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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Posted by: mikem 08:05 pm EDT 05/29/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - tenor1350 05:49 pm EDT 05/29/23 | |
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| I saw a play once with only two female roles: a character with a brash, outsized personality, and a character with a smaller part who was much less worldly and much more reserved. The same woman understudied both roles, and she went on for the more reserved part when I saw the show. But the understudy was much better suited for the brash role, and it really threw off the dynamics of the show because part of the point was that these two characters were very different, but they didn't seem all that different at this performance. I think understudies are in a tough position: they are not as well rehearsed, they have to follow someone else's vision of how the role should be, and they may find out at the last minute and not have time to do a lot of mental preparation. Some understudies are fantastic, and there are times I've seen an understudy who in some ways is actually better than the original actor. But I've also seen understudies who would not have been cast in this role at the Broadway level as the main performer. And I'm not sure I've ever seen an understudy for a performer who was Tony- or Drama Desk-nominated for that role whom I thought was as good as the original performer. |
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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 01:04 am EDT 05/30/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - mikem 08:05 pm EDT 05/29/23 | |
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| I saw an understudy once in a show that had two female characters who, similarly to the case you mention, were meant to be strongly contrasted. The very competent understudy for both roles didn't seem altogether right for either role. She wasn't bad, but she wasn't really right. (Maybe she would have been at least a bit more right in the other role.) This was Off-Broadway and I guess they just couldn't afford separate understudies. | |
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