Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#1
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:18am
Do these things and you too may someday win a Tony.
1. Always. Pause.
2. Act...surprised!
3. Hold any note you can.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#2
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:19am4. Jerk your head around a lot and make crazy eyes.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#2
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:19am
Was she not genuinely surprised?
I excuse myself for not noticing if she was 'faking it', behind a low-quality pixilated web stream.
But I thought she was genuinely surprised. With all the MEMPHIS hype, her unfortunate Tony performance maybe bringing down her confidence etc.. I would have been shocked if I were her.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#3
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:21am
It was just a bad song choice. It works horribly out of context.
They should've done THE GLAMOUROUS LIFE or A WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY.
Either way, I am very glad CZJ won over Glover.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#4
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:21am
What a bad 2 years for you, Mr. PJ.
Olivo and now La Cage, Hodge, and Zeta-Jones. How will you ever survive?
Updated On: 6/14/10 at 12:21 AM
Swing Joined: 5/20/07
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#5
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:22am
5. Pertaining to the movement of the head: Jerk the head side to side on every other word.
6. While singing, fall off the last note of every other sentence.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#6
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:30amNeck Spasms are always a good acting choice.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#7
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:33amGive yourself whiplash in the name of a spinny piece of gold.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#8
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:33amSir Lloyd Webber, your movie's Norma Desmond has been found!
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#9
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:36am
I believe he's now Lord Lloyd Webber, no longer just Sir Andrew.
Apparently they give lordships out there as freely as we give Tony Awards.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#10
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:39am
I think she's REALLY surprised, that's why I laughed for 1) her genuine funny reaction, and 2)the whole surprising situation. Also, she makes the night not boring (with her "funny" performance, how can you hold your laughter? 
). Her speech is also very delicately delivered with good humour (and also she mentioned Alex!). In the end, I'm actually glad that she won! Yes, much more deserve than Glover, and she does have the quality to win this award. Nonetheless, we are not giving her the Tony based on tonight's performance.
Updated On: 6/14/10 at 12:39 AM
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#11
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:45amApparently singing well is not on that list. I don't know if it is her voice or the song or the way she was singing it tonight, but it sounded awful.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#12
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:47amShe's been sick. Listen to the cast recording if you want to judge her vocal performance of that number.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#13
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:48amEveryone has it in them. Whether they know it or not. I know it. And I'm proud of knowing myself so deeply.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#14
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:49amShe in the official clip is definitely FAR better than she in tonight's performance.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#15
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:50amIn my classes, I know how to hold performers to the absolutely highest standards without wounding them by my commentary. It seems many people haven't figured out how to do this yet.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#16
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:51am
She said while accepting that she was losing her voice but that she would be onstage on Tuesday. After hearing her in "Chicago" I was a bit underwhelmed with her this evening but she must still be a bit under the weather.
I really didn't like her when she first came on the scene. But over the years I have liked her more and more. I think she was really surprised.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#17
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:52am7.) Say "crowns" instead of "clowns" at least once.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#18
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:52amAre you suggesting Miss Zeta Jones enroll in Mr Bennett's school?
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#19
Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:56am
First, as a teacher to many accomplished Broadway performers, one thing I know is the profound level of vulnerability even the most accomplished artists must be in touch with to be a performing artist.
Many critics seem to disown their own vulnerability, such that their critiques are wounding to creative artists. People who disown their own vulnerability and don't know how to honor it within themselves often wound others without caring.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#20
Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:04am
I thought she was just scanning the audience to see if Sondheim was in it. "Steve, are you there? It's me Catherine!".
I completely agree that this song does not work out when it is out of context. I think they just used it because general theatre audiences (not that any of you are) recognize that song as the torch song of the show.
And not to defend the ones with weapons, but she did perform it much better live and in the performance setting.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#21
Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:10amI've only ever "gotten" that song twice. Once was the amazing Judi Dench and the other was, oddly enough, Florence Henderson on the Brady Bunch Variety Hour. It's not a song that generally works well out of context, so having heard nothing else but positive things about her performance I gave CZJ the benefit of the doubt.
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#22
Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:12am
She should have Alex with him, do it like how Judi Dench did it for Hey! Mr. Producer, and I definitely believe that she will give a very promising performance. A lot of atmospheric elements could vary her quality: a MUCH bigger venue, variations in her performance, her health condition... Of course, as I said before, if she aware those elements will affect her performance, she should address it and try to do the song the way that she feels comfortable. I always uphold the belief that Sondheim's Tony performance cannot be done in a medley or without doing the whole scene. He's that great that you cannot vary a single thing to make the performance smooth.
Updated On: 6/14/10 at 01:12 AM
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#23
Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:14amShe just breathes ego. She hasn't been in too many outstanding films, although I miss her "Get More" T Mobile Commercials. The last few times I have met her at the stage door she has been very nice but her mannerisms are very laughable. I do think she is a fine actress with a beautiful voice and glad she won the award! and her performance tonight....Coherence lacked for her.
Rose: "Of Course I know, I Watch Fox News"
-(modified)Gypsy
Broadway Schedule
December 5th- Hamilton, On Your Feet
December 19th- Noises Off, Edith Piaf Concert at Town Hall
Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones#24
Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:16am
As I said in the other thread, you cannot say it only works in context. It is one of Sondheim's rare songs to achieve standalone status all over the world.
It's been sung "out of context" to enormous success by Frank Sinatra, Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey and every two-bit cabaret singer everywhere.
She's a star. It's a hit song. Choosing it was an easy call.
She simply does have a clue what it's about or hot to perform it.
Videos
