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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 19, 2016 10:18:59 GMT
I think all of the title song is pre-recorded, including the boat- i read the motor of it makes so much noise, if they were to sing it live the mics would catch the noise. Also fun fact- when singing the title song of Phantom in random performances (such as West End Live/ Oliviers etc.) the last note Christine sings (an E6) is always pre-recorded. The only time i think it wasn't is when Sierra sang with John Owen-Jones, and even then I can't tell for certain. I guess they don't trust the actress to be able to hit, and sustain it the way it's it's written, properly (that cadenza is quite tricky though). (Though Christine only does 6 shows, but Carlotta hits that E6 live every night- 8 shows a week.. Cheeky  ) I don't think this is correct. I think it was only Sarah Brightman that ever sang it live at Her Majesty's. Sierra never performed in Her Majesty's (and I don't think Brightman sang it live ever either- maybe at concerts but not at the actual show.) I was refering to this video: there is a debate wether the note is live or not (it doesn't sond like her normal cadenza track) |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2016 10:23:59 GMT
I don't think this is correct. I think it was only Sarah Brightman that ever sang it live at Her Majesty's. Sierra never performed in Her Majesty's (and I don't think Brightman sang it live ever either- maybe at concerts but not at the actual show.) I was refering to this video: there is a debate wether the note is live or not (it doesn't sond like her normal cadenza track) I think it was revealed in the Phantom documentary some while back (when it reached its 25th anniversary) that Sarah Brightman was the only one who did. (That's where I got the information from, but I could be wrong.) Yes, I was aware Sierra did not perform in the London cast... |
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 19, 2016 10:32:30 GMT
Sierra never performed in Her Majesty's (and I don't think Brightman sang it live ever either- maybe at concerts but not at the actual show.) I was refering to this video: there is a debate wether the note is live or not (it doesn't sond like her normal cadenza track) I think it was revealed in the Phantom documentary some while back (when it reached its 25th anniversary) that Sarah Brightman was the only one who did. (That's where I got the information from, but I could be wrong.) Yes, I was aware Sierra did not perform in the London cast... I wasn't aware of that documantery- I'll go look for it  |
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Post by d'James on Jun 21, 2016 9:48:52 GMT
How do they decide how many covers there'll be? For example there are three covers for certain roles in In The Heights but not others. There are three for Lola in Kinky Boots but not others? Why?
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 21, 2016 9:53:17 GMT
Also I understand that for Gypsy the only other person playing Rose was Louise Gold. what would happen if both she and Imelda were off? (Or if Natasha and the second understudy Fanny Brice were both unwell)
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 21, 2016 9:58:05 GMT
I was going to ask a question about the safety curtain but I googled it instead  |
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Post by d'James on Jun 21, 2016 10:06:21 GMT
I was going to ask a question about the safety curtain but I googled it instead Go on ask it anyway, or tell us the answer, to save someone else having ask it later. |
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448 posts
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 21, 2016 10:17:47 GMT
Also I understand that for Gypsy the only other person playing Rose was Louise Gold. what would happen if both she and Imelda were off? (Or if Natasha and the second understudy Fanny Brice were both unwell) Sometimes there are "emergency covers". In long running productions usually, an actor/actress who has played the role in the past, and is somewhat close to the theatre (same city/ country at least) and isn't tied down to another a show (though Jeremy Secomb was in Les Mis, took a night off from that, and did Phantom), they are called down for a few shows until one of the understudies/ original actors are back. If there isn't an emergency cover, and there is absaloutly no way anyone in the show can cover the role- the show would be cancelled and refunds given to the audience. Audra Mcdonald had no understudies in Lady Day at all, and in if she couldn't perform the show would be cancelled that night. |
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Post by d'James on Jun 21, 2016 10:24:13 GMT
Also I understand that for Gypsy the only other person playing Rose was Louise Gold. what would happen if both she and Imelda were off? (Or if Natasha and the second understudy Fanny Brice were both unwell) Sometimes there are "emergency covers". In long running productions usually, an actor/actress who has played the role in the past, and is somewhat close to the theatre (same city/ country at least) and isn't tied down to another a show (though Jeremy Secomb was in Les Mis, took a night off from that, and did Phantom), they are called down for a few shows until one of the understudies/ original actors are back. If there isn't an emergency cover, and there is absaloutly no way anyone in the show can cover the role- the show would be cancelled and refunds given to the audience. Audra Mcdonald had no understudies in Lady Day at all, and in if she couldn't perform the show would be cancelled that night. I read an interview with Claire Greenway once who said that if all three actresses who knew the role of Deloris in Sister Act were 'indisposed' someone else from the cast would go on with the script in their hand. Would this happen really? I've heard of adults going on for children who get sick mid-performance but nothing like she described. |
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 21, 2016 10:35:11 GMT
Wow- I never realised that was a possibility, I've only ever heard of cancelling.
