Friday, October 09, 2009
Is actor absenteeism at Broadway shows affecting our audience's attitudes? A study tells all.
PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE: "I've been concerned about absenteeism for some time, mostly because of its macro effects on our audience. As theater tickets get more pricey, and the economy gets more dicey, audiences are bound to be disappointed if they aren't getting what they pay for, right?"
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6 comments:
The results from the research done by ERM is remarkable. I never really thought about how cheated an audience can feel with an understudy performing or how that a note in the playbill saying there is a replacement that audience automatically respond negatively to the show. I also thought it was interesting that when there is an understudy performing most people assume the performer is legit sick not just needing a day off.
I never even thought this would be a problem among audiences. I remember the time I saw Wicked on Broadway, the only show I have ever seen on Broadway I am sad to say, and one of the lead roles was absent. I was a little disappointed, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the show. I can imagine this as being a bigger problem on shows where the lead is played by very well known person, like Jude Law in Hamlet. I agree with the author that it is problem that audiences feel this way. We should go to a show to focus on just that; not the actors. Of course the actors greatly effect the show, but people have to realize that even unknown actors can bring a play to life.
I think that this study is really interesting, to see just how negatively people react to understudies. I just wish it would have mentioned some information regarding audience members with an interest in seeing a particular actor, versus just the regular cast in general. For example, someone wanting to see Jude Law in Hamlet would be much more disappointed than if they went to see Hamlet in General. I feel it is very unfair to the understudies that people feel they are being cheated, unless in the event the audience member wants to see one specific actor. I think that understudies would be more than capable of doing their role at the Broadway level, and they would not detract from the "experience" at all.
As mentioned above, the audience reaction would probably depend on whether the understudy is in for a big-name star whose name is selling the tickets or if they're in for a relative unknown. In the case of the big-name star I I've heard of cases where the understudy was regarded as performing better than the star they replaced for the night even if they weren't the person that the audience came to see. The audience might feel ripped off, but in the end is the show better or worse than the one they expected?
I agree with several of the comments about marketing. People are going to see Wicked no matter what because the show is so popular, same thing with Phantom or Rent. But with shows that depend on stars to get people in the door you have a much larger problem when that star is not performing. These things work both ways though. I have purchased expensive tickets before in the expectation of seeing a specific actor play a role and I actually wish I hadn't. I think his understudy would have been better.
Ultimately it can be disappointing to go to a show in the expectation of seeing a particular actor and them not performing but with an open mind you never know what you will get. As to the comment in the article about understudy rehearsals I would say we often don't give them enough time to prepare and bond with a cast and that is a flaw of the system in which we work. Directors don't like their time being cut into with understudy rehearsals.
I've been an audience member in many productions with an understudy (in some cases, I liked the understudy better than I liked the original performer, like Beauty and the Beast). However, it never, ever crossed my mind that an actor would be absent for something other than a legitimate reason.
This is beaten into our head; we cannot beget our individual comfort before the health of the production. If an actor or stage hand is sick, they are expected to be there albeit with tons of cold medicine in their bodies. Our industry is not one that is conducive or sympathetic to taking a day off.
This is definitely not the most healthy of industry standards, but those who manage to hold themselves to it harbor a certain amount of pride towards their station.
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