the character.

[Sluggy]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 9:37pm

Does anyone else think that Linda Mugleston would be killer as the Beggar Woman? I've thought this for a while. Would have jumped into the thread sooner, but I've been away.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:20am

In news about understudies, Ben Eakley went on for Ben Magnuson on sunday. I heard he did well.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:23am

Yes and no about the tuba. Is it absolutely essential to the score in the way that, say Champlin's accordian is? No. But the sound of the tuba is used to great effect - particularly in the Judge's "Johanna."

[got-a-light]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:29am

Princeton78 for what it's worth your joke made me laugh out loud. i'm probaly a b*tch because of it, but the donna murphy jokes never get old to me.