Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones- Page 3

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 8:24am

"I thought she was just scanning the audience to see if Sondheim was in it. "Steve, are you there? It's me Catherine!".

Now that's funny!!!

I have to agree that the head jerks were very strange. She has enough experience on stage, tv and movies to know how to present herself.

As far as the ego, I was with her acceptance speech right up until she said "I'm married to a movie star and I get to sleep with him every night." Jokes on you Cat. While he may be a movie star, he has not aged well and looks like the crypt keeper.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 8:44am

As far as how the song is performed, Sondheim himself has said that Desiree is angry at that moment. That's exactly the way he wrote it. She is angry at allowing herself to be so vulnerable and putting everything on the line right then ... and losing out. Desiree thinks the situation should be funny, but it isn't. The lyrics are ironic.

Shouldn't the composer have something to say about how it should be performed and what he meant when he wrote it? He has always said that most people don't get the anger in Desiree, right then, and therefore the song's meaning is lost. He is rarely happy with how it is interpreted by singer/actors.

In regards to CZJ, I thought her anger was fine and worked well, especially toward the end of the song. But I thought her jerky head was odd and very distracting. You can be angry in a song without looking like a hawk hunting for its next meal.

Watch Glynnis Johns in the clip with Len Cariou. She's angry, too, but she doesn't look so wild and "birdlike" about it.

[sparrman]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 9:28am

Haven't seen the performance on Broadway, but based on last night, there is no conceivable way she could redeem herself from that appalling fiasco of a performance.

I don't care if her voice was raw, I don't care if her scene partner wasn't there, I don't care if it was in the huge Radio City Music Hall, I don't care if she was nervous. Anyone who actually had a clue about the meaning of the song or about even how to present themselves in a professional manner could have made at least a favorable impression with it. She was clueless. Unbelievable, and certainly in the top five worst Tony performances of all time.

If the Desiree gave a performance like that in a podunk community theatre production, I'd ask for my money back.

Updated On: 6/14/10 at 09:28 AM

[Piper3500]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 11:44am

Pal Joey

So true. I do think she was surprised though. She was a fluttry mess. now the oscars, more or less surprised? I know I was surprised. lol. Her speech was for lack of a better word, pathetic by the end. I saw acceptance speeches where actors were looking wayyyyyyy up to thank their parents and hers were in the front row. I don't really "hate" CZJ but she has never really done it for me. Even when she played in an English telly show called Darling Buds of May. I did really idolize her as a young tap dancer though - weird that. I dislike how her accent comes in and out, how she and Michael dress like twins whilst golfing, how she presents herself in general. I would love to give the benfit of the doubt to nerves but that whole Cinderella thing and to end "and my movie star husband who I get to sleep with every night" gag!. sure, Michael isn't as burnt looking as Bruce Jenner but her even having to say that was terrible. that really sickened me.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:12pm

There is no defending the oddness of her performance last night.

That said, her performance when I saw her in February wasn't remotely like that. As others have said, I think the song out of context, the hugeness of the venue - and who knows what else, nerves? - caused her to push way too hard. That, or her performance has devolved into something horribly mannered and frantic.

Watch the B-roll footage and you'll see the nuanced and not nearly as oversung performance she was giving. (it didn't deserve a Tony, but it wasn't the embarrassing mess from last night.)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:21pm

That was a very similar performance to what I saw in January. Over sung and sloppy. Perfect for a cabaret. All wrong for an actual production. I'm eagerly awaiting Bernadette, who I'm confident will be incredible.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:59pm

Her performance at the theatre was beautiful, her performance on recording was beautiful. Her performance at the Tonys was just a disaster, she was clearly sick, and she was trying to perform both for the Radio City audience (a much much much bigger theatre than the Walter Kerr obviously) and for the camera, at the end it just really didn't work. Poor thing, I feel bad for her. I disagree with those who say that's how she performs it at the theatre, there's just no way.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 2:10pm

It's kinda ridiculous that some people who haven't gone and seen her in A Little Night Music are judging her performance solely on her small 3 minute performance on the Tony Awards. How can you say she doesn't deserve the Tony after seeing only a small glimpse. Yes her performance wasn't the greatest last night. You could tell she was sick and didn't have much of a voice when she gave her Tony speech. She gave an amazing performance when i seen her at the Kerr.

Updated On: 6/14/10 at 02:10 PM

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 2:14pm

I'm sorry, ray. I usually agree with you. But I just can't side with you on this one. The performance I saw, CZJ was over singing everything and was as bawdy as Velma Kelly. No, she was bawdier than that. It was almost like she was trying to do Commedia and was trying to be Harlequin. I got no sense of beauty or sophistication or subtlety in her performance. In fact, I would say that "subtle" is the antonym of this production.

I don't think it's a "that might have been an off night" argument, because numerous people I know who saw the production from November to now had the same thing to say as I did. However, I know a great deal of other people who saw her and thought she was wonderful. I suppose it's simply what you consider to be an effective performance in that role. I don't see her performance on the Tonys, her performance on B-roll footage, her performance on the cast recording or her performance live as sophisticated, elegant, beautiful or subtle.

