Whats the difference between a preview and a normal performance of play?
I want to see Alan Rickman in the Abbey and the only dates that suit are the first week of the previews. The tickets are cheaper and I was wondering why.
It like there are testing the play with the audience. Mistakes may occur, timings are checked and so on. It's usually just the same but things can go wrong and that is why you get the tickets cheaper. I've been to previews like you when dates only suited and never thought the performance was any less.
I'd be very, very surprised if the preview didn't have the full 'opening night' cast. I have been to a load of previews and have never found this to be the case. It's a preview, not a tech rehearsal.It's not like Alan Rickman is just going to fly over on opening night to do his part.