733 posts
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Post by theatremiss on Mar 7, 2016 18:45:31 GMT
With the current furore over Sheridan not being around for a while and the understudy taking over it got me wondering about understudies you've seen and if you've preferred seeing them to the lead. I once saw Chris Jacobson as Jean Valjean as I went to see Les Miserables on a Monday night which at the time was Ramin's night off. After seeing him in the role I actively used to book Monday night's show so I could see him perform. I also recently saw Callum Francis as Lola and he totally owned that role, to the point I'm looking forward to trying to see him again when Matt Henry is next on leave.
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Mar 7, 2016 18:55:56 GMT
With the current furore over Sheridan not being around for a while and the understudy taking over it got me wondering about understudies you've seen and if you've preferred seeing them to the lead. Alice Fearn as Princess Fiona in Shrek - SO MUCH BETTER than Amanda Holden, let alone Kimberley Walsh. Alice should have been cast as principal Fiona in the first place, or at least been bumped up after Ms Holden left. Natalie Andreou as Elphaba in Wicked. A completely different league compared to Emma Hatton. And I must admit that, back in the days, I've also preferred Nikki Davis-Jones over Rachel Tucker. Rachel John as Felicia in Memphis. Beverly Knight may have been the (slightly) better singer, but Rachel's portrayal was so much better. Overall preferred her. |
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Mar 7, 2016 19:06:39 GMT
Donna Steele in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Miles better than Amanda Holden.
Dean Chisnall in Love Never Dies. While Joseph Milson wasn't a bad Raoul I found Dean's portrayal to be more varied (and no offence to Joseph but on the singing front Dean was so much better).
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Mar 7, 2016 19:18:30 GMT
Natalie Andreou as Elphaba in Wicked Totally agree. Equally in her debut understudy role in "Rock of Ages." Well, I've never seen Amy Pemberton as Sherrie, so I can't compare her to Natalie, but yes, Natalie was unbelievably good in Rock of Ages. Still gutted that we didn't get a London cast recording - our London cast was perfection. |
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Mar 7, 2016 19:18:32 GMT
Once I've seen a show I almost always only ever return if I want to see an understudy.
I've seen loads of fab understudies but for me the standouts were Rachel John and Jon Robyns in Memphis. I loved Beverley and Killian but Rachel and Jon were spectacular. Especially when together. I also preferred Tim Newman to Killian as well.
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Post by d'James on Mar 7, 2016 19:27:25 GMT
Maggie Elizabeth May was great as Mary Robert in Sister Act. It almost spoiled the show afterwards when I saw Katie Rowley Jones.
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4,033 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 7, 2016 19:56:13 GMT
Alan Burkitt as Jerry Travers in Top Hat, who was much better in my opinion than either Tom Chambers or Gavin Lee. I managed to see him 8 times during the London run, then another 8 times when the producers finally saw sense & gave him the lead for the second tour.
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756 posts
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Post by Latecomer on Mar 7, 2016 20:24:22 GMT
Paul Birchard as understudy for Antony Sher in Death of a Salesman at Stratord. Saw the understudy performance and it was a towering performance! Much preferred it to Sher.
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716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Mar 7, 2016 20:25:03 GMT
Tanya Manalang in Miss Saigon at least matches Eva.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 20:48:27 GMT
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, 29 years ago today. Can't say she was better than Barbara King, but she got a standing ovation. As I recall, the programme never seemed to be entirely sure where her hyphen should go.
Alexandra Jay as Eliza in My Fair Lady.
Cheryl McAvoy and (a couple of years later) Emma Harris as Jellylorum in Cats. Two marvellous voices.
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655 posts
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Post by ptwest on Mar 7, 2016 21:36:48 GMT
Another vote for Alexandra Jay in My Fair Lady - just wonderful.
Margaret Preece in Sound Of Music - cant compare her to Lesley Garett but she was faultless so very happy to have seen her.
Loved Fiona Rees as the Narrator in Joseph at the Adelphi, so much preferred her to Jenna Lee James.
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2,860 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 7, 2016 22:08:07 GMT
Maureen Moore built an entire career on being a standby/understudy: she was Bernadette Peters' standby in "Song and Dance" and "Gypsy", Elaine Paige and Betty Buckley's standby in "Sunset Boulevard", Mary Louise Wilson's standby in "Cabaret" and Christine Ebersole's standby in "Grey Gardens". She played some of the most amazing roles in musical theatre always as an understyudy and she always delivered outstanding performances.
