#1
Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:38pm
First of all, I'm sorry if this thread has been done but searching for "Understudy" just gave me too many replies to go through.
During the past two trips I made to New York I accumulated a number of those little papers stuck in my playbills informing me who was not in on that particular night and who would be playing their part(s). In most cases there was little effect on the show as a whole but in other cases there was definitely something missing (the performance was not as good) or something added (the performance was even better).
For example, in June, the understudy for Velma Von Tussle, in Hairspray, left a lot to be desired. I had seen the show before and was familiar with the cast recording and she just did not cut it. Earlier this month however, I saw Barrett Foa, in for John Tartaglia, in Avenue Q and I did not feel that I had missed anything in that production.
There are also cases where I have preferred the performance of the understudy and I was wondering what experiences others have had with seeing someone other than the "Star" perform their particular role.
During the past two trips I made to New York I accumulated a number of those little papers stuck in my playbills informing me who was not in on that particular night and who would be playing their part(s). In most cases there was little effect on the show as a whole but in other cases there was definitely something missing (the performance was not as good) or something added (the performance was even better).
For example, in June, the understudy for Velma Von Tussle, in Hairspray, left a lot to be desired. I had seen the show before and was familiar with the cast recording and she just did not cut it. Earlier this month however, I saw Barrett Foa, in for John Tartaglia, in Avenue Q and I did not feel that I had missed anything in that production.
There are also cases where I have preferred the performance of the understudy and I was wondering what experiences others have had with seeing someone other than the "Star" perform their particular role.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
