Kate Shrewsday is unwell; so it falls to me -Phil Shrewsday – to write tonight’s offering.
And my theme for the night – appropriately – is the understudy; the stand-in who is employed purely to take the place of the main event should they become ill or fall under a bus (by the way I saw a crash between a bicycle and a motorbike on Vauxhall Bridge today – much clanking, shouting and honking but no-one seriously hurt).
In a few – a very few – cases the understudy becomes a star in their own right. There must be some documented cases of this and – if this were Kate – she would list them right now, but as it is me and I am nothing like as conscientious as my wife, I won’t bother and just hope they exist.
But the majority of understudies remain just that – understudies.
Not even destined to be non-speaking extras or also rans – these are the never rans: except when the star is taken poorly – and then (sometimes for one night only) they become the stars.
What a contrast! All or nothing. Of course they often don’t get off to an easy start. If you have ever been at a theatre when – five minutes before curtain-up – the Voice of God from the sound box announces. “Because so-and-so (the star) is unwell, the part of etc etc will be played by Miss Blah Blah-Blah.”
The announcement is greeted with a groan and a muttering of ‘how very disappointing’ or ‘….but she’s the only reason I came!”
So the understudy appears, greeted by stony silence instead of the unearned ripple of applause which the ‘star’ commands upon their first appearance on the stage.
Usually by the end of the show (London audiences that is) the plucky underdog has won the audience round and gets a standing ovation. “How marvelous – what was her name?” A rustling of programmes – “Er…So and So’s understudy is Miss Blah Blah-Blah.”
“Hmm – never heard of her.”
And off they go into the night and the understudy returns home. But the following day they are just waiting in the dressing room (or at home more likely) while the star struts their stuff and takes all the accolades.
And that’s me tonight – for one night only, I hope, until my Missus shrugs off this nasty migraine and I can resume my normal position of best supporting nobody; watching the telly and making the odd fatuous comment.
Long-live the understudy: for one night only.
Kate Shrewsday 
long live the understudy!
to give up model making time to write was obviously a gift of love, to be repayed by silence and cups of cocoa?
Hope Kate feels better soon, but in the meantime – hello to the understudy 🙂 I do feel sorry for the theatre understudies who feel a wave of disappointment upon the announcement that the star is unwell – now that is pressure (you have done well).
Well, Phil, I’d say that you make a fine understudy! This was really quite hilarious…I did laugh out loud at your keen observation that undoubtedly Kate could quickly spout all the understudies turned stars. There can really only be one Kate, but I think it’s fairly clear that you provide a strong support for a writer of her caliber–you provide strong structural integrity to the team! And you and the children (and the dog) do provide wonderful background material. With our major time zone differences I have never once been the first to comment, and here I am doing so with yours! What a delightful piece, so thank you for being the fill-in–but not second fiddle. I do hope Kate feels well immediately! Debra
Nice one. From here to Victory. Hope Kate feels much improved today 🙂
Well done, Phil. In fact, pretty darn good! Please tell Kate I hope she’s well soon [no reflection on ‘the understudy’].
I do remember understudies becoming stars, not so much through being called at the last minute to take the part though. Just through perseverance… But that was in the days of real ‘STARS’. Nowadays, things have changed somewhat and virtually everybody is a star…
Never worry Phil, you’ll always be a star to us. You and Felix and Maddie and Macauley and Big Al. And that other woman, what’s her name? The one with a sore head? Ah, Kate, that’s right! We like her too.
*appreciative chortle*
No groaning here, Mr Shrewsday, you deserve your applause! Very entertaining. 🙂 I really hope Kate feels better very soon.
My hope that Kate soon stops wishing her top bit didn’t belong to her is no reflection on your performance – but you have rather milked the audience for a standing ovation, haven’t you? 🙂
Amazing that with crasher and crashee both two-wheelers, no serious bodily harm ensued.
I rather like the idea of the understudy job – paid for being able to do something but hardly ever actually being called upon to do it!
Anyway, console yourself with the thought that you are one of the lead actors – Kate is merely the chronicler!
Well done Mr Thingy! I really enjoyed this post. When is Kate back? 🙂
Behind every good woman . . .
Pleased to meet you Mr Understudy 🙂 a generous gesture on your part to take up the reigns and a suitably witty offering! Best wishes to you all and especially our good friend and blog buddy Kate, may she feel civilised and fabulous with all due haste.
Phil . . . you’re a plucky underdog who’s won over the audience.
Kate . . . kick that migraine to the curb.
The role of Kate, during last night’s production of “BLOG” from the Shrewsday Theatre, was deftly performed by her understudy (and strong supporter of her role) Mr. Phil.
Good Job! Hope Kate’s better soon.
Bravo! And a pleasure to ‘meet’ you, sir. All or nothing. Yes…all or nothing…hmmmm…
Please give your lovely wife my best wishes.
I hope Kate gets well soon, though I do have to say I completely enjoyed your ‘stand-in’ post. Great job. Is that Peter O’Toole in the picture? He was one of my favorite actors — loved the movie “My Favorite Year” (and of course all the others).
Claps and Bravos from here in the “peanut gallery”, Phil. Well done.
My Tom is cringing, hoping he never has to do a stand-in for me (though, I assure you, it would be a pure comedy act). Best to Kate, and to all you taking care of her.
Dear Phil,
A fine job of understudying for a real virtuoso. I learn so much from Kate’s postings that I feel as if I’ve signed on for a class in culture and the arts. You, too, taught me lots–especially the use of “blah, blah, blah.” Its insertion hither and yon made me laugh out loud. Thank you for starting off my day with laughter.
And please do give Kate my best. I so hope the migraine flees in the realms of never land.
Peace.
And the understudy gets the chance to shine 🙂 Do hope Our Kate gets better soon!
You BOTH inspire me now. Way to go and I stand in ovation to this particular understudy.
Kate has done such a good job of painting your personality with words, Phil. Your actual words are everything I imagined them to be.
Kate, I would do anything for the person who figured out how to obliterate the migraine from the face of the earth. I see your head is better now, and I hope you avoid the ‘after-fog’ that always hits me for several days. To use the words of Noel Coward, those things are BEASTLY.
It’s all been said, as I have arrived late. You are a star of the show along with the children and the dog and a damned fine understudy.
Fingers crossed that you are in fine fettle again soon, Mrs Shrewsday.
Oh, I am so sorry that Kate is feeling under the weather – get well soon Kate. You are certainly no stand-in Phil, we all know you, Maddie, Felix and of course your little dog so well. We love you all.
Thanks for all your kind comments and I’m pleased to say that Kate is well enough to write again; normal service is resumed – Phil Shrewsday.
🙂
Long Live the Understudy! I hope you are relaxing with a warm cup of tea 🙂
Get well soon Kate, and hello there Mr Kate!
Standing O for the understudy, and best wishes to Kate for a quick recovery.
Would it be that we all have an understudy like you, Phil. Kate, you’ve done a great job bring the lad up to speed! *Running away so Phil can’t plant a rogue tomato on the back of my head.*
Good health and high spirits to Kate! Lovely to hear from you Phil, as I think we all feel we know you from Kate’s wonderful posts. A smashing job!
Delightfully done, Phil! So sorry to discover belatedly that Kate has been unwell, but really glad to see that she is better now 🙂