The Art of the Understudy

Last weekend I went home and was fortunate to have a £5 centre Stalls seat for 'Antony and Cleopatra' with the RSC. The role of Cleopatra was due to be played by Kathryn Hunter, who is a seasoned RSC performer, associate director and an Associate Artist of the RSC. She is a stalwart performer, and the week before gave a superb portrayal of Lear's Fool in King Lear. I was greatly anticipating seeing her take on Cleopatra.

http://www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/our-work/hunter.aspx

Imagine, therefore, my disappointment when an ASM came to centre stage and informed us that 'due to the indisposition of Miss Kathryn Hunter, the role of Cleopatra will be played by Miss Katy Stephens, with a script'. I felt so sorry for Katy, first of all she had to play a role that she hadn't had much experience playing, and secondly, the short notice meant that she had to have a script in hand. If Cleopatra were her track, and she had a script in hand, then I imagine that people would ask for refunds.

But, my word, at the interval I was blown away, and felt rather foolish. Despite having the script, Katy gave her all and pulled out a show stopping performance.

There was a few scenes which she even did without a script at all.

At the end of the play, she, understandably received a standing ovation. To have had to perform with such pressure piled on top was such a feat, and she achieved a great performance.

http://www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/ensemble/ensemble-biog-katy-stephens.aspx

The job of being an understudy is so demanding. I would not like to have to do it. To learn you track, and then to learn and rehearse two or three other tracks as well, and be ready to go on at a moments notice requires special talent. I do not think that we applaud understudies enough. They do a huge amount of work, and unfortunately seldom get to reap the harvest of their labours. Unless of course they get lucky, such performers as Kerry Ellis come to mind. Kerry was Martine McCutcheon's understudy for Eliza Doolittle in Trevor Nunn's 2001 production of 'My Fair Lady'. And this production has become infamous. McCutcheon was off so much that Ellis got several long stints in the title role. This paid off, and Ellis is now a star in her own right, having originated the role of Meat in 'We Will Rock You', and playing Elphaba in the phenomenally successful 'Wicked' on both sides of the atlantic.

Understudying is a tough gig, and not enough credit is given to those who pull the job off well.

Robert Walter Potts

Grandpa died 19th October 2009. He was a sinner, who loved the Lord with all his heart. He was a forgiven sinner. He served his God, and now living in the eternal presence of his Lord and maker.

Why do I feel like crap? How selfish am I?! I miss him so much. I am sitting here typing, in a puddle of tears, my grief goes on, and always will do. I have no idea how my Gran deals with it. Every morning she wakes up...alone...but we're not alone. He lives!

We have a strong and certain hope
Fixed and unchanging not in vain
We have a friend in heaven's court
Since Jesus rose to life again

We have an anchor for the soul
Since Jesus' blood has made a way
Into the deepest heart of God
Before the Father's throne of grace

I know he lives
Jesus is alive
And he reigns in glory now
I know he lives
And with him we'll rise
Hallelujah
I know he lives

We have a King high over all
The new creation's firstborn Son
New heav'n and earth await his call
We shall be like him when he comes

We see him now in majesty
Enthroned above the galaxies
Until his glory burst the skies
And all creation joins the cry

I know he lives
Jesus is alive
And he reigns in glory now
I know he lives
And with him we'll rise
Hallelujah
I know he lives
Jesus is alive
And he reigns in glory now
I know he lives
And with him we'll rise
Hallelujah
I know he lives
I know he lives
I know he lives

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 2008 Make Way Music
www.grahamkendrick.co.uk

My sorrow and sadness are nothing compared to the immeasurable greatness of My Lord.

I can't write anything more, I don't have words to type.

Greater things...

This song is my song of today!

God of this city

Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here!

The Lord's My Shepherd

Today's Wordlive looks back over the past few weeks. And so too will I. A lot has happened in my life over the last few weeks. I have moved away from home, started studying, continued sinning, learning to love, listening for the Lord.

