Months ago, I purchased a ticket to the production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Feb. 19 was my day to go, and I was excited to see Donny Osmond, knowing that this was to be the final time he would undertake this role (I am an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan).
When we got to the theater, people were waving their tickets to sell them, and on the door was a notice informing us that Donny would be unable to perform due to illness (the doorman said Donny had lost his voice during the previous night's performance just before the intermission).I was, of course, disappointed, and I almost allowed myself to become angry as almost everyone else seemed to be. But taking a deep breath and then coming to my senses, I realized that this is the way theater is and it is also the very reason you have an understudy who is prepared to go on in your shoes. In fact, there were several replacements for this particular show, but no one was complaining about that.
I also considered that someone must have had enormous confidence in this understudy (family relation or not) with whom to entrust with this role. And what shoes this understudy had to fill before an audience whose only thought on their minds was how much they had spent on their tickets and how they felt cheated out of their money (I know this because I heard snippets of numerous whisperings among the crowd before the show began). I would not have wanted to be in those shoes.
In the first few minutes of the production, David Osmond would have to convince us that we had not lost an evening but had gained an experience. So, instead of ruining my time with aggravation and the unfairness of life, I decided to give this "kid" a chance.
Well, I have to tell you, David Osmond was fantastic. He had a well-developed voice, great stage presence and filled those shoes with confidence. After the first 15 minutes, I was sucked into Egypt and enjoyed the story. In fact, I called ArtTix the next day to see if I could get tickets to the "David" show to take my two teenagers.
But, alas, he was finished with his performances at Kingsbury Hall. I guess we will just have to wait for another time. And for all of you who sold your tickets: Remember, great things come in "young" packages.
Christine Hardy
Logan