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Post by d'James on Apr 1, 2017 15:11:17 GMT
It's a shame. Hope you hadn't rebooked from Thursday night.
It's just the way of Off West-End shows isn't it, not to have understudies. They cancelled Ragtime a couple of times last year and did a few concert performances and found a stand in for a couple.
When they cancelled Thursday night, they should've perhaps got someone in to learn the role so they could've performed it with a book in concert form. That said, the dancing is so integral, it would fall very flat without it. Also, this is assuming it's the same person who's ill today, as Thursday.
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Post by staygee on Apr 1, 2017 15:43:28 GMT
I decided to book this at the last minute so bought my ticket at noon today to find out it was cancelled at 2pm.... I guess they were trying to make it work (otherwise why not just cancel when the sick performer woke up?) so by then it was probably too late to bring in any sort of "cover" or concert-like performance. Just a shame it's everyone's last day.
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Post by viserys on Apr 1, 2017 17:42:55 GMT
Aaaah, I wondered about the surprisingly long queue when I went to pick up my ticket for tonight. Whew, seems it was a close shave this time after I had Ragtime cancelled on me last November. So thanks to this lovely forum I now also know to not expect the full thing tonight.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 17:59:05 GMT
The amount of MT grads who'd give a limb to step into a role last minute and may already know the piece. Do you really think it's that easy to parachute any performer (let alone an MT Grad) into a tightly choreographed production like TWP without causing problems? If only it were that simple!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 18:24:19 GMT
They did it in Into The Woods in Manchester. Admittedly the student in question had just played the role in a student production, but still, if everyone involved wanted to make it work, even with book in hand and/or some reblocking, I'm sure they could have.
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Post by paplazaroo on Apr 1, 2017 18:28:09 GMT
Yeah I agree with the above, of course I wouldn't expect someone to drop in and learn the full version but even if you had said performer at the side of the stage reading from the script it would be better than nothing.
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Post by mallardo on Apr 1, 2017 18:30:09 GMT
You have to see the show to understand why using an unrehearsed replacement would never work. There's no possibility of reading from a script.
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Post by SageStageMgr on Apr 1, 2017 18:33:14 GMT
That being the case, why no understudies? Knowing that just one or two missing performers means cancellation, is that not extremely poor form?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 18:36:09 GMT
Yes- for some shows, sure script in hand can work as a better-than-cancelling approach and particularly helpful if said person has familarity with the show (like Into the Woods) But the problem with The Wild Party is that it isn't as widely performed and the repatoire 'known' as say a Sondheim. And also from my knowledge (didn't get to see it, just know the piece) it's a complex interwoven piece and rehearsing someone even script in hand for it just wouldn't work with such short notice.
Glad they're getting their final show though!
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Post by infofreako on Apr 1, 2017 20:24:15 GMT
I'd assume the lack of understudies would be down to budget. It's a complex piece definitely and they've done well throughout without understudies. Its unfortunate that it's fallen apart these last few days
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Post by SageStageMgr on Apr 1, 2017 20:39:38 GMT
I'd assume the lack of understudies would be down to budget. It's a complex piece definitely and they've done well throughout without understudies. Its unfortunate that it's fallen apart these last few days Again, that's all very well and good but not the fault of the guest...
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Post by djp on Apr 2, 2017 3:23:58 GMT
Yeah I agree with the above, of course I wouldn't expect someone to drop in and learn the full version but even if you had said performer at the side of the stage reading from the script it would be better than nothing. it would need some quick thinkng but Dolores, who we were told was the sick actor, and has one big number is probably the most replaceable by someone who doesn't sing her big song and just reads a script.There's less time on stage, least involvement in the choregraphy, and less relationship activity going on there. If you can run the Tempest with a bloke in a suit and holding the script playing Ariel, you can get away with most things.You would need time though to arrange even that , and they didn't have that.
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Post by djp on Apr 2, 2017 3:29:47 GMT
I'd assume the lack of understudies would be down to budget. It's a complex piece definitely and they've done well throughout without understudies. Its unfortunate that it's fallen apart these last few days At a guess you would need a younger and an older female, and a generic male. swing team . I imagine thats going to be a lot more expensive than losing a couple of shows's takings. Comes of putting on a top line cast, with an abundance of leading actors, and you assume paying them decently, in a theatre thats not got that many seats to pay for it all. .
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Post by infofreako on Apr 2, 2017 3:53:33 GMT
Sad but true. I feel for those who missed out over the last few days and I can only assume the Saturday matinee was axed so the evening performance could go ahead. Im sure the decision wasnt taken lightly
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Post by viserys on Apr 2, 2017 5:56:16 GMT
For what's it worth, I thought the show was great and all the cast were full of energy. I couldn't tell if anyone was a bit poorly. Wasn't a fan of Ms. Ruffelle's singing, but I doubt that was illness-related... The £10 seats in the front rows were definitely a steal.
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Post by littlesally on Apr 2, 2017 10:10:02 GMT
Having seen the first preview which was frenetic and plagued by sound issues, we retuned for the final performance last night. It was stunning with great performances all round and the energy was off the scale.
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