Worst Understudy Ever?
Worst Understudy Ever?
#0Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 6:59pm
I'm sure we've all gone to theatre and heard these words:
At tonight's performance, the role of soandso will be played by soandso. Most of the time, they aren't very good. But who was the worst?
Mine was Linda Muggleston, standing in for Marin Mazzie in "Kiss Me, Kate". It was my second time, and I'd seen both Stokes and Marin in the roles. This night, they were both out. She was truly terrible. She forgot the words to almost every song.
About two months ago, Charles Isherwood wrote an article about understudies, and a week later, somebocy who must have attended the performance I went to wrote a letter, explaining everything I just said. I'm glad it wasn't just me who felt this way.
Linda is no Brooke Shields' understudy in "Wonderful Town". She famously filled in for Donna Murphy over 70 times when she was playing Ruth, although, Donna was there all four times I saw it, and always sounded incredible. Linda also understudied Vanessa Williams in "Into the Woods" and Mary Stuart Masterson in "Nine". Luckily, on the nights I went, Vanessa and Mary were there, and I didn't have to sit through Linda again.
What is your worst understudy experience?
#1re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:00pm
The understudy for Michelle T. Williams in AIDA.
Awful!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#2re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:09pmI usually don't mind understudies...but if I'd have to choose one, I'd probably say Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, who understudied BeBe. It's not that she was bad. She just wasn't Velma.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
bronxboundexpress
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/15/04
#3re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:11pmThat black man who understudies for Leo Norbert Butz in WICKED.
#4re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:18pmAre you referring to Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel's husband who subbed for Norbert when he hurt his back? My cousin said he was very good.
#5re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:19pmi don't remember his name, but the person i saw understudy Boq in wicked was terrible. his voice was just alright, but he messed up and cut off multiple lines. it was only the first time i saw it, but i knew that he had messed up. it was just awful! Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:19 PM
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
#6re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:19pmLinda has been annoying me lately, speaking of which. Every time I see her in Wonderful Town (even though she's in the ensemble), she looks bored out of her mind. Watch her in Swing. She walks through the dance with a scowl on her face.
#7re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:21pm
The worst understudy?
I never bother remembering the name...probably someone in les mis though...
"I think Harvey [Fierstein] wishes he were a black woman. I say he's the largest black woman in the show. I wish Harvey were straight, cuz I'd do him in a minute. I like big burly mother f***ers like him." ~Mary Bond Davis on Harvey Fierstein Thanks to Mistress @ spouzic.com
#8re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:24pmWithout a doubt the worst understudy I've ever seen was on the RENT Tour in June...Aaron Tveit as Roger. He's like the fourth understudy or something like that and I was so disappointed I could have cried, his acting was so-so but his singing was aboslutely atrocious...he couldn't even stay on pitch. Anyone else see his awful performance? Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:24 PM
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#9re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:24pmShbrtAlley44, I know exactly what you mean. In Christopher Street, you can defintiely tell she is saying to herself, "I am so much better than this...oh yeah, I need to walk off stage now!!!" And I have seen it three times...
#10re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:25pmI concur about Linda, Shbrt. I saw it again two weeks ago, and she looked incredibly bored.
#11re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:27pm
cathy
-robert sapp?
I did NOT like Randy Harrison in the role...he's too gay to make me believe he likes Glinda - I thought he was gonna pounce on Fiyero...
"I think Harvey [Fierstein] wishes he were a black woman. I say he's the largest black woman in the show. I wish Harvey were straight, cuz I'd do him in a minute. I like big burly mother f***ers like him." ~Mary Bond Davis on Harvey Fierstein Thanks to Mistress @ spouzic.com
Benzy92
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#12re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:29pm
This is surprising, I've usually only heard good things about Linda Muggleston..
The worst understudy I'd have to say was Thursday Fararr in Aida. I was so upset I didnt get to see Heather Headley, and she didnt do anything for me.. She wasnt hurrendous, but it was too demanding of a role for her.
Kris2
Featured Actor Joined: 9/30/04
#13re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:30pm
I think bronxboundexpress is talking about Derrick Williams (who is also going to be Fiyero on the Wicked tour), not Taye Diggs. I don't particularly care for Williams either.
The understudy for Michelle T. Williams? Saycon Sengbloh? Schele Williams? Ta'rea Campbell?
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
#14re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:30pmYeah, bbe is talking about Derrick Williams. Could Michelle's understudy have been any worse than she was? Updated On: 1/27/05 at 07:30 PM
#15re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:32pmschele is awesome as nehebka(sp?)
"I think Harvey [Fierstein] wishes he were a black woman. I say he's the largest black woman in the show. I wish Harvey were straight, cuz I'd do him in a minute. I like big burly mother f***ers like him." ~Mary Bond Davis on Harvey Fierstein Thanks to Mistress @ spouzic.com
Kris2
Featured Actor Joined: 9/30/04
#16re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:34pmAaron Tveit? That's sort of amusing, I've only heard good things about him. Were you just disappointed that you weren't seeing Jeff Scot Carey as Roger? Though Aaron sounds pretty bad from what you've said, ShuQ.
#17re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:43pm
no, Phantom Chicken, it wasn't robert, the person i saw had a long name i think...
edit: it was walter winston oneil
Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:43 PM
#18re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:48pmLinda's probably just dissapointed that Brooke's never absent.
#19re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:49pmI don't really think I've seen a bad understudy. I can't really think of any.
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#20re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:51pmI can't think of any, but I'm sure someone I have seen was bad...
"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
MatureDignity
Broadway Star Joined: 10/31/04
#22re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:53pmCome to think of it, Randy Harrison (who wasn't really an understudy, but a temporary replacement) was god-awful. Being that it was my first time seeing it, I truly thought that Boq had a thing for Fiyero. I had to remind myself that it was Glinda he liked. Yes, Harrison was too gay in the role to have me believe that he loved Glinda.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#23re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:59pmShbrtAlley44- well Linda can't be too thrilled to be back understudying a lead thats actually reliable to show up on a regular basis
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
Derek
Broadway Star Joined: 9/14/03
#24re: Worst Understudy Ever?
Posted: 1/23/05 at 8:01pmThere have actually been times when I've seen shows where the understudy was better. Like the guy who understudied Radames in Aida and is now starring in All Shook Up. Cheyanne Jackson? He was amazing! I also loved Kristy Cates as Elphaba, not as much as Idina, but she was great I thought
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