The importance of understudies cannot be understated in shows like Ghost The Musical at the Chemainus Theatre.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 why veteran actors Sean Baker and ChemainusB次元官网网址� own Georgia Bennett are serving in that role during the summer-long production. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances B次元官网网址� and it has happened B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e set to step in because the show must go on, so to speak, no matter what.

Baker has been at the ready for the roles of Sam Wheat, Carl Bruner and the male ensemble, with Bennett prepared for the Molly Jensen lead and female ensemble members at any time.

ItB次元官网网址檚 like being members of an emergency response team.

As itB次元官网网址檚 turned out, Bennett has already done the role of Louise in the ensemble for a full week and one time as Mrs. Santiago in the ensemble. Baker got called into duty for the Subway Ghost of the ensemble twice during the beginning of the show.

B次元官网网址淔or us to be on, it means someone else is not on stage,B次元官网网址� reasoned Baker. B次元官网网址淭he performers we cover would rather be there.B次元官网网址�

But when duty calls for whatever reason, itB次元官网网址檚 good to know Baker and Bennett have done the work to ensure the performance is seamless to the audience, even if it can be a bit stressful for them.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of an actorB次元官网网址檚 worst nightmare,B次元官网网址� said Bennett. B次元官网网址淵ou can be as prepared as you can be. ItB次元官网网址檚 always that feeling am I going to freeze on stage or remember what IB次元官网网址檓 supposed to be doing.B次元官网网址�

Baker, 39, made his Chemainus Theatre debut last year in Classic Country Roads.

Bennett, 28, was also in that show and appeared in 2018B次元官网网址檚 Little Women as well as Playbill Dining Room Cabarets and previous KidsB次元官网网址� Series shows The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe plus the MagicianB次元官网网址檚 Nephew.

In the lead-up to Ghost The Musical, both auditioned for a specific role in the show at first before being offered the understudy positions.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e at all the rehearsals,B次元官网网址� noted Baker. B次元官网网址淢ost of our rehearsal time is spent watching.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e both covering four roles in the show,B次元官网网址� Bennett added.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e joked around, Georgia and I, aside from two roles we can do the entire show together,B次元官网网址� laughed Baker.

B次元官网网址淲e have to be in the audience or backstage or shadowing one of the actors four days a week,B次元官网网址� Bennett explained.

ItB次元官网网址檚 been an interesting experience for them to be involved in a show in this manner rather than the conventional specific role.

B次元官网网址淎t first we were a little trepidatious,B次元官网网址� conceded Bennett. B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 something either of us had ever done or considered doing. Now that weB次元官网网址檝e been on, it feels like we put a lot of work into it.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 still taken some getting used to, however.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 just a totally different muscle,B次元官网网址� reasoned Bennett. B次元官网网址淲e get a lot of time off. We can do our own thing when the show starts.

B次元官网网址淥ne thing we want to do is be on stage. It is hard. You get a little jealous. You want to be up there with them.B次元官网网址�

Baker concurred with BennettB次元官网网址檚 different muscle analogy. B次元官网网址淚n my estimation, itB次元官网网址檚 more difficult because that muscle is underdeveloped.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t is very emotionally exhausting,B次元官网网址� added Bennett.

Like Bennett alluded to earlier, the questions are also always there for Baker.

B次元官网网址淗aving never done it, am I going to crash and burn at some point?B次元官网网址� he pondered. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 having to juggle four roles which is the entire show in my brain.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淔or the future this is a good experience for what works when we have an opportunity to do this again,B次元官网网址� reasoned Bennett.

B次元官网网址淕eorgia and I rehearse together quite frequently just to make sure weB次元官网网址檙e ready,B次元官网网址� Baker indicated.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 a unique aspect to their duties since that doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen normally once cast in a show.

Being a part of Ghost The Musical in this way has given them a unique insight into what makes it such a heart-wrenching and much-praised show.

B次元官网网址淚 love it,B次元官网网址� said Bennett. B次元官网网址淪ometimes IB次元官网网址檒l not see it for a few days. I just forget how good the show is.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 extremely well-crafted,B次元官网网址� said Baker. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting to be involved with it honestly.B次元官网网址�

Bennett praised the cast for being so supportive of them as well.

The good news about the schedule and the situation for Baker is it allowed him to get married on July 15 after five years together with Alyssa Bryce, now Baker, whoB次元官网网址檚 also a performer.

Baker doesnB次元官网网址檛 have any other projects in the works for the rest of the year, but said heB次元官网网址檇 love to work with Chemainus TheatreB次元官网网址檚 artistic director Mark DuMez again.

B次元官网网址淚 love Chemainus and itB次元官网网址檚 close to home,B次元官网网址� said Baker, whoB次元官网网址檚 from Cobble Hill. B次元官网网址淢oving forward, it would definitely have to be the right circumstances.B次元官网网址�

Bennett is looking forward to a six-week tour of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northern B.C. with Sound The Alarm, a Vancouver-based company, for Music of the Night concerts in celebration of Andrew Lloyd WebberB次元官网网址檚 75th birthday.

B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 seen a lot of the Prairies,B次元官网网址� said Bennett. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l be an interesting experience.B次元官网网址