As an AEA Stage Manager the thought of “No Understudies” warms my heart and strikes fear in my heart both at the same time. No one likes rehearsing, teching, polishing a show up in previews, open, and then bang, go back into rehearsal for the understudies. But, at the same time, without contracted understudies, you will still face the notion by producers that “the show must go on”, and often drop the problem back into the SM’s lap.
(Sigh)
On my current show, we had two ensemble members go out – and it was left to stage management (my entire team) to figure out how to rewrite the show, re-do tracks and, with the help of the fight captain, re-do a battle. It did require other ensemble members (non-AEA) to volunteer and step up to bat, learning new lines, new blocking, etc.
But, I felt dirty doing it – these actors were not “contracted” to be understudies, they did it “to help out”. (Technically, it feels like I, as stage manager, was “hiring” this actor to do a new role . . . which is not technically legal.)
What is frustrating that if management had sat down, they could have understudied the entire show with the current ensemble and just one outside male and female swing, but theaters see understudies as an excessive cost that often is unneeded, and then, when sickness or something else strikes, the magic of good stage management can jump in and solve the problem. AEA actors tend to not like to understudy roles for a show they are already acting in (extra work, no real extra money) – so in the struggle to cast, to add the “additional duty of understudying” is often a deal breaker.
Part of me feels that is a theater makes the decision to have no understudies, they are making the decision to cancel a show if someone is ill. But, management does not see it that way (although, I do have to say, I have worked on shows where canceling was the preferred choice then sending on someone with a script.). Although I feel like I can sit around during previews, and come up with “plans” on my own, I honestly feel like management needs to contract those actors . . . to be fair . . . and give them some lead time.
I am torn . . . this is one of the first times in my life I feel like hunkering down and tossing the problem up the ladder rather then be the superhero and solve the problem on the fly.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Edit to add topic tag. - Maribeth