Emily Skeggs in Fun Home

[MVintheheartland]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 6:50pm

As part of a whirlwind Broadway weekend, saw Fun Home Saturday night. I was initially disappointed that Sydney Lucas was off, but her understudy Gabrielle Pizzolo was great. However, the cast member I was really excited about was Emily Skeggs. I think she has sort of taken the back seat to Sydney because of Sydney's age and knockout rendition of "Ring of Keys", but I thought Emily had a much more interesting persona, a very nuanced performance. 

I was thrilled that she was able to perform "Changing my major" on Seth Meyer's Late Night show the other night. The whole cast was impeccable. 

I saw Hamilton the same weekend, but if I had to choose which show to see again, it would be Fun Home. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 6:51pm

I also really enjoyed Emily Skeggs when I saw the show. She is very talented.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 6:54pm

Skeggs was my favorite Alison. Changing My Major was one of the big highlights for me.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 6:58pm

I agree that Skeggs was great and is being overshined by Lucas due to her age. I think all three Alison's are worthy of praise and I couldn't possibly choose a favorite since they each have such different shining moments. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 7:45pm

Emily Skeggs is great, but you made a post saying she should be getting more attention than Sydney Lucas, who you didn't see? 

[AppleSunday]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 8:19pm

From my seat I really got the most from her Alison, and I'm so glad I did because most of what I'd read going into the show was about the other two being the ones to watch. Emily actually slipped throught the pre-show cracks for me as much as such a thing could possibly slip. Personally, I think Middle Alison is the most relatable Alison to the most people (the awkward college student figuring stuff out about themself now they're away from home for the first time) and she just delivers every aspect of the performance perfectly. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:15pm

Worth nothing, for my money, Skeggs has some of Kron's best book scenes, the middle Allison's plight is, after all, the one that is tethered/smack up against Bruce's final days. The show's (and Bechdel's graphic memoir's) event around which the story centers.  Skeggs's performance is so winning because she effortlessly plays the vulnerability and "hidden" aspect of being someone that age, i.e. only partially owning yourself, yet full of hope and genuine joy to discover the resulting fully formed human being. Her performance is terrific, never better than in the penultimate scene at home (which to me is an extraordinary sequence, a play in and of itself) with Joan and Bruce and Helen.  And watch her in the show's defining moment, when Bruce invites her to go for a ride, and then turns his gaze to Malone.  To me, one of the most electric in musical theater, one that pays off the conceit of the whole show. But I am a huge fan of Malone, Kuhn, and Skeggs, all of whom do stellar work.  I'm so happy to read a thread about Skeggs. 

[SamHoffman523]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:41pm

Sort of on-topic, but has Emily even missed a single show yet? How about Beth? Bruce? Judy?

[steven22]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:43pm

Emily and Sydney have both missed a few shows. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:46pm

I don't think Judy or Beth have missed any shows, but I could be wrong. Michael Cervaris doesn't miss shows...ever. Playbill even wrote a bit about it when he was in Evita because he missed his first show in ages (and I want to say it was because of weather and flights were canceled)

Updated On: 8/3/15 at 09:46 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:59pm

I heard Malone and Kuhn have not missed, and share an understudy.  Yeah, we all know the Cerveris track record, up there with Merman's.  He simply doesn't miss, other than vacations or outs.  

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 10:05pm

I seriously was most impressed with Skeggs when I saw it. 

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 10:12pm

It should be noted that she's SUPER nice irl

[AppleSunday]

Posted: 8/4/15 at 9:03pm

"Worth nothing, for my money, Skeggs has some of Kron's best book scenes ... Skeggs's performance is so winning because she effortlessly plays the vulnerability and "hidden" aspect of being someone that age"

She has some of the best for my money as well. I was actually put off by her performance for a minute  because that awkwardness and vulnerability she brought to the character felt so real. The other two Alison's are introduced together so it took me a minute to process exactly what Emily was doing and where hers was coming from. 

[ampi2]

Posted: 8/5/15 at 12:28pm

She's amazing! And yes, she's missed a few shows like Sydney. Her understudy, Lauren Patten is awesome too! 

Did you like Gabby as small Alison? I've heard nice things about her, met her the other day and was super sweet. 

[rexin]

Posted: 8/6/15 at 11:37am

The first time I went to see fun home middle Allison was played by her under study and she was amazing I went last night and saw Sydney.i found her hard to understand and she seems much older.

p.s the was a guy takeing tickets.with nail polish designs both his thumbs only.he moves so fast I couldn't tell what they were did any one else see him and know what's up with his thumbs lol

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/6/15 at 11:58am

"The first time I went to see fun home middle Allison was played by her under study and she was amazing I went last night and saw Sydney.i found her hard to understand and she seems much older"

Sydney plays Small Allison. Not Middle. So I don't even know what you're actually talking about.

[rexin]

Posted: 8/6/15 at 5:52pm

(puts the joint down)yes truly sorry for that I was not paying much attion when I was writing small al they are both amazing but I think the understudy plays her younger and much more innocent then Sydney.hope that makes more sense.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/6/15 at 6:12pm

I can also second, Emily is extremely nice.  I saw Fun Home the Friday night before the Tony's.  While waiting for the subway Saturday afternoon (after their matinee) I spotted Joel and asked " aren't you in Fun Home?" He answered "we both are".  Emily was with him and I didn't even notice her.  I preceded to tell them how much I loved the show.  Both seemed very flattered by my praises.  They asked where I was from.  I told them how many shows I was seeing.  Joel, especially, seemed shocked, that someone would see 8 shows in six days. Two, very friendly, talented people.