Understudies: The Show Must Go On

Last night, I attended ‘Shrek: The Musical’ at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. I was happily tapping my toes and scoffing ice cream when an announcement came over the PA system:

“Ladies and gentlemen, we apologise for the delay in starting Act II. Due to illness, the role of Princess Fiona will be played by Nikki Bentley for the rest of the show.”

Well, I’ve been to a fair few shows in my time and can honestly say that this was the first time I’d known an understudy have to take over a role halfway through a performance.

And it got me thinking…

Understudies – and I’ve been one myself, though not on that scale – have a lot of pressure on their shoulders. It doesn’t feel that way at the time, when you’re caught up in performing and feeling the buzz of learning a principal part, knowing that you’re the ‘go-to’ guy or gal if something goes awry; but when the announcement is made and you hear the murmurs of anticipation or the disappointed groans, it can really set your nerves on edge.

It’s hard enough at the start of a show, when people are expecting to see one performer and you step out as an understudy wondering how many of the audience will be taking to social media later to lament the fact they got the understudy rather than the publicised lead.

To step into the leading lady’s shoes halfway through a performance, though, that’s quite the task. To open with comic gem ‘Morning Person’ is an even bigger ask. With little time to prepare and an audience waiting to see what curtain up would bring, Nikki Bentley flounced her way out of the swamp and straight into the audience’s hearts. She was a perfect princess.

I know only too well that this is ‘part of the job’ – if you’re an understudy, you have to be ready for the call at any time, that’s why you’re there. But even so, normally you get a little more warning!

Often, too, the shift of one performer to the leading role results in a quick switch-around in other roles, too. After all, before her unexpected upgrade from biscuit to princess, Nikki was playing Gingy and the Sugar Plum Fairy and someone had to step in to fill her shoes – to my shame, I don’t know who it was, but they were excellent.

It just goes to show how versatile you have to be to cut the mustard in live theatre, often learning multiple roles and choreography. As proved last night, anything can happen at any time and you have to react in the fastest and most appropriate way possible to keep the show running smoothly.

“The show must go on,” as all the greats will tell you.

This show certainly did.

My review of ‘Shrek: The Musical’ will be going live tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled!