Actors Looking Bored on Stage — Page 2

I saw the OBC of "Jekyll and Hyde" on Broadway, and Robert Cuccioli was amazing. I saw him in it again about a year later, and he just walked through it, completely phoning it in. I was very disappointed. The same thing happened when I saw Brian Stokes Mitchell in "Kiss Me Kate." When the show first opened, he was magnetic. A year later, right before his contract was up, he looked like he was miserable. (But I forgive you Stokes, you're still my hero...)

Anyway, I can understand all this. It's only human to be get bored with doing the same thing eight times a week for a year (or more). This is why most people should leave a show after six months, unless they can somehow overcome the problem and give a fresh performance every night, no matter how long they've been in the show.

Maybe that's why her attendance record makes Donna Murphy look like The Merm!

Wait a minute here . . .I realize that doing the same show eight times a week must get old after a while, but aren;t these people supposed to be professionals? Don;t they get paid for doing that show eight times a week and isn't part of their job to give a full-out performance every time?

I don't understand actors who complain about not working on Broadway and how shows last so long now that there is little turnover, etc. and then when they do get on Broadway, they are bored an bitter after eight months! Eight times a week of the same show can get old, I'm sure, but didn;t Channing, Chita, Lansbury and Merman and all those legends put up with it for as long as it took?

Many people have blamed Disney, the Weinsteins, the economy and many other reasons for "destroying Broadway" but what about the balme of actors who treat their jobs as if it were torture and ruin the experience for the audience?

As far as I'm concerned, there is little glory in being a lead on Broadway, but to be good for six months and then go downhill.

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well in michelle federers defense nessa isnt a huge role, so it has to get kind of boring when you only have a few minutes of stage time. but after 2 years i would get kind of bored, as awesome as the role and show is and how much the audience loves it. but, she doesnt get much feedback from the audience. for example, megan and shoshana can get energy during popular and defying gravity from the audiences response. michelle doesnt have any of those moments for the audience to energize her.

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Edie Falco (who was brilliant, by the way) didn't do so well onstage in 'NIGHT MOTHER when the other actress (who's name I can never remember) had some long-ish monolouges. Although, I guess that's hard for anyone really.

Damn straight rath!!

No one applauds when I show up for work, and there are no standing ovations when I flip off the light and go home.

And yet I still show up every damn day. Every damn day.

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Exactly. I'd rather have to deal with excited fans and the same exact show every night than shoplifting punks and the same routine every night. Either way, I'm still paid to put a smile on my face, no matter how forced

George Lee Andrews has been performing in Phantom since it opened in 1988...tell Michelle to suck it up.

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I asked a friend of mine who's been doing Hairspray for a year how he keeps it fresh and exciting for the audience even though he's been doing the same thing day in and day out for a year, and his response was: "ACTING!"

So, to all your tired people up there, I say, "ACT!"

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Updated On: 8/22/05 at 09:42 AM

The last cast of "Les Miz" and the Met Opera chorus anytime!

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If Regis & Kelly hasn't already been on in your area, make sure you watch the interview with Rachel Weisz. It's excellent. Mostly becuase Weisz is a gem, NOT because of the interviewers. LOL She's a steller actress with an wonderful outlook on her vocation. If only more actresses were like her.

Damn. She won me over with that interview. Ever actor who has EVER phoned in a performance should watch it and feel ashamed.

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Updated On: 8/19/05 at 09:58 AM

one question though, wouldn't you be bored of doing the exact same thing night after night for over 2 years (michelle's case)? I mean, i know if i see a show a second time, i'm usually bored with some of the parts. Even in my favorite show, some of it still bores me.

Yes, I would. No doubt about it. But I would still put forth the effort not to LOOK bored. As someone else said, it's called ACTING!

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