THANKLESS JOB

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 42, 13 November 1936, Page 14

THANKLESS JOB

Understudies Have To

Work Hard

TVOR NOVELLO has had a new idea —to encourage understudies. Tn “Careless Rapture,” at Drury Lane, Dorothy Dickson is- understudied by Marjorie Wyn, herselt a notable stage, radio, and screen artist, states a London paper. But when pantomime-time arrives Miss Wyn will have to leave the Lane to play a leading role in one of the productions. Mr. Novello is therefore arranging auditions at which the Drury Lane chorus girls can, compete among themselves for the post of new understudy to Miss Dickson. The winner will be given a special prize of £lO by Mr. Novello. The understudy’s job is one of the most thankless ones on the stage. They have to work hard, frequently ‘standing by” for two or three artists in the show, and having to attend several rehearsals each week. And if they are suddenly called upon to play, what happens? A disappointed house gives them a perfunctory round of applause—and, directly the performance is over, forgets all about them. Managements are careful not to give the understudy any publicity until the star is safely back in the cast again. If the understudy herself attempts to seek recognition for her big chance, she is frowned upon by the manager for doing harm to the box-office. And, in addition, understudies are getting fewer and fewer opportunities even to play nowadays. The practice is growing of replacing one star, if she has to leave the cast temporarily, by another of equal popularity. All that is expected of the understudies to top-line stars is the ability to keep the curtain up in a sudden emergency. Yet it is-good experience for young actors and actresses.. Even if they never play, they have the opportunity to watch brilliant performers at work —and they also come before the notice of discerning producers. Understudies have often got good parts not because they have actually deputised for the star in a public performance, but because their work at rehearsals has impressed the management and producer.