118 replies to this topic

[Reich]

I missed the recital (evening work being an occupational hazard in theatre!) but saw him in the fantastic "La fille du Regiment". He and Dessay were both fantastic

Sebastian

Dam, Dam, Dam. Where ever I go is reminders I missed that show.  

[Sparrow]

Certainly in this situation, I would ask for another ticket or compensation. It's not your problem that the company found itself in difficulty and the performance came down to a lead character script reading. The ticket price doesn't reflect that, and I don't think you should accept it for any West End production. I'd complain.  

[foxa]

Skylight, don't torture Reich.

I disagree that an understudy shouldn't be ready from the first performance.  Understudy rehearsals aren't for learning lines, but rehearsing with the other actors and working on moves. It would have been a blow to have gone on so early in the run, but still the understudy should, at very least, have known the lines, while understandably some of the blocking would have been hesitant.  

I've seen performances carry on through all sorts of obstacles, but unpreparedness isn't an acceptable one - not at those prices!  (In my experience, on Broadway, the understudies are usually really, really fabulous actors and just itching to go on under any circumstances.)

[Ian]

However; a veteran thespian says it's unreasonable to expect an understudy to know his lines so early in the run of a play: "The words aren't set in stone until the press night, so how can he be expected to have learned them?"

I'm not claiming the Standard is the be all and end all but it's the point I was trying to make.

Point one - perhaps not set in stone but unless it is a devised piece they should be almost there - bar a little tweaking - by 1st preview.

Point two - this is a REVIVAL - the script has been in print for decades. It has been marginally updated but any actor who cannot cope with a few line changes has no business being on any stage - let alone in the West End.

Point three - even after press night changes are often made. Has this guy ever worked in a theatre?

I am not surprised that whoever was being quoted has chosen to hide behind the vague "veteran thespian" tag!

[Lynette]

Skylight we know you are 'in the know' re all theatrical events and doings but I really can't accept that a show does not have understudies ready four days after opening. I have seen plenty of operas, plays and musicals when there was an understudy in a part doing it very well at all times in the run. In fact with opera, the show may only be on a few times and they always find an understudy. We have had many a thread about understudies notably the My Fair Lady Debacle and that understudy was on in the first week, correct me if I'm wrong, early on anyway. They most certainly should have had someone ready to play RG's part. And if DR is not well, then they should have someone to play his part competently and efficiently and certainly 'off by heart'. Actors surely take pride in what they do and offering a second rate read instead of a proper performance must have been irritating at the very least to all the cast.

[armadillo]

Alexandra Jay was on in previews for My Fair Lady - I remember that it was quite a big deal that Martine  made press night. In fact the NT have had a lot of successful take-overs at very short notice in recent years. Owen Teale and Adam Godley both stepped in at short-notice for Paul Rhys (there were a few missed performances, admittedly). Dominic Rowan took over a second part in Talking Cure when James Hazedine died. Alun Armstrong stepped in for Ian Holm.  There was an understudy for Glenn Close who managed not to read her (very long) part. The understudy for Anna Maxwell-Martin had to go on in mid-performance during His Dark Materials (though I think this was at the end of the run). Ian Richardson missed at least one performance of the Alchemist (short part though)

As for this being only the first week of Equus - it's been running in previews for several weeks. And, judging by the press releases, it's had a fairly long rehearsal period.

On a different note, David 'Starter for Ten' Nicholls wrote an entertaining novel about being an Understudy for a Big Name Actor (something Nicholls did experience).

[pesa]

Alexandra Jay was on in previews for My Fair Lady - I remember that it was quite a big deal that Martine  made press night. In fact the NT have had a lot of successful take-overs at very short notice in recent years. Owen Teale and Adam Godley both stepped in at short-notice for Paul Rhys (there were a few missed performances, admittedly). Dominic Rowan took over a second part in Talking Cure when James Hazedine died. Alun Armstrong stepped in for Ian Holm.  There was an understudy for Glenn Close who managed not to read her (very long) part. The understudy for Anna Maxwell-Martin had to go on in mid-performance during His Dark Materials (though I think this was at the end of the run). Ian Richardson missed at least one performance of the Alchemist (short part though)

As for this being only the first week of Equus - it's been running in previews for several weeks. And, judging by the press releases, it's had a fairly long rehearsal period.

On a different note, David 'Starter for Ten' Nicholls wrote an entertaining novel about being an Understudy for a Big Name Actor (something Nicholls did experience).

Lets get a few things clear here, I agree with almost everything that has been said, understudies should be able to play their part properly, although as far as I know people are being offered to change their bookings or cancel their tickets, but I must correct ARMADILLO on one very important point.
EQUUS has NOT been running for 'several weeks', the first preview was the 16th February which is not even three weeks yet.