How do West End shows maintain their spell-binding quality? How do the cast and crew perform night after night, managing to retain the magic of opening night, press night, and all the nights after that?
For shows that have celebrated milestone performances, such as The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, it seems that they will run forever. It is equally as thought-provoking when a seemingly successful, typical-musical type show opens and closes in the space of a few months or a year, such as Lend Me a Tenor, Singin’ in the Rain and Crazy for You. Whilst some may be revivals of earlier productions which may have run for longer, it is still questionable why some succeed and others do not.
However, for productions such as Phantom, the directors and choreographers tend to drop in to see performances and rehearse the cast throughout the year, not once or twice as one may think. It seems that this is the formula for keeping the show playing in tip-top condition for audiences who each want to see something special and spectacular, no matter how many times the actor or dancer has spoken the opening line or performed that time-step. It is also equally important to fulfil this responsibility when new casts or understudies are brought into the production, although arguably each cast make the show their own whilst maintaining the original template of choreography, staging and direction.
Despite a turnover of a number of casts during a show’s run, some performers often play their role throughout this or may even change roles, meaning they will know the production inside out. As a result, the rehearsals which are taken throughout the year are vital in order to keep the show fresh and alive and to maintain its integrity, especially when a show runs for eight shows a week or similar.