Exhaustion, Broadway Style
This image shows a side of Bolger audiences rarely get to see; exhausted and reclining in the theater’s house seats, without his usual jovial expression. His exhaustion is evident in every part of him, polar opposite of the high-energy, constantly moving, “nimble, rubber-legged” persona he is known for. Rehearsals for a Broadway show, especially dance rehearsals, can be exhausting.
Especially when the dance numbers require acrobatics, leaps, jumps, precision footwork, and moves that require quick, intense motion to propel the cast across a stage. Even backstage activity can be exhausting, scurrying to ensure they are in the right part of the theater for their next cue, sometimes including a costume or makeup change, or helping move scenery to ensure the show runs on time. Broadway performers become endurance athletes, their sport set to music.