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Original poster

Question about a theatre trip

18 replies

Flossie2shoes · 29/09/2022 09:55

I don't often go to the theatre, I'm feeling a bit put out but not sure whether to contact them. Went to a musical yesterday, special treat for my Dad. I booked it because it had two famous actor/singers in it that I knew he'd love to see. Even yesterday morning it was still being advertised with them in the cast.
When it started we realised that they weren't in the show at all. In the interval I found a board announcing the change. It didn't ruin the trip, but it certainly took the shine off and the tickets weren't cheap.

There were some people kicking off to staff who were very angry. I gathered that they follow the main man on his tours. Chatting to others around us who go regularly they said that normally the audience would be informed and given options to go on a different date, possibly even a refund.

This wasn't a last-minute change due to illness, all 3 of the headliners were replaced by cast who were really good, but I'd never heard of.
I feel like sending a fed up email - what do others think please?
(Didn't put this in AIBU because I know I'm not being unreasonable to feel a bit cheated, I just want to know what is the usual expectation in these circumstances).

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 29/09/2022 09:57

What do the Ts&Cs of your ticket say? Usually an understudy isn’t a good reason for a refund. You’ve booked tickets for the show, not for the actor.

ohidoliketobe · 29/09/2022 10:00

It's very common. They can do 2 shows 7 days a week, no one can manage that. Casts have understudies and Swing cast members for this reason.
To echo youve booked to see the show not the individual. Its not like booking for an Adele concert and them sending on her opening act again

FarmerRefuted · 29/09/2022 10:02

You still enjoyed the show so, while it might be vaguely disappointing, it didn't affect your viewing of it. Knowing that you might not get to see a particular actor is part and parcel of theatre, they need days off too.

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Theatre
Original poster
Flossie2shoes · 29/09/2022 10:06

It is frustrating. They have put on an extra day today and that says specifically that the main cast will not be in that one.

We went yesterday, and their adverts on the website for that date, even yesterday morning, say that they would be.
I see no harm in giving context - it was Joseph with Jason Donovan as Pharaoh - so I think that he was in it mattered very much to a lot of the audience. We weren't quite so fanatical about it, disappointed rather than devastated. :-)

OP posts:
PinkHeadphones · 29/09/2022 10:13

I think it is quite usual. When I went to see Hamilton some of the roles were being played by actors other than those advertised.
I remember a school trip to see Me and my Girl back in the 80s, it was supposed to be Jacko from Brushstrokes but it was someone else, we didn't really care but I remember noticing.
In my teens I had a big crush on an actor and went to see him in a play three or four times, I have to say I would have been disappointed if he hadn't been in it!

Original poster
Flossie2shoes · 29/09/2022 10:57

I don't do musicals much, but enjoy going to a play when we're staying in London. I've never been to a play where the main actors have all been given a day off together. My partner is a musician and was front man for a band that toured internationally for many years. That's very hard work night after night but the fans would have been pretty put out if he, the lead guitar and say the bassist were replaced for a night or two. 😂
But going back to the theatre trip, I'm not going to make a fuss. It's been interesting to hear from you all. Your views are a bit different to those of the people around us yesterday.

OP posts:
User38899953 · 29/09/2022 11:00

Alexandra Burke is playing narrator isn't she? Was she there for your performance ?

YumYummy · 29/09/2022 11:51

It’s pretty common unfortunately, i
saw Ghost story 2.22 on Saturday partly because Laura Whitmore was in it, well turns out she wasn’t.

PandaOrLion · 29/09/2022 12:40

I’d say it’s pretty common - I wouldn’t expect to either be told or for it to be the main cast. A bit like going to see a sports team play, there might be reserves playing but it isn’t usually announced until the beginning of the game. I’m really surprised that so many people you spoke to also were confused about it.

Original poster
Flossie2shoes · 29/09/2022 19:16

User38899953 · 29/09/2022 11:00

Alexandra Burke is playing narrator isn't she? Was she there for your performance ?

Nope.

