Sienna the Stand-In

[Belowen]

Sienna Miller received a standing ovation after she stepped in to play the starring role on the London stage last night.

Miss Miller, 23, girlfriend of Jude Law, had barely four hours' notice to play Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It at the Wyndham's Theatre after Helen McCrory fell ill.

The play, directed by David Lan, only opened this week and understudies were unprepared. Miss McCrory fell ill in the second act of yesterday's matinee performance. Two doctors advised her she had a 48-hour virus and should not continue. Miss Miller, who has another part in the play and spends much of her time on stage with Miss McCrory, agreed to take her role.

Denise Gough, who normally plays the shepherdess Phoebe, took Miss Miller's role of Celia, Rosalind's cousin.

Miss Miller was word perfect during the first half but stumbled frequently in the second. However, she got a standing ovation for her courage in taking the role.

She left the theatre arm-in-arm with her fiance Law, 31. She told fans: 'You must come back and see Helen in the role. She's much better than me.'

(I got this from lime-light.org)

 

[Elli]

I wouldn't have the courage to do that.

 

[Meg]

I think it's a bit brave for her, just because she knows she will be constantly watched and criticized. I think though, whenever anyone steps up to the plate to do something that they aren't comfortable with, it's a good thing.

 

[Jadee]

I think it's brave too. Kudos to her.

 

[tiffany]

I wouldn't have the courage to do that.

definitely very cool of her

 

[boho_babe]

well done to her it really annoys me that people are saying on Tv and stuff that it was set up just because she pulled it off. Doesn't anyone even consider that she can act.

 

[xEmma2k5x]

I can't comment on her acting, having not seen any of her films, but it was very brave to do that. I wouldn't have had the guts to do that

 

[Tinuviel]

I'm rather impressed. Good for her.

 

[Erin]

Pretty cool.

 

[Kalista]

I'm not a fan of hers but I applaud her for being brave enough to stand in for Helen.

 

[Diamond Star]

^ Yeah I've never been a fan of Sienna's but that's a pretty brave thing for her to do especially since the critics love to have a dig at her at every oppurtunity

 

[lunabella]

it's dumb for her to take the other role if she already has her own role. wouldn't the understudy be better at it? it's like she is trying to show off.

by the way, what kind of reviews has the play gotten?

 

[PoppyAzura]

it's dumb for her to take the other role if she already has her own role. wouldn't the understudy be better at it? it's like she is trying to show off.

by the way, what kind of reviews has the play gotten?

ditto. That's exactly how I feel.

The play overall has gotten so-so/negative reviews from the major critics. They were nicer to Helen but Sienna was savaged.

Here are some links:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/story/0,11712,1511852,00.html

http://www.thelondonline.co.uk/theline/article.php?articleID=444

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/06/22/btlikeit22.xml

http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/theatre/reviews/story.jsp?story=648771

 

[angelanna]

you have to give her credit for that, i cant think of many people who would have done that!

 

[Assembler]

it's dumb for her to take the other role if she already has her own role. wouldn't the understudy be better at it? it's like she is trying to show off.

The article mentions that since this was the first week, the understudies were unprepared. Also that Miller "agreed" to take the role, suggesting that she was prevailed upon to do so. So that doesn't sound like showing off.

Here's the referred part of the article.

"The play, directed by David Lan, only opened this week and understudies were unprepared. Miss McCrory fell ill in the second act of yesterday's matinee performance. Two doctors advised her she had a 48-hour virus and should not continue. Miss Miller, who has another part in the play and spends much of her time on stage with Miss McCrory, agreed to take her role. "

So I don't think she did it to show off.

 

[Jlgnxd]

I don't understand why the understudies were unprepared....the understudy for helen was sienna's as well....so that understudy obviously took sienna's role. The play has already been going on for a few weeks too (like june 12th)...the "opening week for press" was this week.

 

[ultramarine]

I'm happy for Sienna .. she seems to go with the "show must go on" ideal

 

[BohoChic]

I love her. That was so brave of her to do, I know I would not have the guts to go on stage and learn lines in only a few short hours. Good on you Sienna!

Thanks Belowen!

 

[Orchide]

bohochic, please go and see this show so you can tell me about!
they must have student rush tickets like they do here in the states for theatre.
come on now

 

[meowmix]

very impressed... good for her!