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Mar 7, 2016 22:14:14 GMT
Times I preferred the understudy:
Nikki Davis-Jones as Elphaba (vs Rachel Tucker)
Adam Bayjou as Valjean (vs Peter Lockyer)
Zoe Birkett as Rachel Marron (vs Alexandra Burke)
Leo Roberts as Shrek (vs Dean Chisnall)
Tanya Manalang as Kim (vs Eva Noblezada)
Carolyn Maitland as Ellen (vs Tamsin Carroll)
Lauren Varnham as Scaramouche (vs Lauren Samuels)
Seems I often end up liking the understudies...
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92 posts
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Post by bjorne on Mar 7, 2016 22:34:56 GMT
David O'reilly as Elder Cunningham. Way funnier (to me) than Brian Sears.
Emma Kingston as Eponine. Not that Carrie Fletcher is bad (I like her too) but Emma is a star.
Sophie Linder-Lee is an amazing Glinda. Love her voice and her comic times. So funny and fresh every time I saw her.
I liked Niall Sheehy way more than Alistair Brammer as Chris in Miss Saigon.
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656 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Mar 7, 2016 22:46:54 GMT
To be honest, I do normally prefer the lead to the understudy, but examples of where I preferred the understudy are:
Joanna Woodward as Carole King (over Katie)
Oliver Ormson as Elder Price (over Nic)
Robbie Scotcher and Stephen John Davis as Sam and Bill in Mamma Mia (over Richard and Charles)
Paul Ayres as Charlie Price (over Killian)
Rachel John as Felicia (over Beverley)
Matt Nalton as Gerry Goffin (over Alan)
However, I love the vast majority of understudies, even if I do prefer the lead.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 23:53:22 GMT
When the lead was off in 'My Fair Lady' and Martine McCutcheon got her few chances to go on as Eliza, she was brilliant.
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Mar 8, 2016 8:17:34 GMT
Just remembered another one: Ian McIntosh as Deco in The Commitments (over Killian).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2016 8:42:33 GMT
Matthew Seadon-Young was on the night we attended Urinetown, replacing Richard Fleeshman. We were more than satisfied...!
The first time I saw Aspects of Love in 1989, Ann Crumb was off and Carol Duffy was an amazing Rose Vibert.
Tam Mutu was on the night we went to Love Never Dies, as Ramin Karimloo was indisposed for quite a while I seem to remember.
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Post by bobwordsmith on Mar 8, 2016 9:04:45 GMT
Basically I would say that understudies are all amazing - but in particular in recent years some seriously amazing performances by First Covers that I have had the privilege to witness have been Jonathan Williams as Valjean in Les Mis, Adam Bayjou as Valjean in Les Mis, Carolyn Maitland as Ellen in Miss Saigon, Kane Oliver Parry as Fiyero in Wicked and Shaun McCourt as Joseph in the UK tour (genuinely in a totally superior league to the celebrity cast in the role). The current cast of Phantom has two astonishing covers as the Phantom and Christine - Kieran Brown and Lisa Anne Wood - and the current alternate Donna in Mamma Mia (Shona White) is fantastic.
And as for Natasha Barnes in Funny Girl, this is what Mark Shenton wrote in The Stage:
"She's like a quirky, young Imelda Staunton, burning with a quiet intensity, heartbreakingly good acting and a singing voice that reminded me of the great, late Judy Garland."
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Mar 8, 2016 10:37:55 GMT
Claire Parrish, who was later-run understudy for Ellen in Miss Saigon, was amazing. Great singer, excellent actress, and tons of chemistry with the Chris that night too.
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341 posts
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Post by adrianics on Mar 8, 2016 12:40:01 GMT
I don't tend to see a show more than once, so this thread is difficult, but I will throw my hat in the ring for Jonathan Williams as Jean Valjean (2009) - Absolutely incredible and the best Valjean I've seen by quite some distance.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2016 13:31:56 GMT
Edd Campell Bird as Marius in Les Mis springs to mind, who was brilliant!
Also, Hayley Gallivan as Elphaba was phenomenal... I saw her final performance and she was insanely good.
Oh, and Lauren Hall as Louise in Gypsy. I saw three actresses portray Louise throughout the run (Lara, Lauren and Gemma) and (controversial opinion) Lauren was the strongest of the lot!
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240 posts
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Post by Anniek on Mar 8, 2016 13:38:59 GMT
Lately Jessamy as Fantine blew me away, Tanya as Kim was amazing. And some credits for Natasha J Barnes. I was at the show where she performed Fanny for the second (or 1,5) time, and was blown away.
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Post by Nelly on Mar 8, 2016 13:53:55 GMT
Debbie Kurup as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act. She was phenomenal. I LOVED Patina Miller but sometimes thought she phoned it in.
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Post by d'James on Mar 8, 2016 13:57:23 GMT
Debbie Kurup as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act. She was phenomenal. I LOVED Patina Miller but sometimes thought she phoned it in. See I wasn't that impressed with Debbie as D van C. I know what you mean about Patina though. |
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