Worst Understudy Ever?- Page 4

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 3:25am

I believe you're thinking of Jessica Snow-Wilson.

[Popular]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 3:40am

LaCage - no need to apologize. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If it WAS her that you saw, I'm still proud of her either way... I mean seriously, 18 and right out of high school. She stepped into pretty damn big shoes.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 5:51am

I thought it was Jessica-Snow Wilson and not Jessica Snow-Wilson?

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 12:37pm

Laura Bell Bundy as galinda ewwww she was horrible lol

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 12:46pm

It IS Jessica-Snow. Not Snow-Wilson.
I'm sure she was wonderful in Little Shop!

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 1:05pm

Laura Bell Bundy was more than awful in Wicked..

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:48pm

I saw Movin Out twice,as did mybrother. He saw John Selya the firsttime and the sercondtime he saw his u/s. I can't rememberhis name. Lawrence something, or maybe Rob. Lol. Anyway, he said that this man danced like a robot the entire time. Heactuallyfelt so badfor him that he offered to buy him a drink after the show.
I feel bad for understudies. I'm one for my school's play, so I have to learn my part, and then the lead too. It's hard.

Posted: 1/25/05 at 3:12pm

I was lucky enough to score tickets to the first night of "Kiss Of The Spider Woman" in Chicago. Sadly, Chita Rivera had broken her ankle that afternoon and was replaced...by someone whose name I can't recall. It was a bitter pill and while I am sure that young lady did her best it was painful to watch-- not because she was awful but that she she wasn't no Chita! I finally got to see Chita in "The Visit" and all was forgiven!

I admit to being an S.O.B. and I love to have fun with my fellow theatregoers. I went to see "Gypsy" during Bernadette's last weekend. As we waited for the performance to begin, the woman next to me mentioned something about being worried that Bernadette would be out "Again"-- I couldn't resist. I told her that I was there because my sister was her understudy and I'd gotten word that afternoon she'd be going on for Bernadette who was out with the flu. I thought the woman was going to cry. She was thrilled to find out I was kidding her but didn't really relax until she heard the tell-tale "Sing Out Louise!"

Posted: 1/25/05 at 3:27pm

Eden Espinosa in Wicked.

She made those iffy songs sound even iff--ier.

Her Defying Gravity gives me nightmares.

[Doogie]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 3:47pm

OK, now I'm having issues...

I didn't not see Linda in KMK, so I will leave your post alone, although I'm sure she was fabulous. In Wonderful Town, FAR better than Murphy and EONS better than Brooke as Ruth. I have seen her go on in 3 different roles (Into The Woods-Witch, Nine-Luisa, Wonderful Town- Ruth) The ONLY instance where she did not BETTER the person she understudied, was when she was on for Mary stuart, but she had no idea she was even going to be in the show that day****

Story HERE:

Linda had left NINE 10/5/2003 to start Wonderful Town rehearsals. There were two u/s's for Luisa, but on 10/12/2003, both Mary Stuart and the other u/s (Kristin Marks) were out, and they calle Linda, Linda came and did well, certainly singing it better than Masterson, and equal in character choices. EVERYTHING about her Ruth was just light years beyond the person she u/sed (I saw her 7/20/04 do that) I LOVE Linda. the end.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:03pm

And that's one of the reasons why Linda Mugleston works a lot.

[BalletGirl85]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 2:02am

I substitute usher for a few Broadway shows when I get time away from my life because it's a great way to get paid to see shows- and I've actually been at Wonderful Town three times this week because one of the other ushers was sick or something.

I saw the show last February and really had a great time- it's a fun show to watch, with lots of little jokes, and the end of act one made me crack up. When I got asked to usher this weekend, I decided to go for it, since it's closing, and it would be nice to see it at the end of its run. A lot of the time, I've seen shows that have had great beginnings, but sloppy endings with Ensemble casts who don't have any heart.

After seeing the show three times already this week (twice today- oy!), I can say that the show still has the heart that it had when I first saw it a year ago. The cast works as a great Ensemble and always look like they are having so much fun. A few cast members have these great character personalities that you can pick right out, and Linda Mugleston is one of them. Her one-line as Violet always makes me crack up. When she is on as the cleaning lady, she doesn't even talk, and I laugh because her facial expressions are just so dead on. She's one of my favorite people to watch because she is ALWAYS in character and I love seeing her perform. I only wish I could see her as Ruth.

I think someone else mentioned this, but just because she is not always hyper and smiling excitedly does not mean she is bored. It's called acting- and this is meant as a great compliment- but she has one of the best prostitute faces ever! Her faces compliment each of her characters, even though they are small, and I don't understand how you can be up there ushering every night thinking she looks bored. I enjoy her performance- watching her in the crazy chaotic scene that ends act one is hilarious. She totally contributes to the heart of that cast, and you should be praying that your career is anywhere CLOSE to being as amazing as hers!

[ShineOn]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:39am

I wanted to see Maureen in Gypsy so badly! One of my friends saw her and was raving about her to me. I had tried catching her from then on and had no luck.

As far as Linda Mugleston goes, I thought she was ever bit as good if not BETTER than Donna (and I adore Donna). That woman is BOOMING with talent and I agree with the previous statement... she's playing a drunken WHORE, why on EARTH would she appear happy go lucky like the rest of the cast??? It's definitely a character choice, because that woman certainly delivers every time she's on a stage, whether in the chorus or taking over a lead. I'm not doubting she had an off night in KMK and you are certainly allowed your opinion on her, but you have to see this woman play Ruth. She was made for the role.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 1:04pm

Paul Truckey as Javert in a Les Miz tour.

6 inches shorter than the Valjean. And gay. VERY gay.

Ugh.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 1:20pm

Y'all are crazy! There is no way that Linda could have been better that Mary Stuart Masterson. MSM was the best Luisa ever, better than Karen Akers, in my opinion. And there is no topping Donna Murphy when it comes to Ruth.

[jim]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:56pm

Two come to mind.
Nancy Hess on as Velma in CHICAGO.
Susan Haefner on for Andrea McArdle following her leg break in STATE FAIR.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:05pm

Can I just make it clear that I am not "bashing" Linda Mugleston. I simply said that she was disappointing me, or "annoying" me, as I put it, because to me it appeared she was scowling. If I am wrong, I apologize, but my comments represent the opinion I was asked for by the title of this thread. The reason it bothered me that she was scowling was because I have seen her in many other shows, including a performance as the Witch in Into the Woods, and she was wonderful. Therefore, WT was disappointing. Updated On: 1/27/05 at 06:05 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:39pm

I second, Nancy Hess in Chicago. But I happened to see her as Roxie.

And this folks is my 1000th post!

Updated On: 1/27/05 at 06:39 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:43pm

Congrats, Dottie!

[williamsburg]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 7:55pm

In defense of understudies (and I've been one) ... you barely have any time to rehearse with the cast and find yourself running lines with the stage manager. And then have to walk onstage usually with maybe one or two times EVER running the play with the rest of the cast. Being an understudy is a thankless job, almost as thankless as being a stage manager.

[jim]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 8:07pm

Susan Egan was wonderful as Sally Bowles!!! One of the best, in my opinion..Have seen several including Natasha Richardson.
Possibly the worst was Jane Leeves, followed by Andrea McArdle.

[CattleCall]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 2:59pm

I have no idea what his name was, but the understudy for John Tartaglia last year (NOT Barrett) could not sing a note to save himself when I went to see Avenue Q. Okay pupeteer, but he destroyed "Purpose" and that annoyed me more than anything in the world.