The talent we have in our L.A. pool of actors never ceases to amaze me.  Proof
positive that there is no finer group of actors in the U.S. was the “understudy
performance” of Miss Julie, at the Fountain Theater.

I was there to see Stephanie Stearns as Miss Julie, having seen and admired
her work in several productions at the road theater. However after seeing the
original Miss Julie cast (Tracy Middendorf, Chuma Gault, and Judith Moreland),
I wondered if the three understudies, who’d had maybe a couple of rehearsals
at most would even come close to the extraordinary performances of the
show’s usual three stars.  This was their first performance, after all.

I needn’t have worried.  Though side by side I might have found instances
where yes, the “real” cast’s weeks of rehearsals and performances shone
through, honestly speaking, each understudy gave an absolutely superb
performance. Audience members who came, only to find that none of the
rave-reviewed cast was appearing that night, could rest assured that they
were seeing an excellent trio of actors at the top of their craft.

Stephanie Stearns was a sexy, sultry, kittenish vixen of a Miss Julie, that
trademark voice of hers always a joy to hear.  She revealed the frightened little
girl behind the in control rich girl façade. Excellent work!  Jared Poe seemed a
smidgen nervous at first, but quickly assumed control of the role of John, and
the cat and mouse game between John and Julie was as engrossing as it had
been the first time I’d seen it. He could just as easily have been cast in the role
as Chuma Gault.  Finally, Alexa Alexander as Christine, captured all of the
character’s strength, and spunk, and dignity.  Fine work from an excellent
actress.

Understudy performances like this one should be seen, if only as proof that
talented actors can perform miracles.  And any actor who has lost a role and
thought “Why not me?” can look at these three outstanding performances
and see that, in the end, runners up are winners too.

APRIL 28, 2007 FOUNTAIN THEATRE, LOS ANGELES.

--Steven Stanley