When understudies SHOULD have gone on

[binau]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 3:49am

Does anyone have any stories/anecdotes of actors you’ve seen on stage who probably should have called in sick

I don’t mean those with very mild ailments. For example, when I saw Patti in “War Paint” I saw her visibly cough a few times and then eventually she missed performances but overall she still sung and performed well so it’s not really what I’m talking about.

However, I saw Bernadette in “Old Friends” many times and one performance she was so sick her voice almost completely gone, she could barely sing on pitch and on the last note of “Losing my mind” she wasn’t able to hold “mind”, instead repeating “my mind, my mind, my mind” three times. I realised that, even if it meant breaking her practically perfect attendance record post-Gypsy, she probably should have taken the night off.

Who else? 

Updated On: 1/15/25 at 03:49 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 5:44am

This happened a few times at A STRANGE LOOP, but the result would’ve been a cancelled show since often many were sick at the same time and the producers refused to hire more coverage (which was stupid as this was the immediate post-COVID era). Once or twice, there had to be a midway switch of roles because of illness.

[THDavis]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 9:14am

Over 15 years ago, I won the Wicked lottery and Nicole Parker was struggling with the vocals. The Wizard and I was mutually uncomfortable (especially from front row center) and I saw her whisper something to Nessa during the first classroom scene. Next entrance (or so), Jennifer DiNoia came out fully costumed and was announced at intermission. 
 

I commend Nicole for making the decision when she did, even if it meant one tough song. Having seen her since, she’s indeed a very talented performer. And Jennifer DiNoia is a FORCE!

[inception]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 9:22am

When I saw the headline I thought was going to be in response to the reports of the Met's New Year's Eve gala performance of Aida 2 weeks ago   Star Piotr Beczała was so ill he gave one of the worst performances of his career.  At intermission it was announced that he was ill, but he continued with the second act anyways even though he could barely sing.  He was replaced for subsequent performances. The biggest shame was they knew full well as reports from the dress rehearsal days before were that he was very ill.  Hopefully he will be well enough for the live film broadcast on the 25th.  When he is at his best he's a great performer. I saw him in Lohengrin in 2023 & he carries that piece on his shoulders for about 3 hours.