When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
#0When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
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.
"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!"
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#1re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:40pmI did not see Melanie Brown in RENT, but her understudy Dominique Roy was fantastic. Hearing what has been said about Mel in it, I'm assuming she would not have been as good as her understudy.
#2re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:42pmIt would really surprise me anyone could have been worse than Mel in that part. I only wish I had seen her understudy the night I saw her do the 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!"
#3re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:42pmJana Robbins was better than Linda Lavin as Rose.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#4re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:43pmVance Avery was better than several of the Emcee's I saw.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
#5re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:09pmIndina Menzel was not as good as her understudy.
#6re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:12pmIn RENT or in WICKED?
"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!"
bronxboundexpress
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/15/04
#7re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:14pmKaty Grenfell was much better as Tracey Turnblad than Marissa Jaret Winokur. Even the creative team agreed but producers always win.
#8re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:16pmI saw Kim Lindsay as Magnolia in Show Boat. She was Rebecca Luker's understudy and I liked her better.
Hey Dottie!
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#9re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:18pmSaw Gypsy near the end of the run. In the role of Louise it was Julie Martell (in for Tammy Blanchard) and she was wonderful.
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
Conan O'Brien
#10re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:19pmI saw the the understudy for Vanessa Olivarez (Tracy) in Toronto's Hairspray and she wasn't very good at all. She lacked the playfulness and didn't seem to know the character at all. Olivarez was much better, and has since grown into the role and has become an AWESOME Tracy.
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HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
#11re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:20pmElizabeth Loyacano, the understudy for Mina Murray in Dracula, was better (in my opinion) than Melissa Errico.
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#12re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:23pm
I liked Adam Fleming and John Hill more than Matt Morrison in Hairspray.
Liked serge Kushnier more than Rich Blake in Hairspray. haven't seen Jeff Martin yet.
#13re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:34pmOf course there was the case of Judy Kaye who was the understudy for Madeline Kahn in "On the Twentieth Century". When Madeline left the show, she took over and was, by all accounts, better in the 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!"
#14re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:52pmSean McCourt was better than Joel Grey in Wicked. Updated On: 10/19/04 at 07:52 PM
AnothaPartofMe
Broadway Star Joined: 5/22/04
#15re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:57pmSean McCourt... but regardless, Joel Grey is a living legend. To see that man onstage, doing what he is (was, now that he's left the show) doing is just once in a lifetime.
And if she'll say, "My darling, I'm yours!" I'll throw away my striped tie and my best pressed tweed, all I really need is the girl...
AnothaPartofMe
Broadway Star Joined: 5/22/04
#16re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:57pmSean McCourt... but regardless, Joel Grey is a living legend. To see that man onstage, doing what he is (was, now that he's left the show) doing is just once in a lifetime.
And if she'll say, "My darling, I'm yours!" I'll throw away my striped tie and my best pressed tweed, all I really need is the girl...
#17re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:42pmI second Dominique Roy in RENT and B-Fo in AQ. I like both of them better than the actors they understudy.
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#18re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:44pmBarrett Foa is FABU in anything he does!
#19re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:45pmDefinitely agree with the Serge Kushnier thing, I absolutely LOVED his Link Larkin
"It does what a musical's supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue."
NativeNewYorker
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/03
#20re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:49pmI liked Cheyenne Jackson more than Will Chase and Adam Pascal...(saw him twice in Aida while he was covering both guys.)
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#21re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:04pmI KNEW that was coming!
#22re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:16pm
Okay.. i didn't see Idina in WICKED, But i did see Eden in it..
Everyboday said the Eden was better
stokesrocks
Stand-by Joined: 9/30/04
#23re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:43pmI saw Shoshana Bean instead of Kathy Brier in Hairspray and thought she was awesome!
jezzebelle
Featured Actor Joined: 4/19/04
#24re: When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead
Posted: 10/19/04 at 11:11pm
Sean Mccourt as the wizard rocked my world. Joel Grey is a living legend, no doubt, but Sean made the part his own and did a lot with a scarcely written part.
Eden was just as good as Idina, if not better, in some cases.
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