4,799 posts
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Post by The Matthew on Apr 28, 2016 19:53:41 GMT
Bit that's my point the Eno doesn't have to provide understudies to the standard they did. Anyone with an equity card could be drafted in. The understudies aren't listed on the Eno website prior to the show. It's not a matter of "anything goes". When you buy a ticket you're entering into a contract, and the production is required to fulfil that contract with a reasonable amount of care and skill. If they sell you a ticket to a show with a professional cast and full orchestra they could reasonably present the show with two of the ensemble absent and one missing keyboard, but they couldn't offer half a dozen FOH staff reading from scripts and a bloke with a kazoo.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2016 19:52:09 GMT
To be honest, I can totally see why producers decide to say "[Celebrity Name] in ......." . It's going to get the audience in because Celebrites on stage are such a good hink at the moment and totally get people to come to their show. How can you blame a producer for trying to get more people to see their show?!
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1,008 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on May 14, 2016 9:48:31 GMT
It's just a shame that that is what they've had to resort to though. And now that the general public have seen [famous soap star/xfactor semifinalist] in a West End show, that's going to set the precedent for them, and they're probably going to be less likely to pay the same amount of money to be people who they consider to be nobodies in a play or musical the second time around.
Plus I personally don't like the way that celebrities draw all the attention towards them (which is a bit of an obvious observation but still...) and then you end up with screaming fans doing anything in their power to out-clap, out-laugh and out-scream their fellow fans. Or at least that's what I've experienced when seeing certain celebrities starring in shows.
That being said, I don't look down on the actual performers themselves, as if they prove that they've got the skills needed to pull off their role then everyone's a winner - the fans get to see their fave celebrity perform (which I can totally understand) and those nonplussed about the star can still enjoy the show to the same level as they would have had a theatre actor been cast instead.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 16:00:11 GMT
I've heard people complaining with celebrities being cast in musicals in London at the moment, but I can't even think of that many shows with celebrities in them?! I can only think of these so far: •Funny Girl •Dreamgirls •Guys and Dolls •The Bodyguard •The Go Between
I can think of lots of touring shows with Celebrites though, nearly every one!! I think it's different with plays as you can get some great actors and actresses in plays!
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4,359 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jul 7, 2016 17:50:55 GMT
That depends on what your definition of a celebrity is.
A Z lister reality star?
Someone who has performed consistently high quality work in the West End for years?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 18:20:44 GMT
That depends on what your definition if a celebrity is. A Z lister reality star? Someone who has performed consistently high quality work in the West End for years? Well I wouldn't really call Rebel Wilson, Sheridan Smith, Amber Riley etc a Z-List Reality star
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4,359 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jul 7, 2016 19:08:05 GMT
Nobody has called them Z Listers. However, you rarely see stars of this calibre on UK Tours. It's more likely to be a woman who is seen to be a "star" as she used to be in Eastenders. My point is many people, including people who usually don't go to theatre, think "wow! That lass from the telly is in a show. Let's go". Where's a regular theatre goer may rather see someone well known to them from previous productions. Would your average person in the street know their name? Probably not.
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