So, imagine what it must be like to understudy both Tony-nominated stars of the Tony-nominated revival of La Cage aux Folles, Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge. That's Chris Hoch's job.
He says both roles are enormous, but "Doug's is the more terrifying — not only the parameters of the role itself, but his performance is just so outside the box, you have to give a flavor of that and it's absolutely terrifying! I wake up every morning and I pray for his health!"
Most Broadway insiders consider the British-born Hodge a lock to win the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, playing the fluttery drag performer Albin. In one number, Albin literally applies makeup and gets dressed in front of the audience. To prepare himself as an understudy, Hoch says, he's not only memorized the lines and the staging, but he's gone to transsexual sites on the Web and, during off hours, descends the four flights of stairs from his dressing room to get comfortable walking in high heels onstage.
"I mean, it's funny," he laughs. "I go down every once in a while and just walk around in the heels."
Boneau/Bryan-Brown Twice As Nice: Chris Hoch understudies two Tony nominees in La Cage aux Folles: Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge, the favorite to win Best Actor in a Musical.
Hoch, who also plays the masochistic stage manager in La Cage, has understudied in several Broadway shows, and is well aware that he may never get the call to step into Hodge's pumps. He says actors shouldn't take the job expecting the lead actor to get sick and to become a star themselves.
He brings up the famous Bette Davis movie All About Eve, in which Davis' evil understudy conspires to keep the star offstage. "An Eve Harrington moment is always, I think, frowned upon by the company, for good reason," Hoch explains. "You have a big responsibility to your fellow actors when you do it, more so than you do to yourself."
Vocabulary
| Understudy Nominated Revival Parameters Fluttery Literally Masochist Conspire | 1. flapping about as if with wings 2. selected as a possible winner 3. someone who enjoys pain 4. a person who is a backup for a star 5. actually 6. the limits/extent of something 7. to make an evil plot 8. to bring back to life, to do again |
Discussion
What is the job of an understudy?
Have you ever been in a play? What was that like?
Have you ever been in-line for a promotion as soon as someone leaves?
Have you ever, conspired to do something evil? Explain.
Have you been jealous of someone in a higher position than you? What about a lower position?
Do you believe in conspiracy theories?
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