Rachel de Benedet Takes The Stage as Morticia
admin | Jan 05, 2010 | Comments 4
Rachel de Benedet, understudy for Morticia
Some Broadway shows go an entire run without ever having to make use of the understudies. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case for the Addams Family Musical in Chicago. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Nathan Lane took ill and was replaced (superbly, I hear) by his understudy Merwin Foard (Nathan Lane Out Sick Thanksgiving Weekend). On the weekend of the new year, Bebe Neuwirth apparently suffered from tendonitis, giving her understudy, Rachel de Benedet, the chance to show off her Morticia. And show off she did … a few comments I’ve seen floating around …
…”Rachel de Benedet was a terrific Morticia. (She) and Nathan Lane had really good chemistry, for her being an understudy…”
…”(de Benedet) was absolutely stunning as Morticia and her voice was clear and gorgeous…”
…”I can’t believe Bebe Neuwirth was sick. The understudy was great though.”
Ms. de Benedet is no stranger to Chicago. In September of ‘08 she could be seen performing with Rachel York and Jeff Daniels in the Goodman Theatre’s world premiere musical Turn of the Century, which was directed by Tommy Tune, with the book penned by none other than Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.
Most recently, Rachel co-starred with Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, Tom Wopat, Kerry Butler and many more in the world premiere of Catch Me If You Can in Seattle last summer. It will be interesting to see what happens when/if that show comes to Broadway in the Fall.
Congratulations to Rachel on her most successful “fill-in”. And we wish Ms. Neuwirth a very speedy recovery!
About the Author:
Saw Rachel in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Broadway covering for Joanna Gleason as Muriel. She was terrific on all counts–acting, singing, dancing. A wonderful talent.
She was terrific. Very different from Bebe’s Morticia, but stunning nonetheless. I feel very lucky to have been able to see both of them play the role, and having also seen Merwin’s first show, I believe the show is in safe hands if Nathan or Bebe were to miss a show.
It’s so important to have that depth of talent in a show with big name stars. People often feel cheated when they see such a show and the star is out. But realistically, stars do get sick and do need vacations. Sounds like Foard and Benedet are able to make people forget they were mad when they came in!
Wow, I wrote one of the reviews, and it appeared here. I am honored!
Andy