The Lord has been the constant, as I look back over the trials of the last year, with death and cancer being the major two, I can see His guiding hand, His peace which passes all understanding, the Communion of the Saints and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. And so I am so thankful to God for his sustaining presence, He has been the rock of my salvation, and the closet friend through the tough times.

Today's Wordlive Worship song was timely, and God given...

The Lord's My Shepherd. I'll not want.
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads my by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.

And I will trust in you alone.
And I will trust in you alone,
For your endless mercy follows me,
You goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
And he annoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on his pure delights.

And I will trust in you alone.
And I will trust in you alone,
For your endless mercy follows me,
You goodness will lead me home.

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For you are with me, and your rod and staff,
Are to comfort I need to know

And I will trust in you alone.
And I will trust in you alone,
For your endless mercy follows me,
You goodness will lead me home.

Why is Shakespeare so tough?

As part of the second Notions of Theatre lecture, we had to read 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'Hamlet'. I consider these to be two of the better his better works. I have enjoyed seeing various performances of 'Dream', and 'Hamlet', but I had never read 'Hamlet' in it's entirety before.

So, I started with 'Dream', I set aside a couple of hours on Saturday morning and ploughed through. The text is enjoyable, the poetry and prose of the different characters reminds me of their different statuses. Having read 'How to Read a Play' by Hayman, I felt suitably equipped to tackle the challenge. 'Dream' is very enjoyable, and therefore very easy to pick up and read. As I read through the play, I was reminded of the different versions I had seen on film and onstage, and in many places they blended into one. However, something new hit me with this reading, why does Shakespeare reference to moon so much, and who is 'Diana' that is mentioned frequently. Thanks to the footnote in my copy of the text I was quickly enlightened. The moon and Diana are used to refer to the fertility cycle, with Diana being the roman goddess of chastity. I also looked up the meanings behind some of the characters' names, for instance what does Bottom mean and imply? He is a weaver, and Bottom was an instrument used in weaving, and did not have the modern sense of 'arse', how I had misread that in the past. During a group discussion I was pleased to learn that Robin Goodfellow (Puck) was genuinely believed to have existed during the Elizabethan period. I learnt that people believed that he had an effect upon to seasons, harvest, and their faith in the measures to appease Goodfellow was staggering.

But onto the question, 'why is Shakespeare so tough?'

As I have mentioned, reading 'Dream' was very enjoyable, and therefore seemed to take no time at all. However, 'Hamlet' was another thing altogether. This play is possible one of Shakespeare most epic pieces, and contains what I think are the six most famous, and most quoted words, 'To be or not to be...' Why therefore did I approach this text we trepidation? I think this was because 'Hamlet' is so very long, complicated and at times very difficult to read. Having seen David Tennant in the title role, I came to the text with some prior knowledge, but I did not anticipate the struggle that was ahead of me.

I had set aside an afternoon on a day when I had no classes, to sit down and steam through the text. I have to admit that it failed. I did enjoy reading, however the play beat me, and I had to do it in sections. Firstly because there was so much to take in, when was Hamlet pretending to be mad?, when is he addressing the audience?, why was he doing so? And secondly because the scenes are so long, and so much happens, that I found I needed to break regularly in order to keep focus and to keep enthusiasm.

I can easily understand why so many people get put off so quickly when they try and read Shakespeare, why my mother hated English Literature at school, sitting, reading a learning vast speeches from the History Plays. I hated reading 'Macbeth' at school, but now sitting and visualising the different elements of the production, whilst reading, I can honestly say that the play 'came alive'. I was a joy to spend a good few hours imagining where the actors would stand, how they would deliver their lines, what their costumes would look like, and how I would design the set.

I was reminded of something my drama teaching drilled into us...that plays were 'written to be performed, not to be read'. So, why is Shakespeare so tough? Well, because the satisfaction and fulfilment after seeing a production in you mind's eye is so good.