[Steve2]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 2:22pm

The performance I saw two weeks ago was the same as the one last night. I even posted a thread here wondering why all the praise for her and commented on her jerky movements, phrasing, etc. There was a similar thread several weeks ago on ATC.

[Luscious]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 2:34pm

Phony and affected. Both her performance and her reaction to winning turned my stomach.

[Renart]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 3:19pm

I don't care how...nervous you are.
Unless you're William...Shatner,
There's no excuse to...ever sing that...way.

Once I pointed out how similar her vocal stylings were to Capt Kirk's, my wife giggled through the rest of the number.

[KayLZ]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:26pm

I saw Christine Ebersole in A Little Night Music concert performance at Tanglewood and her "Send in the Clowns" was breathtaking, heart breaking, and downright beautiful (and sung not talked through). Christine is the epitome of what a Tony Award winning actress is and should be.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:30pm

Batsh*t crazy?

[goldenboy]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:44pm

I did not like Catherine's performance in the theatre. It was lackluster and she repeated that performance on the Tony's
Can't believe they handed her that award. She took a breath after every word.

I am looking forward to Bernadette in the role. It is perfect for
BP

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 5:29pm

I wonder what was going on in Bernadette's head during CZJ's performance.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 11:40pm

"I wonder what was going on in Bernadette's head during CZJ's performance."

I'm gonna win that Tony off her Tuesday night when we play poker at Donna Murphy's house.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 12:50am

She made me dizzy with her herky-jerky head movements. Was she watching a tennis match on a monitor while performing?
Updated On: 6/15/10 at 12:50 AM

[evitakita]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 2:33am

I'm actually really surprised by everyone who's saying that her performance last night was so incredibly different from what it is normally.

When I saw the show, I generally liked her and what she brought to the role. "You Must Meet My Wife" made me smile, as did much of her performance. And she is lovely and gracious in person.

But "Send in the Clowns" was something else altogether. The head-jerking was there. It happened. A lot. And was distracting. Sure, last night it seemed slightly more intense...but it didn't just appear out of nowhere. I find it really difficult to believe anyone who claims that there is no distracting and awkward head-jerking in her typical performance of the song.

[Operagod01]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 3:34am

I must say that I did not love her in the theater either.... Lots of "acting" and "posing" all over the place. Desiree is an actress, but come on now.... she also mugged a great deal of the time as well.

Was she awful? No! Was she one of the great Desiree's? Not a chance. Did I enjoy her? A little.... I must also admit to finding Nunn's direction against the spirit of the work. It's great to dig deep and find new undertones, but to make this show so freaking dark. Even the arrangements lost their amazing vitality. Not because the orchestra was a chamber one, but because they changed it and made it so dark and brooding...

I think it's a sad day when a performer gets a Tony for a "good" performance. Are you going to tell me that her work in this show stands up to Vicki Clark in Piazza, or Alice Ripley in Next to Normal? Christine Ebersole in Gray Gardens... Lupone in Evita, etc....

As for her performance last night. It was just a mess! But that can happen... does anyone remember how awful Chenowith and Menzel sounded the year WICKED was nominated? Tony weekend is very hard for performers. They do their shows, they rehearse, and if they have a matinee they do it that afternoon...... one can get vocally tired..... But, her acting was a sin and a shame................. Oh well! She got the Tony and she got to sleep with Michael last night. I guess she's happy.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 7:38am

"I find it really difficult to believe anyone who claims that there is no distracting and awkward head-jerking in her typical performance of the song."

When I saw her, "Clowns" was the one part of her performance when she stopped mugging. I truly wasn't convinced until then, when she gave a truly beautiful rendition of the song.

Here! Compare! Either it was a one-off, or her performance has really changed, but she didn't always do it.
Send in The Clowns

[binau]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 7:44am

" I find it really difficult to believe anyone who claims that there is no distracting and awkward head-jerking in her typical performance of the song."

When did you see the show?

I saw it in April..the night after the cast recording release. I very distinctly remember she swang her head at the end of the shong very melo(over?)dramatically.

But I don't remember much head swinging before that (you would think that if I noticed it at the end, I would have noticed it earlier).

Well earlier in the song that is..her Glamarous life was a bit swing...but it was CZJ's entrance so I forgave her for being a little over-enthusiastic :P.

Updated On: 6/15/10 at 07:44 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 7:50am

Interesting comment under that YouTube video;

This video does not do her justice at all -- I just saw the show last night. She really has a beautiful and? well-trained voice.

Seems like someone is always saying "No, she's better than that makes her seem."

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 8:08am

This really is the William Shatner School of Singing. Watching it again, it only gets worse.
Tonys clip

[nygrl232]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 9:40am

>>People who disown their own vulnerability and don't know how to honor it within themselves often wound others without caring.

Sounds like the definition of a socio/psychopath.