Character guide
Robert Martin
from The Drowsy Chaperone
Robert Martin is the eager bridegroom of The Drowsy Chaperone, the 2006 musical comedy told through the memory of a devoted superfan.
- Show
- The Drowsy Chaperone
- Premiered
- 2006
- Role
- Lead
- Composer
- Lambert & Morrison
Who is Robert Martin?
Robert is set to marry Janet Van De Graaff, and much of the show's farcical energy comes from the wedding day mishaps, mistaken identities, and last minute doubts that threaten to derail the happy couple. He is a good natured, slightly hapless leading man in the classic mold of 1920s musical comedy heroes, more sincere than scheming even when the plot conspires against him.
Like every character in the show, Robert lives inside the fictional record that Man in Chair narrates for the audience, so his romantic journey is filtered through both old-school stage convention and a modern audience's affectionate distance from it.
Robert's role in The Drowsy Chaperone
Robert is a lead role that pairs closely with Janet throughout the show. The part calls for a charming, athletic leading man who can handle physical comedy, including a memorable sequence that tests his coordination, alongside genuinely tender vocal moments. It is a role built for a performer who can be silly and romantic in the same scene.
Audiences tend to enjoy Robert because he represents old-fashioned musical comedy earnestness played completely straight, which makes his comic mishaps land even harder.
Frequently asked
What show is Robert Martin from?
He appears in The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical from 2006.
Is Robert Martin a lead or supporting role?
Robert is a lead role and Janet's romantic counterpart.
Who wrote The Drowsy Chaperone's score?
Lambert and Morrison composed the songs for the show.
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