| re: Should we just assume leads won’t be present? | |
| Posted by: JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 02:21 pm EDT 05/02/24 | |
| In reply to: re: Should we just assume leads won’t be present? - student_rush 01:32 pm EDT 05/02/24 | |
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| Understudies going on with little or no actual rehearsal certainly isn't new and doesn't seem like an issue that anyone really wants to address. I would have thought that AEA would contractually insist upon some minimum hours of rehearsal in a role before a member can be expected to go on. But it seems to be a point of pride on both sides when this needs to happen. I was listening to an interview with actor Tom Galantich earlier today on the excellent GIANTS IN THE SKY podcast, which is about the original production of INTO THE WOODS. Galantich was a replacement understudy in the original production for the roles of both Princes, the Steward, and Jack. He told a story about auditioning for the show on a Thursday, seeing the show for the first time that night, getting cast on Friday, and having to go on as the Steward on Tuesday. It seems like he had 2 days of rehearsal on Saturday and Sunday, before the day off on Monday. And a stage manager essentially walked him through the show on Tuesday night. He didn't say how he felt the performance actually went, and I'd be curious what the audience's experience of it was. I recall an incident a few years ago where the West End production of MAMMA MIA had to call at the last moment upon a former understudy for Donna who was in another show at the time to come back and do the show one night. Apparently, the producers of that actress' current show okayed her understudy going on in their show so that the actress could go bail out MAMMA MIA with no rehearsal. I mean, those stories are fantastic, but your point is a valid one. Why should this kind of thing EVER happen? Even if you can find an actor who can physically get through your show at the last moment, what kind of experience are you giving your audience. Maybe a thrilling, once in a lifetime experience, but I think it's just as likely that they'll be seeing a lackluster walk through by an actor who has no idea what they're doing. |
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