Space prevented me from mentioning something that really tripped me in “The Understudy,” which I reviewed in today’s paper. And it tripped me especially because Theresa Rebeck has been around the block and should know better.

In the show, Julie White plays a really high-strung stage manager. Roxanne is perpetually harried and keeps running around the stage and the aisles, screeching at everybody. She always looks like she’s this close from losing it. But stage managers are unflappable. It’s kind of part of the job description in fact. Rebeck even jokes about it in the script, which shows an awareness she chooses to override in order to go for “funny.” Director Scott Ellis could have helped somewhat by directing White against type and asking her to underplay the manicness. Alas, it was the road not taken.

Another problem is the (unseen) dopesmoking techie called Laura, who keeps mixing up cues and messing up an already problematic rehearsal. And the play within the play is supposed to be on Broadway? A Broadway show would have an unbelievably competent stoner at the tech helm, not an inept one.