Understudy etiquette

[fiyero]

I have a question. What is the best way to politely ask if any understudies are on?

I usually like to know, not out of disappointment of not seeing the lead but out of interest of actually knowing who I'm seeing. There never seem to be slips in programmes nowadays and often tours don't have understudy boards.

I used to ask 'is anyone out tonight?' as a subtle way of asking but have had a few confused responses!

[Deleted]

'They all on?' Is my general line of enquirery

[d'James]

Normally I try and find the board but if there isn't one I ask. Not that they always know; Savoy I'm looking at you.

[Deleted]

But who to ask?

[d'James]

Just shout at the stage every time a new actor comes on.

[Deleted]

At In the Heights, it may be quicker to ask "Is anyone on today?"

[Deleted]

It wouldn't have occurred to me that it was impolite to ask if there were any understudies on. Showing an interest in who you're actually watching is a good thing. Though having said that, shouting "Oi! Who the f*** are you?" at the stage is usually frowned upon, except at matinees.

[fiyero]

Aug 11, 2016 17:18:31 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Or, if you are in the front few rows and can see faces, hold your programme up in one hand, to one side of you, open to the biog photos page, and ostentatiously swivel your head between it and the cast member in question. Use opera glasses for extra points.

Personally, I find a "is everyone on today," to an usher usually confirms things.

It was something similar to this that made me start asking rather than assuming. Starlight Express a few years back on tour. No slip in the programme or obvious signs. Electra in the programme was black. Electra on stage was white!

[d'James]

It was the same for me at Guys and Dolls at the Savoy. I asked and they told me an understudy was on. I looked her up in the programme. When a black woman came on stage instead of the white understudy they told me was on, it was a bit of a clue.

[adrianics]

Don't think it's impolite at all. It's very rare that we go to a show in the hope of seeing a specific person, but should there be no notices/slips in the programme a simple "is it a full cast today?" to either a box office staff member or usher should get a polite response.

I wrote about it in the dedicated thread, but when we went to see Guys and Dolls a few months back it was specifically to see Richard Kind as Nathan Detroit and the understudy was on, with literally no notification whatsoever, not even an announcement at curtain up. In fact, a notice was up confirming that Big Jule and Rusty Charlie were being played by the understudies, and I only realised afterwards that the reason Rusty Charlie was being performed by an understudy was because the regular Rusty Charlie was playing Nathan Detroit. I've never seen such a deceitful and underhanded tactic being used by a theatre, and I actually felt very sorry for the (excellent) understudy because it's not fair to just throw him in front of an unsuspecting and angry audience like that.

[Kim]

I followed The Bodyguard tour a lot over the last year and caught a few understudies mostly the alternate Rachel and only saw in 3 different venues (Southampton, Birmingham & Oxford) a sign up. Now in London there's a few notices dotted about saying the alternate Rachel is on but last time I watched I had another understudy which wasn't announced only by the cast list but then you would need a programme to still know

[fiyero]

Another one I've just remembered it Les Miserables. This time I had asked and been told no, there was an announcement but I couldn't hear who was on for who as the chatter was too loud. I carry on wondering who it was until Gavroche comes out rather taller and more female than normal. I was thrilled as a female ensemble member covering Gavroche is something I'd heard of but assumed was very rare (like a Witch Switch).

[Deleted]

I follow @westendcovers on Twitter.

[hitmewithurbethshot]

There's this story from Jerry Herman's biography about when Ginger Rogers missed performances in Hello Dolly on Broadway:

"Merrick [David Merrick, the producer] devised a foolproof way of keeping the audience in the dark as to whether they would be seeing their star. He had the conductor give the downbeat for the overture at the precise moment an announcement was made that 'tonight the role of Mrs. Levi will be played by Bibi Osterwald, Rogers's understudy.' The ticket window would be slammed shut at the same time."

It's because of this the Equity rules were changed so the audience had to be informed via at least 2 channels (announcement, slip in the playbill, castboard in the lobby) if they were seeing an understudy, and the character's full name had to be used and the box office had to remain open for refunds.