ALNM cast having problems with Elaine Stritch?- Page 4

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 3:49pm

Oh, yeah. Catherine Zeta-Jones has it "all over" Bernadette.

The clip below demonstrates THAT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUGkjNTRoNo

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 4:04pm

Oh. I'm sorry. I was basing my opinions on having seen the show twice. I did not watch the Tonys.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 4:21pm

The Tony's did not give a fair representation of CZJ's performance. She begged them not to make her sing the number b/c she was not feeling well at the time and knew she wasn't going to be at her best. Unfortunately, the powers that be wouldn't hear of it and she did what she was told to do. It's simply not fair to judge her performance based on the Tony telecast -- I'd seen her do it months before and she was fine.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 4:23pm

Yeah, having seen CZJ multiple times, her performance of that song was never ever like that in the theater.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 4:28pm

This all puts me in mind of poor Tonya Pinkins back in '05

[Kad]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 4:29pm

I'll defend CZJ's performance in the production itself, as well. When I saw her last January, I thought she was wonderful. That being said, I do think Bernadette was leagues better.

[Joey.]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 4:56pm

Bernadette was definitely more entertaining, but she has this annoying habit of bellowing her lines. I wish she'd take it back a notch or two every now and then. That being said, her Send in the Clowns had me in tears.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 5:02pm

The sad thing is, most of my colleagues think that's what CZJ's actual performance was like. I even tried explaining that she was sick to someone I know who's a music director and he simply said, "I don't care."

Updated On: 12/17/10 at 05:02 PM

[binau]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 5:04pm

I too wonder whether the over the topness is because she is an 'actress' or because she is just Bernadette. I mean, I like how in Clowns she completely becomes a real, vulnerable person - dropping the 'farce' - but is the contrast intentional :-/?

Some of her readings e.g. "page that has been written on and rewritten" are so over the top, she must know what she is doing.

Updated On: 12/17/10 at 05:04 PM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 5:15pm

Exactly. As an experienced professional actress, she certainly knows what she is doing, and it's definitely a choice. But it's a choice that she seems to have used repeatedly for at least the 25 years that I've been privvy to seeing. It's always struck me as a little "easy" and/or shameless. That said, however, it seems to work for her. The audiences eat it up, and it's certainly never proved a hindrance. Many actors have ticks in their bag of tricks that they tend to repeat. I guess maybe that's just hers, and it happens to feel a little phony and unnecessary to me. She's a very naturally charming presence and a talented singing actress. She doesn't need to mug. Leave that to people like Stritch, who have less range.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 5:22pm

She doesn't need to mug. Leave that to people like Stritch, who have less range.

You're annoying.

. I mean, I like how in Clowns she completely becomes a real, vulnerable person - dropping the 'farce' - but is the contrast intentional :-/?

I like it too. I think it's intentional. But some of her line readings really are just too much. THEYYYYY ARE LIIIIIIKE THISSS!!!!!!!!
I am praying that she drops all of this shtick for Follies, because Sally is a character that you cannot do one ounce of shtick or mugging.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 5:33pm

"You're annoying."

Cool story, bro.

Updated On: 12/17/10 at 05:33 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 6:04pm

ljay, didn't you completely attack me when Bernadette joined the cast and I critized her line delivery? I mean, everyone is entitle to change their mind, but did you change yours?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 6:07pm

No, I didn't. Her line readings have bugged me since her first performance.
I did think your post was ridiculous at the time.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/17/10 at 6:29pm

Saw the show for a second time last night. Completely agree about her over-the-top moments, ljay. But other than that, Bernadette is sensational, just as she was a few months ago. What a show.