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.