Acting Lessons from Miss Catherine Zeta Jones — Page 3

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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.

Batsh*t crazy?

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

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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

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.

" 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.

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

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

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