Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 1/27/2009

Question
I am a high school theater director.  I recently cast  a show with an
understudy and decided that the understudy should get one performance.  
The person he is understudying for (a senior) and his mother are up in arms
about hims not getting all the shows.  I am curious to know your opinion and
any advice/evidence I can give to further help back me up?  I believe it's
giving another VERY deserving young man a chance, what do you think?

Answer
Hi Tony, There is no reason to have understudies in the amateur theatre until such time in the rehearsal schedule that you think you may have to replace someone. It would be a somewhat better situation to have a double cast and split the performances evenly between the two casts. But only somewhat.  I don't like that practice, either.  You are stuck with your decision now. The senior and his mother indicate that their interest in  the show is only egocentric and they do not care about the show itself nor any one else in it. I think you must stick to your decision, someone who goes to all the trouble to learn a role, deserves a chance to perform it.  Go to the principal before the mother does and explain your decision and the reasons behind it. Indicate that if the senior should drop out over this, the understudy is ready to do the entire run just as he is if the senior became ill and could not do the show. Best wishes and God bless, Doc
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