Image copyright Steph Parry
When Mamma Mia! discovered itself with out a main girl following a leg harm through the first scene final Thursday, it regarded just like the present must be cancelled.
Especially as a result of, would not you recognize it, each understudies had fallen ailing.
But by no means concernassist was (actually) simply across the nook.
Mamma Mia's normal supervisor had remembered that one of many present's earlier starsSteph Parrywas at present working as an understudy in 42nd Street, which was enjoying simply down the street.
He known as Steph, to ask whether or not she may step in, and inside simply 18 minutes of Mamma Mia! being halted, she was on the stage enjoying Donnathe function made well-known within the movie of the identical identify by Meryl Streep.
As a stand-in for 2 of 42nd Street's main roles, she was sitting within the dressing room on the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane when she acquired the decision.
The theatre is a hop and a skip from the Novello Theatre, the house of Mamma Mia!
"The general manager told the audience: 'I'm really sorry, unfortunately Caroline has injured herself and is unable to carry on in the show and we have no understudyhowever, we do have a lovely lady who will be carrying on for her shortly,'" Steph explains.
- Welsh actor Owain Arthur took over from James Corden because the gluttonous minder Francis Henshall in One Man: Two Guvnors in 2012
- David Tent's stand-in Edward Bennett acquired a standing ovation when he stood in for him as Hamlet in 2008. As effectively as being the stand in, Bennett had been enjoying the function of Laertes
- Natasha J Barnes needed to step into Sheridan Smith's footwear for a number of weeks in Funny Girl on the Savoy Theatre
"At the time, I didn't know that (the audience announcement) was going to happen. [It meant] they were totally on my side and any nerves just went. They were willing me on."
But how on earth did she bear in mind all of itthe steps, the blocking (the place to maneuver) and the songs? (Although to be truthful, we may most likely all handle the latterthat is Abba we're speaking about).
"Last time I played the role I was on a cruise ship and it was the United States version of Mamma Miathe blocking and choreography are different, even the script is slightly different," says Steph.
"I didn't have time to worry, I just needed a wee! I remember sitting on the loo thinking about the lines for the next scene. After that I had no need to think, I just had to trust that it was somewhere in the back of mind. It was worse, the more I thought about!"
She says the dancing was the most important problem.
"The choreography was the biggest wing in the whole of my lifeI blagged it! 'What's she doing? She looks like she hasn't danced a step in her life!' The cast were great, I knew they were on my side."
And there have been different challengesshe solely knew one or two of the actors.
"Jacqueline Braun, who plays Rosie, I'd never met before. She came up to me just before I went on and said: 'I just have to say hello, we're about to play best friends of 20 years, nice to meet you!'"
So how has she managed to carve out a profession because the go-to understudy?
"My complete profession has been [like that]on my second night time in Wicked I needed to go on as Madam Morrible. My costume wasn't prepared and I did not have a wig!
"Ten years in the past I used to be within the Pyjama Game within the Union Theatrethe lead function Babe misplaced her voice on the afternoon of the opening night time, that they had requested me to understudy the function however not formally.
"So I had to go on with a script! The next day, the director said I had to learn my lines for that night because 'Time Out were in'."
And the roles saved coming.
Twitter submit by @ThatStephParry
"You get known as someone who is reliable. I'd love to be a leading role, that's where I'd like to be. But what's great is you do get the moment to save the day. Moments like that are so special."
And final week's efficiency was a explicit profession spotlight.
"It was like nothing I've ever experienced in my life. At the end of Winner Takes It All, I felt like Celine Dion!"
But Steph says she is genuinely shocked by all of the media consideration.
"I didn't think it was anything special, I just did what I did. The publicity has blown me away."