Actors are Allowed to be Sick
Holly Lucas
Actors aren’t superheroes. They might play them sometimes but actors are human. They are your neighbor, working multiple jobs to pay the bills. They’re that person in the supermarket trying to reach that tin of beans but can’t because they’re too short or they’ve hurt their back. They’re the person that has to stay in bed for 2 days because they’re feeling as rough as a badger. Actors are just like everyone else, so why do audiences seem to think they’re superhuman?
People get sick all the time, and as much as audiences might think actors live in a bubble of antibacterial gel, they don’t. That’s why producers, directors and casting teams plan for such eventualities by having some top-notch understudies and swings on stand-by. These performers are just as incredible as the leads; how do you think they got the job? They learn more than one track for a show, are always there at the drop of a hat to step into a role and often only get a few hours notice to prepare if their fellow actor is unwell. Never underestimate the power of a Cover.
Audiences - sorry, some audience members - seem to completely forget that getting sick is out of our hands. Actors haven’t gotten sick on purpose just to spite you. If you go to a show and have only booked because your favorite celebrity has been cast in the lead role, I understand it might be frustrating if they don’t perform on the day you booked, but why should that stop you from going and enjoying a great show anyway? Why should that mean you can essentially bully that actor online and make them feel even worse mentally than they already do physically? Sara Bareilles, for example, and her co-star Gavin Creel have made the decision to cut their run in London’s Waitress a week short because of the uncertainty around flights leaving the UK during the Coronavirus. This is something they wouldn’t have chosen to do lightly, but for the sake of health and safety and their personal lives outside of being performers, that’s what they need to do.
During bouts of sickness, some shows have even gone to the lengths of creating special concert versions of their shows so that the audiences who have paid to come and watch still get to have an experience with them. Let’s be honest, that really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The auditorium should be filled with nothing but huge support for those performers and creatives who have put in that last-minute effort to ensure they can provide a show to paying customers. Toby Marlow, composer and co-writer of Six the Musical, stepped into the role of Catherine Parr back in July last year. The show in itself is so inclusive of people from all walks of life, but these guys were so determined to give the audience a show that one of the writers stepped into a role and they created a concert version to perform that day. He even got nominated for Mousetrap Theatre Projects Saved the Day Award. Go Toby!
Most recently, a revival of The Last Five Years at Southwark Playhouse saw their lead actress, Molly Blynch, signed off sick, so a couple of performances had to be canceled whilst they taught the entire actor-muso role to Lydia White who learned it all in two days.
& Juliet have ended up in a similar situation this week. As well as pre-scheduled cast holidays, they’ve had an unfortunately high number of dancer injuries. Yes, that’s right, even dancers can injure themselves! How many times have you pulled a muscle or put your back out? Now imagine doing that and having to go and perform a high energy 2-hour show…
The creatives decided to cancel one performance, but the following day they were determined to give the audience a show, so created a concert version with the performers they did have, working hard last minute to get something together for those audience members that decided to come along. I repeat, love and support should be abundant in that room.
With the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the closing of Broadway and many other theatres across the world, I can’t believe how many tweets and articles I’ve read focusing solely on disgruntled ticket holders. I know it’s frustrating - I’ve lost out on things myself - but do people really think that it’s the creatives fault? Actors, producers, casting directors, agencies, musicians, choreographers - many of them have had contracts cut short, some big jobs canceled entirely, and the theatres will be losing out on money (and I imagine offering refunds to those affected) and down the line will financially be in some trouble. A lot of these people are self-employed so don’t get paid for self-isolating. They’re all in a precarious position where they are now out of work for a month and all some people can think about is the fact that they’d planned to fly to NY and now they can’t go and see a show. Go anyway. Explore everything else that city has to offer. It’s a matter of health and safety, not just for the performer but for everyone else. It’s out of our hands - stop trying to find someone to blame and just accept that this is how it is right now. It’s no one’s fault.
If you’re an appreciator of all performers - leads, covers, the lot - I urge you to go and follow @westendcovers on Twitter who post every day about which swings and understudies will be taking to the stage. Also while you’re there, go follow @thetheatrecafe who regularly do #swingoftheweek. A cafe that just plays musicals and has all the theatre memorabilia you could dream of? Yes please!
Essentially, support each other. These people have worked so hard to give you some form of escapism from the world, so for heaven’s sake, just #BeKind.