jameala
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Re:understudying - 2007/12/30 17:54
Chris, you actually hit on a bigger topic, I think. That is "why don't more shows HAVE understudies?" I have only done 3 community theatre shows, but I work in the Drama department of a big high school that puts on 7 shows a year, and we never cast understudies. If "Dorothy" got the chicken pox when we did "Oz", we would have had to give all of the people their money back. There was no contingency plan.
I was in "Charlotte's Web" in September and I got a flat tire on the way to the final performance. I called the director on my cell and told her I may be late. Fortunately, I got the tire changed and was there in plenty of time, but she told the stage manager he would have to go on in my place with the book in his hand.
Another place that understudies could come in handy is if someone ONLY wants to be Harold Hill in "The Music Man", but the director wants to cast someone else, they could cast the less suitable person as the understudy, with the promise of the understudy doing at least one show. Sort of like double casting a show.
Really, when you think about it, we all fly without a net everytime we are the one and only actor that is prepared to do our part. Anything could happen. Granted, it usually doesn't - which may be why there are so few understudies!
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