Feat of Clay

Week 8: Boston, MA

Okay, so how, you may ask, do I feel about Clay Aiken playing the role of Sir Robin on Broadway? First, let me say that there is a definite buzz about it around the theatre here for sure, and mixed reports of all kinds coming in from the Broadway company. But the major report is that Clay's fans are flooding the Shubert theatre and tearing the house down with enthusiasm for what Clay is doing. He got a standing ovation after the "Jew Song" Friday night on the scale of a rock concert. Now, is this appropriate for this funny comedy piece? One might better ask, what isn't appropriate at "Spamalot?!" It's a good time show. It's also a profit making business. If Clay brings a whole new audience to the show who may never have seen live theatre or Broadway, then I say fantastic.

One might be inclined to grumble that a performer like Clay, with little or no acting experience, can just step right into a leading role on Broadway while others struggle and work for years to achieve that kind of break. But Clay is an accomplished young man. He was a special education teacher before "American Idol," he beat out thousands of people to get into that competition, and with the support of the American public, finished second and emerged with his first single at #1 on the Billboard charts. He has sold 6 million albums and has established a foundation for special needs kids. While it surely has not been lost on the producers of our show that Clay will be good for business during the slow months of this, the third year of the Broadway run, I also know the creative team are people with integrity and very high standards. I am sure that Clay had a very strenuous rehearsal process and that every aspect of his performance was worked on and guided by expert hands. Reading the interviews with Clay, and hearing about his aching muscles and exhaustion, all I could think was, brother, I feel you!! And of course, add to the pressure on Aiken that there are plenty of people out there who want to see a success like he is fall on his face in the "legit" world--next to creating superstars, there is nothing Americans love more than seeing them fall.

The only thing I am perhaps jealous of is that Clay got wonderful photos of himself in Sir Robin gear by Joan Marcus. I'd love to have a few official images of me in the show. Am I concerned that now Sir Robin will be a "celebrity only" part on Broadway? Well, I have no doubt that there will be other big names coming through the show in various roles as the run continues. But these roles are not easy to cast and require real acting chops, dialect skills, etc. I think the creative team knows this and there will still be opportunities for fine actors to play these parts in all the "Spamalot" companies. I am very grateful to be doing the tour and tickled that I am playing the same role simultaneously with Clay Aiken. I wish him much luck! He is about to experience what an eight show week feels like, and I am sure, will come to appreciate and respect the hard work that this truly is.

Here in Boston, our audiences have been been great and I have gotten to see and hear from many relatives, friends and colleagues who have shown up to surprise me back stage or have dropped me an email or sent a note or flowers. Thank you all for your support! My dressing room is a riot of colorful blooms--so much so that our stage manager walked by the other day and said, "When is the body being laid out?" I feel a sense of full circle being back here that is very gratifying. If you keep your dream alive, see it, believe it, and persist, it can take you exactly where you want to go. For me, it has been a long road since drama school here in Boston oh-so-many years ago. So to return here in this great show and in a great part--yeah it feels pretty terrific. That said, I am ready for a day off!