Obviously, Brando in "Streetcar" Lee J. Cobb in "Death of a Salesman" Laurette Taylor in "Glass Menagerie"
Who else?
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
Jessica Tandy - Streetcar Named Desire Stephen Spinella - Angels in America Irene Worth - Happy Days Janet McTeer - A Doll's House Zoe Caldwell - Master Class Jane Adams - An Inspector Calls
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
I second Jefferson Mays. His performance will go down in the history books.
"Honey-
Men don't want one woman. Do the same thing. Date many men.
I DO! I am going through the exact same thing.
Don't over eat, instead date others.
You will be amazed how much fun it will be.
Also play hard to get.
Men are dogs honey.
DOGS!" - Corine2 10/29/04
Anna Manahan & Marie Mullen - The Beauty Queen of Leenane Frank Wood - Side Man Hal Holbrook - Our Town
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
I didn't see her live but I wish I could go back in time and see Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame. At least we have the movie and I understand it follows the play quite closely.
Plum - I saw that Othello - and not only was Mr. Jones phenomenal, but his performance went hand-in-hand with Christopher Plummer's Iago. Them together was electrifying.
I would also add: Ian McKellan, Richard III Philip Anglim, The Elephant Man Julie Harris, The Belle of Amherst
Ethel Waters, MEMBER OF THE WEDDING Brandon de Wilde, MEMBER OF THE WEDDING
too.
Watch the film of WEDDING, if you've never seen it, and you'll see why all 3--Harris, Waters and de Wilde--are remembered for truly memorable performances.
Gonna try and limit myself to a few, though I realize now many of these are 21st century when I thoroughly began my theatregoing...
Have to second Fiona Shaw's Medea with the person who brought it up above. Absolutely mesmerizing.
I would watch Mercedes Ruehl read the phone book, but her Stevie in the original cast of 'The Goat' still haunts me, especially her final tableau. (Not to knock Turner, who I'm sure will do a terrific job, but I was really pulling for Mercedes to be Martha in the 'Woolf' revival. C'est la vie).
And I have to think about it some more...but I think I need to nominate Peter Dinklage's Richard III as one of the first (official) great 21st century perfs. Really mesmerizing work.
Will try to consider more that are more fitting in the topic timeframe.
-Joe T.
Laughing is a tonic. So forget crying. Cry, and you cry alone. Laugh and you...cry alone later. And remember --- always breathe. Even if I stop, you keep breathing out there, alright?
Sueleen, you beat me to it as well!! Julie Harris in A N Y T H I N G.
An often-overlooked actress who finally won a Tony in her late 50's is Elizabeth Franz. Very quirky, but so heartfelt and brilliant in everything she does.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
1. Brian Dennahy - Death Of A Salesman 2. Len Cariou - Papa 3. Christopher Plummer - Barrymore 4. Tovah Feldsuh - Golda 5. Elaine Stritch - A Delicate Balance 6. Diana Rigg - Medea 7. Zoe Caldwell - Masterclass