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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 12:58 am EDT 05/30/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - Singapore/Fling 09:23 pm EDT 05/29/23 | |
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| There was only one time when I saw an understudy be exactly bad, and it was so long ago that I'm not even sure at this point if the person was a replacement or an understudy. The person just seem terrified. Oh, now that I think of it, there was another time, and that one was definitely an understudy. This one wasn't exactly painfully bad, but she was clearly not up to the role. I have seen an understudy who I thought was very miscast (and who fell into the traps of a role filled with traps) go on for a Tony-winning lead actor. The understudy went on in the role a good many times. I have seen understudies who were competent but colorless, an understudy who wasn't awful but seemed like a pretty good but not special community theatre actress (this was also a sub for a Tony-winning performance), and an understudy who was skilled and got laughs and was hardly terrible but also wasn't satisfying, perhaps just because the actress she was subbing for had gotten such raves. The last understudy went on a lot. Off-Broadway I have seen an understudy who seemed like a good actress but seemed like she was doing little more than get her lines out correctly, probably because she'd had so little time before going on. Lots of excellent understudies, and sometimes even a really fabulous one are out there, but there are definitely times (at least in my experience) when understudies are distinctly disappointing and very occasionally perhaps even someone who is sort of bad. |
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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Posted by: den 11:25 pm EDT 05/30/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - AlanScott 12:58 am EDT 05/30/23 | |
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| I saw Nathan Lane’s understudy in The Producers the very first performance Lane missed. I don’t recall the gentleman’s name but he was clearly underprepared, not really right for the role, and could barely conceal his terror. Happily, Matthew Broderick, Candy Huffman, Gary Beach and Brad Oscar generously carried him through the show and by the end, the audience was forgiving and very much on his side. I don’t know if he continued as Lane’s understudy, but I rather doubt it. | |
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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Last Edit: Ann 08:54 am EDT 05/31/23 | |
| Posted by: Ann 08:53 am EDT 05/31/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - den 11:25 pm EDT 05/30/23 | |
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| I'm not sure when Lane first missed, but it could have been John Treacy Egan ( I've seen him in the paat in a regional production and loved him), Kevin Login or Mark Lotito. Brad Oscar was the standby even he was there. It others if it was later. | |
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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 02:01 pm EDT 05/31/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - Ann 08:53 am EDT 05/31/23 | |
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| Ray Wills was the other Bialystock understudy when the show opened so I would guess it was him. | |
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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Posted by: den 09:45 pm EDT 05/31/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - AlanScott 02:01 pm EDT 05/31/23 | |
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| Yes, I believe it was Mr. Wills. I recall that it was over the Memorial Day weekend … the show had opened about six or seven weeks earlier. | |
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| re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th | |
| Posted by: Thom915 11:06 am EDT 05/30/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Sunday Fun Day Understudy Matinee at "New York, New York" on May 28th - AlanScott 12:58 am EDT 05/30/23 | |
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| I have seen understudies go on in supporting roles and never would have known they were understudies. As pointed out, understudies for stars often lack that certain spark that makes the original performer a star. Only once do I remember being terribly disappointed in an understudie's performance and it affected my view of the play. I wished to go back and see the originals performance but alas, it was a limited run. She had gotten good reviews and may have been nominated for a Tony and other awards. On the other hand, I have seen a couple shows where I have been very disappointed in the original performer at least one of whom won a Tony for their performance. There is one nominee this year who while I don't think was bad, did not give in my possibly flawed estimation a nomination worthy performance. Maybe I should have seen the understudy. ;) | |
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