Rebecca, a struggling young actress in New York, gets an opportunity to almost be in a play: she is tapped to be the understudy of the star of a new production of "Electra", the Sophocles tragedy. Little does she know that she will be seen by the company as a mere "gofer", or a slave, to the tyrannical stage manager, Alison, or Ian, the director.
Her opportunity comes on the first night of previews, when Simone, the actress playing the lead, calls in sick. Rebecca makes a good impression as she saves the production. Her happiness is short lived when Simone recovers and gets back to the play. Simone, a film star, develops a curiosity about her understudy and her world. The friendship toward the substitute does not last too long because Simone has words with Rebecca in the balcony of the theater. A nasty fall sends the star into the hospital in a coma.
Rebecca, again, rises to the occasion by stepping into the title role, until a new leading lady is brought, the mercurial Greta, who dislikes her understudy at first sight. Rebecca has met Bobby, a fireman from a station near where she lives. He likes her a lot, but she is not quite ready to commit. Rebecca's personal life is a mess. Realizing her opportunity has just passed her by, she decides to take matters into her own hands with terrible consequences.
"The Understudy" is an independent film about the theater that cannot make its mind whether it is a comedy, or a drama about a crime. The directors, who also wrote the screenplay, David Conolly and Hannah Davis, obviously know quite well the world of the theater and the intrigues behind a glossy production. The relationship between star and understudy is examined. One can see how the rivalry between a successful person and one that aspires to be can come into play in such a milieu. The problem is that Rebecca, who appears to be a somewhat grounded person, is not what she really is. One gets the impression this film went directly to video.
Marin Ireland who appears as Rebecca has good moments in the film. Aasif Mandvi plays Rebecca's roommate. Richard Kind, Paul Sparks, Gloria Reuben, Kelli Giddish and Marcia DeBonis are seen in the supporting cast.
Her opportunity comes on the first night of previews, when Simone, the actress playing the lead, calls in sick. Rebecca makes a good impression as she saves the production. Her happiness is short lived when Simone recovers and gets back to the play. Simone, a film star, develops a curiosity about her understudy and her world. The friendship toward the substitute does not last too long because Simone has words with Rebecca in the balcony of the theater. A nasty fall sends the star into the hospital in a coma.
Rebecca, again, rises to the occasion by stepping into the title role, until a new leading lady is brought, the mercurial Greta, who dislikes her understudy at first sight. Rebecca has met Bobby, a fireman from a station near where she lives. He likes her a lot, but she is not quite ready to commit. Rebecca's personal life is a mess. Realizing her opportunity has just passed her by, she decides to take matters into her own hands with terrible consequences.
"The Understudy" is an independent film about the theater that cannot make its mind whether it is a comedy, or a drama about a crime. The directors, who also wrote the screenplay, David Conolly and Hannah Davis, obviously know quite well the world of the theater and the intrigues behind a glossy production. The relationship between star and understudy is examined. One can see how the rivalry between a successful person and one that aspires to be can come into play in such a milieu. The problem is that Rebecca, who appears to be a somewhat grounded person, is not what she really is. One gets the impression this film went directly to video.
Marin Ireland who appears as Rebecca has good moments in the film. Aasif Mandvi plays Rebecca's roommate. Richard Kind, Paul Sparks, Gloria Reuben, Kelli Giddish and Marcia DeBonis are seen in the supporting cast.