re: Raul Esparaza Understudy?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:11pm

Does Raul have an understudy? Unless I'm totally missing something on the website, he doesn't have one listed and I find that impossible to believe. I thought he would HAVE to have a standby. Anyone know any details?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:12pm

Fred Rose, who plays David, is listed in the Playbill as the stand-by for Bobby. Dunno why he's not listed on the website, but yes, Raúl does have to have one.

PS, it's Esparza.

Updated On: 12/3/06 at 11:12 PM

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:14pm

Thank you very much!

(For the life of me, I can never remember how to spell his name or how to pronounce it.)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:16pm

oh no
you're gonna start a phantom
When is Fred Rose going on Rant!
Updated On: 12/4/06 at 11:16 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:17pm

Ra-UL (not like towel). Last name is exactly as it looks. Es-PAR-za.

There are no planned dates for Fred to go on anywhere in the near future. I wouldn't expect him to for quite a while.

Updated On: 12/3/06 at 11:17 PM

[snl89]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:19pm

^tahaha, "not like towel", I love it :P

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:40pm

You know, "Raoul" --> sounds like "towel." Not the same as Raúl.

[snl89]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:48pm

oooh, I actually totally forgot that Raoul IS a name! haha, that's true the towel thing though is clever hehe

I never really thought of the possibility that it could be pronounced like Raoul...cause thats a different name with a different spelling.. but then again I also could never see how anyone would thing "idina" would be pronounded like EYEdina. lol

[moulinrougehk]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:50pm

Suddenly turns out that if Fred ever play the role, it will be a very rare night and good for those who could watch it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:52pm

Did Fred go on "out of town"?
He's Hot Lookin'

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:54pm

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:56pm

I don't believe he did, CPD. He is adorable, though.

The character's name in POTO is Raoul.

LOL, Foster.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:57pm

who ate Raul?
Loved that movie.
but the musical never went very far.

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:59pm

As funny as it is that this has become a thread on how to pronounce "Raúl", I am compelled to share my thoughts. I've always thought that "Raúl" and "Raoul" were pronounced pretty much the same say: Ra-UL (with "Raúl" perhaps having a bit more of a Latin kick). I figured (at the risk of sounding cutesy and rhyming) that Charles Hart was responsible for people thinking "Raoul" sounded like "towel" when he had to squeeze the name into one, yes, "vowel" (when writing the lyrics for Phantom). Then again, I could be wrong...I'm just wondering how many people here know the "towel-Raoul" pronunciation from Phantom.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 12:05am

It seems like the "Raoul" version can go either way, but the "Raúl" spelling only has one correct pronounciation? I mean, Emmy Rossum spends the entire Phantom movie calling him Raoul-like-towel (or owl). It sounds like she's growling at him! But I've heard it in other places, too. I was under the impression it depended on language the name was derived from. The accent in the Latin version makes it so that any other way would be incorrect.

Updated On: 12/4/06 at 12:05 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 8:42am

I saw this show from the third row, and thought Fred looked startlingly like a younger ex Gov. James McGreevey (well, okay, on a good day--after two rest stop visits). He sings nicely, clearly.

And he's cute, but he's more in the boyish mold of previous Roberts. There's something about Esparza's intensity and brooding core -- and much noted vulnerability -- that defines this entre production, more than the instrument toting Doyle conceit. I think if he's out, audiences will truly see a different show.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:27am

He sort of reminds me of Orlando Bloom. A little. I might be crazy.

I'd see the show without Esparza for the sake of sheer curiousity, but I have trouble imagining it without him.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:36am

I'm glad Raul isn't going anywhere too soon. :)

My family and I may go to New York after Christmas. My mom wanted to know what show I wanted to see and I said, "The revival of Company." Mainly because of Raul, who I think has wonderful voice, so I'd love to see him live.
My dad may not be interested, but he can stay in the hotel room for all I care.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:01pm

They are considering a new understudy.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:03pm

Technically a stand-by; someone who will exclusively cover Bobby, and not create that ripple effect that putting Fred on would cause. For that reason, I don't fully understand why Fred is listed as the "stand-by" and not the "understudy."

Updated On: 12/4/06 at 01:03 PM

[moulinrougehk]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 4:55pm

I think is because understudies are for ensembles. Since there's no ensemble, a cast who could replace another cast will be called stand-by. This is my logic, may be it's not true, i don't know.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 4:56pm

That sounds feasible. Every time I think I understand the distinction, there's another technicality.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 5:32pm

Standbys are understudies; they're cast solely to cover the lead role, but unlike understudies, they usually aren't playing another role in the show. Don't kill me for the comparison but it's like, Eden Espinosa was the original standby for Idina Menzel, but Kristy Cates was the understudy. Krisy, however, had a role in the ensemble, but Eden didn't.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 6:18pm

Who's on first?

Em, I agree about the likeness to Orlando Bloom.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 6:21pm

Em, you're not crazy. Fred reminds me of Orlando Bloom, too.