OP posts:
Original poster
Flossie2shoes · 29/09/2022 19:24

PandaOrLion · 29/09/2022 12:40

I’d say it’s pretty common - I wouldn’t expect to either be told or for it to be the main cast. A bit like going to see a sports team play, there might be reserves playing but it isn’t usually announced until the beginning of the game. I’m really surprised that so many people you spoke to also were confused about it.

They weren't confused, they were annoyed. I think they had a point - you book x play starring A, B and C, you don't really expect to see none of the people billed. They didn't book to see a "team" of people they've never heard of.
As for them needing a break - I understand perfectly, as the partner of an "ageing rocker" who got up on stage for years, never letting his fans down just because he was a bit tired.
For me personally it wasn't that big a deal, just a bit of an eye opener. Of course the cast need a rest from time to time, so when they book the tour they should schedule that in, and then advertise accordingly. I realise now that it's standard practice and for me it's verging on fraudulent. Give the big names who attract the audiences a day off here and there, fill in with understudies, advertise honestly and set ticket prices accordingly.

OP posts:
LIZS · 29/09/2022 19:28

There are usually a couple of dates per week when headliners don't appear in the small print, often matinees and Sunday, plus breaks. Sorry if that took the shine off, but understudies are often better!

Musicaltheatremum · 29/09/2022 19:35

My daughter did musical theatre. They are highly trained and she always felt it was a real kick in the teeth when people didn't appreciate the understudies' talent some of whom were far better than the "famous" person.

Colourmehappy26 · 29/09/2022 19:42

Yeah I agree it seems pretty shit if the 3 main actors weren’t in it, I’d have preferred to be given advanced warning and assume it was some specific circumstances which meant all 3 couldn’t be in it rather than maybe 1

EtiquetteQuestion · 29/09/2022 19:43

It's quite possible that they were injured or off sick on the day you went - it's unlikely that all three of the performers were given the same day off.

I understand it is incredibly disappointing though. I booked specifically to see Linzi Hately as the Narrator when it was in London and I would have been disappointed if she hadn't been on, but as others have said, you do book the show, not the performer.

I think on Broadway though if a performers name is listed above the title of the show then you may be entitled to a refund if they are not on as it's implying that the performer is bigger than the show itself.

Original poster
Flossie2shoes · 29/09/2022 19:54

EtiquetteQuestion · 29/09/2022 19:43

It's quite possible that they were injured or off sick on the day you went - it's unlikely that all three of the performers were given the same day off.

I understand it is incredibly disappointing though. I booked specifically to see Linzi Hately as the Narrator when it was in London and I would have been disappointed if she hadn't been on, but as others have said, you do book the show, not the performer.

I think on Broadway though if a performers name is listed above the title of the show then you may be entitled to a refund if they are not on as it's implying that the performer is bigger than the show itself.

Honestly - I think it more likely that they were all 3 given the day off than all 3 of them got ill at the same time.

People are saying this is the norm, it's to be expected, maybe it shouldn't be.

OP posts:
urgen · 29/09/2022 19:55

I go to the theatre a lot and if they need a rest that needs to be scheduled in. It’s 9 shows a week if they do all shows. If that isn’t possible then they need to schedule their days off IN ADVANCE. So people know that a certain star actor won’t be say on Thursday’s night show and booked accordingly.

I complained when a certain singer wasn’t in Dreamgirls and on speaking to the usher they told me she was hardly in it. They gave me free tickets to see it again. She still wasn’t in it but I took two different people so it ended up being OK.

They have got to stop this sort of thing IMHO.

Original poster
Flossie2shoes · 29/09/2022 19:55

Musicaltheatremum · 29/09/2022 19:35

My daughter did musical theatre. They are highly trained and she always felt it was a real kick in the teeth when people didn't appreciate the understudies' talent some of whom were far better than the "famous" person.

That's not really anything to do with the point I'm making here. I'm sure that a lot of people, including myself, can thoroughly enjoy and appreciate a performance by superstars they've never heard of.
In this case though a lot of the audience had booked because they follow Jason D and I think that they were done.

OP posts:
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