That would make for an interesting show though I guess
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Post by d'James on Jun 21, 2016 10:36:31 GMT
Wow- I never realised that was a possibility, I've only ever heard of cancelling. That would make for an interesting show though I guess It would. For something like Sister Act, I guess whoever it was would have to stand to the side of the stage so as not to get in the way of the choreography. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 21, 2016 10:45:32 GMT
I was going to ask a question about the safety curtain but I googled it instead Go on ask it anyway, or tell us the answer, to save someone else having ask it later. Ok well, I was wondering why, when many shows have fabulously elaborate curtains on display before the show starts (Wicked being an example) do we always get some grubby old safety curtain lowered at the interval but only for a few minutes, then it's taken away and we see fabulous curtain again. So so google says.... {Spoiler - click to view}
Fire safety regulations dictate that a demonstration of the fire curtain is given to the audience during every performance, to show that it's working. |
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Post by firefingers on Jun 21, 2016 11:40:31 GMT
Go on ask it anyway, or tell us the answer, to save someone else having ask it later. Ok well, I was wondering why, when many shows have fabulously elaborate curtains on display before the show starts (Wicked being an example) do we always get some grubby old safety curtain lowered at the interval but only for a few minutes, then it's taken away and we see fabulous curtain again. So so google says.... {Spoiler - click to view}
Fire safety regulations dictate that a demonstration of the fire curtain is given to the audience during every performance, to show that it's working. Interestingly, it depends on the local council as the whether it has to happen or not. Fire safety is a massive thing in theatre. Fly towers above the stage often have a large vent that can be opened, so should a fire occur, the fire is drawn up and destroys the set and stage but makes sure the flames can't reach the audience. The safety curtain (not an actual curtain of course, but made of metal) might also have features like its own mini sprinkler system just to keep it cool so that the heat from the fire can't transfer through to the auditorium. |
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Post by DuchessConstance on Jun 21, 2016 11:40:47 GMT
Inadmissible Evidence at the Donmar, one of the actors took ill during the interval, so they did a weird sort of modified second half only performing the scenes that actor wasn't in. It was very strange and I wish they had cancelled or sent someone on script in hand.
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Post by d'James on Jun 21, 2016 11:42:38 GMT
Inadmissible Evidence at the Donmar, one of the actors took ill during the interval, so they did a weird sort of modified second half only performing the scenes that actor wasn't in. It was very strange and I wish they had cancelled or sent someone on script in hand. That's crazy. I guess it depends on how big the role is, but still jarring either way. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 12:02:01 GMT
The Globe doesn't budget for understudies so they'll send someone on with a script in hand in case of indisposition. I saw someone go on for Colin Morgan in The Tempest (they changed a couple of scenes as well so Prospero covered some of the dialogue where appropriate, and it was really great). Apparently, back in the day, no matter what the role was, more often than not it would be Mark Rylance covering the absentee.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 12:24:28 GMT
At the last performance of Pioneer by Curious Directive at Shoreditch Town Hall, the lead actor had been injured after the matinee that day and couldn't go on in the evening, so someone (an actor, not just any random audience member!) who'd been at the matinee learned the staging and stood in, reading the part from the script where needed.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 13:19:12 GMT
I remember a tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers where they were getting rather short of brides, so the company manager went on as a guest bride. She didn't know the choreography well enough to take part in the dancing but her presence at other times sufficed to keep the title accurate.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 14:24:22 GMT
My favourite 'script in hand' performance was Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Sherman in Cardiff a few years ago. Hook took ill with a bad back, one performance (schools morning show) was cancelled and a frantic ring-round of possible available actors in the area found a replacement. After putting him into costume it became clear he couldn't have script, hook hand and sword...so his script ended up with a 'hook' stuck to the back of it, which he waved about for emphasis. (he was fabulous and ended up doing nearly a week while original Hook recovered!)
It's fairly common if there's no available understudy to put a script in hand actor on in emergencies. Vanessa Kirby was out of Streetcar in New York for I think half a performance after falling ill and someone came on script in hand (apologies I can't remember/find who)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 15:58:51 GMT
I remember a tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers where they were getting rather short of brides, so the company manager went on as a guest bride. She didn't know the choreography well enough to take part in the dancing but her presence at other times sufficed to keep the title accurate.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 16:18:33 GMT
Sometimes there are "emergency covers". In long running productions usually, an actor/actress who has played the role in the past, and is somewhat close to the theatre (same city/ country at least) and isn't tied down to another a show (though Jeremy Secomb was in Les Mis, took a night off from that, and did Phantom), they are called down for a few shows until one of the understudies/ original actors are back. If there isn't an emergency cover, and there is absaloutly no way anyone in the show can cover the role- the show would be cancelled and refunds given to the audience. Audra Mcdonald had no understudies in Lady Day at all, and in if she couldn't perform the show would be cancelled that night. I read an interview with Claire Greenway once who said that if all three actresses who knew the role of Deloris in Sister Act were 'indisposed' someone else from the cast would go on with the script in their hand. Would this happen really? I've heard of adults going on for children who get sick mid-performance but nothing like she described. The lass who is in HP took over from the lass in sex in the City in play Linda at Royal Court last min and spent a good week with script in hand. She also took on the prompt 'role' to save RC a little cash |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2016 12:09:33 GMT
I know this has already been brought up but I didn't fully understand the answer so I hope nobody minds me re-asking.
The E6 in Phantom, is it always pre-recorded or do the Christine actresses actually hit it during performances, just not during the West End Live type things? Also, could somebody tell me which line it is on, so I can listen out for it on the soundtrack recording? Thanks.
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Post by d'James on Jun 23, 2016 12:11:32 GMT
I have a question after reading it in another thread. What is a libretto?
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 23, 2016 12:20:16 GMT
I have a question after reading it in another thread. What is a libretto? The libretto is another word for the 'book' of a musical, so all the dialogue and spoken word/structure |
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 23, 2016 12:21:47 GMT
I know this has already been brought up but I didn't fully understand the answer so I hope nobody minds me re-asking. The E6 in Phantom, is it always pre-recorded or do the Christine actresses actually hit it during performances, just not during the West End Live type things? Also, could somebody tell me which line it is on, so I can listen out for it on the soundtrack recording? Thanks. I don't know for *certain* whether the note is pre-recorded during a normal performance, but I have a feeling it may be. It's pretty easy to listen out for - it's the end high note of the title song, the Phantom does his last "SING FOR ME!!!" and she hits the note on a massive "AAAAHHHH!!!". |
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