A Word About Rachel Bay Jones

I’ve now seen DEH three times, first at Second Stage, next on Broadway shortly after it opened in December 2016 and again last night. Obviously I was interested in how Taylor Trench did as Evan, particularly as I considered Ben’s performance to have been one of the greatest male performances I had ever seen on Broadway. And don’t worry, Taylor is excellent, and it’s now clear to me what a great show this is.

But I’d really like to single out the absolutely amazing performance of Rachel Bay Jones. It’s hard to describe a Tony winning performance as underrated, but that’s what I thought as I watched and listened to her last night. She’s been doing this role since the show was in development, and somehow she makes the role seem fresh. In many respects, she brings as much pure emotion to the part of Evan’s mom as did Ben while playing Evan. I think I wasn’t as aware of it before as it was so easy to get caught up in Ben’s performance, but last night I was simply overwhelmed by her performance. Maybe part of that was cause I’m a parent myself, but no matter. She was absolutely brilliant

I’m baffled that she didn’t even get a nomination for Pippin. She transformed a role that is usually just, well, an ordinary woman. And the comedy she brought to it was priceless.

Updated On: 3/18/18 at 02:34 PM

EllieRose2 said: "I love the term "robbed" of a Tony. The act of being robbed is a violent crime, and no one is robbed of any ridiculous award. No one was going to touch Andrea that year anyways. She killed it every night in her small but mind blowing performance in Pippin."

I love Andrea Martin, but RBJ gave a much better performance that year and yet everyone just decided Andrea would win, so she did. I see this happen all the time. RBJ was robbed. Robbed is the term we use. Sorry if it's so offensive to you.

EllieRose2 said: "I love the term "robbed" of a Tony. The act of being robbed is a violent crime, and no one is robbed of any ridiculous award. No one was going to touch Andrea that year anyways. She killed it every night in her small but mind blowing performance in Pippin."

I'm with you, dramamama611. Interesting that Ellie described Andrea's performance as a violent crime, "killed it".

On the other hand, maybe she has a point. Frances McDormand was literally robbed of her Oscar. A Broadway performer may be next...

JBroadway said: "Any of you see her in First Daughter Suite? She gave a beautiful performance in that. I had mixed feelings about her in Pippin, but seeing her her in FDS, made me realizehow excellent of a performer she is."

I loved her in Pippin. She was also gracious at stage door. When I saw DEH In November, she was out (performing on a cruise, I believe) but her stand-in/understudy (sorry, I’m not home right now and her name escapes me) was awesome (brought me to tears with So Big/So Small). When is RBJ leaving the show? I’d love to see it with her in it. Just curious. What role did she play in First Daughter Suite?

I’d love this thread to stay devoted to how awesome RBJ is, but let me say words can have more than one meaning and they can be used metaphorically as it was above. I think the way the word was used above relates to definition 4 in this link:

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/robbed

JBroadway said: "Any of you see her in First Daughter Suite? She gave a beautiful performance in that. I had mixed feelings about her in Pippin, but seeing her her in FDS, made me realizehow excellent of a performer she is."

i didn't see it, but her performance as Laura Bush singing "Let Go," just on the cast recording, deeply moved me. I love Rachel Bay Jones and everything she sings is gorgeous.