‘Cock’ Star Joel Harper-Jackson on Dramatically Replacing Taron Egerton: ‘A Real Baptism of Fire’
variety.comNaman Ramachandran Joel Harper-Jackson made his debut as a leading man in London’s West End in dramatic circumstances when Taron Egerton fainted on stage during the first preview of stage play “Cock.”Harper-Jackson had signed up as an understudy to both leads, “Rocketman” and “Kingsman” star Egerton and “Bridgerton” actor Jonathan Bailey, and had learned both parts.
The understudies, who have their own dressing room, were listening to the stage feed on speakers. But all of a sudden, some 75 minutes into the 105-minute show, “there was a silence, and we were all puzzled as to what was happening,” Harper-Jackson tells Variety.After some moments of confusion, the understudies were informed that Egerton had fainted, but that he was fine.
Yet 10 minutes later, Harper-Jackson was asked to go on stage to replace Egerton as the management felt it was the responsible thing to do. “The audience was completely behind it; it was the most wonderful, warm reaction,” says Harper-Jackson. “And then before you know it, we finished the play.
It’s been a real baptism of fire. It was an experience I will never, ever forget — that night.” Soon after, Egerton had a COVID-related absence and eventually left the play in early April citing personal reasons.
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