When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead

[pab]

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.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:40pm

I 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.

[pab]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:42pm

It 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.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:42pm

Jana Robbins was better than Linda Lavin as Rose.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:43pm

Vance Avery was better than several of the Emcee's I saw.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:09pm

Indina Menzel was not as good as her understudy.

[pab]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:12pm

In RENT or in WICKED?

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:14pm

Katy Grenfell was much better as Tracey Turnblad than Marissa Jaret Winokur. Even the creative team agreed but producers always win.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:16pm

I saw Kim Lindsay as Magnolia in Show Boat. She was Rebecca Luker's understudy and I liked her better.

[mominator]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:18pm

Saw Gypsy near the end of the run. In the role of Louise it was Julie Martell (in for Tammy Blanchard) and she was wonderful.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:19pm

I 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.

[Britt0913]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:20pm

Elizabeth Loyacano, the understudy for Mina Murray in Dracula, was better (in my opinion) than Melissa Errico.

[broadwayguy2]

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.

[pab]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:34pm

Of 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.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:52pm

Sean McCourt was better than Joel Grey in Wicked. Updated On: 10/19/04 at 07:52 PM

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:57pm

Sean 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.

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:57pm

Sean 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.

[Delphine]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:42pm

I second Dominique Roy in RENT and B-Fo in AQ. I like both of them better than the actors they understudy.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:44pm

Barrett Foa is FABU in anything he does!

[TheAudrey3]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:45pm

Definitely agree with the Serge Kushnier thing, I absolutely LOVED his Link Larkin

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:49pm

I liked Cheyenne Jackson more than Will Chase and Adam Pascal...(saw him twice in Aida while he was covering both guys.)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:04pm

I KNEW that was coming!

[Tiny-Toon]

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]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:43pm

I saw Shoshana Bean instead of Kathy Brier in Hairspray and thought she was awesome!

[jezzebelle]

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.