1. Being an understudy is just as hard as being in the main cast.
2. And once we get the job, we have a million lines and songs to learn.
3. We get so used to being in the background, it can be a little overwhelming when everyone fusses over us.
4. And we're absolutely terrified the first time we go on for a lead role.
5. Which means we're always appreciative of people who wish us luck or send compliments when our time in the spotlight arrives.
6. We get especially excited when we're on at the same time as another understudy.
7. No matter how many people protest otherwise, we know we'll always be compared with the person who normally plays the role.
8. If we're a hit, it might take a few days for the reality to sink in.
I finally realised where I was tonight. Thank you to everyone who has come and supported Funny Girl and our company, absent and present.
9. And if we become a global phenomenon in the process of doing our job, then so much the better.
Now people are all raging they'll be seeing Glenn Close and not Ria Jones in Sunset Boulevard tonight
It happens!
10. We dream of being thrown on stage at the last minute.
11. But we'd never trip anyone up to get on stage.
12. And we know you'll be disappointed that the celeb lead is off.
13. It is a bit annoying when the person you've covering can't quite decide whether they're ill or not.
14. And it's very annoying when the press assemble the cast for opening night photos and forget to include us.
15. We look forward to Tuesday or Friday afternoons the most.
16. Sometimes our enthusiasm freaks out the actors who are on stage every day.
17. But we're nothing compared with our parents, who get really excited when they see us acting with a famous co-star.
18. Often it's the understudy who does the public appearances for the show, so you might catch us in a shopping mall or at a charity fundraiser.
19. We love seeing our names on the cast list, especially when it’s in alphabetical order and we’re integrated with the other actors.
20. Our costumes never fit as well as the lead actors' costumes.
21. We love our pay check when the lead goes off for a week.
22. And yet despite all the joys of the job, we don't plan on being understudies for ever.
10 years ago, two guys played understudies in a west end show, tonight one of them, presented an @Olivierawards to… https://t.co/u58WcaJ5LT
In fact, we plan on winning some pretty major awards one day. So it may be worth getting our autograph at stage door after all.
This post was written under a pseudonym.