Actors that phoned in their performance — Page 3

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#51

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/23/06 at 11:25pm

Nancy Opel, I agree, but that was not as bad as Molina IMO.

I agree with Broan Stokes Mitchell in Kiss Me Kate and I saw it when it first opened, just no where perpared as Mazzie.

Olympia Dukakis, 70 Girls 70

I might be the only one, but Donna Murphy in Wondeful Town one of the most akward performances I have seen. She was trying to do her own take on the role but she ended up as a boring copy of Rossalind Russell, very dissapointing.

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 11:25 PM

#52

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/23/06 at 11:32pm

I could make a comment about Donna Murphy and not being comfortable in the role because she was hardly ever there to PLAY the role...

... but that would just be mean.

*~* Every time you double-post, God kills a kitten. *~*

Kay, the Thread-Jacking Jedi
Quando omni flunkus moritati (When all else fails, play dead...)

"... chasin' the music. Trying to get home."

Peter Gregus: "Where are my house right ladies?!"
(love you, girls! - 6/13/06)

#53

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/23/06 at 11:33pm

"Jeff Keller as whichever manager he was in Phantom...Oh lord, I wanted to push him offstage and do it myself. He was like that all the time too, like, that was his character."

I hate when a character isn't completely bursting with energy - it is labeled as being "phoned in". I have heard some people on here do the same thing to Gemignani about his Beadle. I thought Keller's Firmin was wonderful. He played a very solemn and annoyed Firmin only concerned with money. It also offset George Lee Andrews' more charismatic Andre.

#54

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/23/06 at 11:55pm

BSoBW2 - I didn't feel like going into every detail of their boring preformances.

Eden just totally dry and boring

Kate plays Glinda the exact same why she played Dainty June....her June was Excellent but it doesn't work for Glinda. And she isn't playing June well anymore.

#55

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 3:40am

Rebecca Pitcher in POTO. I saw her twice on tour a few years ago and she was awful both times.

#56

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 9:16am

Every single person in Chicago. It was the most lifeless show I've ever seen.

#57

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 9:37am

Sandra Joseph when she was in PHANTOM. When I saw her, it was like, "Yeah, I'm here, I'll just do it..." There just wasn't any life when I saw POTO for the second time. However, the third time I saw it was one of the most energetic performances I've ever seen, as was the first.

MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza

"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel

#58

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 9:46am

^Yeah, it all depends on the cast...some long running castmembers can be incredible...some, eh...

Jewishboy, I saw the show with Harvey Fierstein and Andrea Martin, so I can't comment on Molina.

How to properly use its/it's: Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...

#59

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 9:50am

I may agree to a point about Tim Curry, but I saw David Hyde Pierce several times in the role, and he was wonderful each time.

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"

#60

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 10:49am

"Nathan Lane in The Frogs. He spent the night counting the empty seats."

Well he had a lot to count.

#61

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 11:06am

Yes, I'd agree with "the entire cast of CHICAGO." Very disappointing.

I have one that completely shocked me (and will probably shock others here).

Sutton Foster in DROWSY. I had just seen her on the Tony Awards number, in which she kicked some serious butt, so when I saw her perform it live just a few days later, she just didn't seem like the same performer. I had seen her in MILLIE a few times and she always gave 100%.

Again, I found it shocking, but hold nothing against her as a great B'way performer. I think she just might have had an off night.

Itty Bitty Geisha? Toyland? Gypsy Pasadoble? Just a few popular favorites...

#62

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 11:55am

I'd add another for Tim Curry, and Horton, your Matthew Broderick comment made me snort

So true.

I'm sure this happens with most shows, but during Hunter's last run in the Producers, the cast was really tired toward the end. When Roger Bart came in, they were revitalized, but there was a lot of phoning in going on before that. I would imagine that happens most times a new performer comes into any show, though.

#63

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:54pm

Where does Rosie O'Donnell in Grease fall into this? Bored/phoned-in or awful? She's the first to admit she's more than a bit of both.

#64

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 2:01pm

Although Reinders is by no means good as Glinda, her performance is far from phoned in. The most painful thing about it (at least the night I went) was that it was evident she was trying very, very hard, but it just.... wasn't working.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

#65

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 2:03pm

BwayBaby - you misunderstood.

I said they weren't phoning in because, well, they have nothing to phone in.

#66

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 2:10pm

Can't believe Terrence Mann was left off of this list so far (in reference to his return as Javert in Les Miz).

Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

#67

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 2:22pm

Princeton, if you are in fact referring to Beth Leavel you couldn't be more wrong.

#68

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 2:22pm

Please how can we forget Steve Blanchard as the Beast. He seems almost I dunno... pre-recorded.

#69

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 2:25pm

He was already mentioned.

#70

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 2:51pm

Terrence Mann in The Scarlet Pimpernel... odd speak-singing and flat line-delivery.

The entire ensemble of Hairspray, but especially Jennifer Gambatease, who went three steps beyond phoning it in. I don't think she smiled once, and tended to deliver her lines AS she was moving, so she could get offstage faster. (She announced herself as Brenda AS she was turning around.) She and the rest of the ensemble really ruined the show for me, which would have been great with a cast who gave a care about it.

Since then, I will not see Hairspray, matinees, or Jennifer Gambatease in anything. To me, it's not worth the risk to be so insulted as an audience member; I don't like feeling like I'm not worth a performer's time during a show. in fact, it kind of bothers me that Miss Gambatease is such a big star now; there are many energetic ensemble members who give their all to shows that deserve to be on the way up rather than her.

Please don't flame me; I promise, just an opinion.

"Well, obviously Company is about the Kennedy family. Bobby is played by Raul, and JFK is played by Harvey Fierstein." -vfd88

#71

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/24/06 at 3:13pm

Bal, I won't flame you, and we're all entitled to our opinions. I'm shocked to hear that about Jennifer and the ensemble of Hairpsray. I have seen the show 14x and have yet to see any of the ensemble walk through the show. I'm amazed at how energetic they still are (I saw the show at the end of June).

Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

#72

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:43pm

She looked bored...really bored.

"She's bored with the world, and that's why she's Drowsy.
That and the drinking."

The Chaperone IS bored. That's...kind of the point? It's not The SUPEREXCITED Chaperone.

#73

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:56pm

I saw the revival of Fiddler on the Roof twice...the first time was Alfred Molina and Randy Graff as Tevye and Golde, and the second time was with Harvey Fierstein and Andrea Martin. The first time, the entire cast's performances seemed phoned-in and really sub-par. When Harvey Fierstein and Andrea Martin came in, it really changed the whole dynamic of the show and made it far more interesting. Except Nancy Opel...she was just awful both times. Not phoned-in, just...bad. And she seemed completely bored. I adored her in Urinetown, but she was just entirely miscast as Yente.

You're a writer...write me a letter.

#74

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/25/06 at 7:03pm

I'm not sure where to put Rosie. So I'll leave her be...

Donna Murphy, though, gave a memorably "phoned-in" performance the night I saw her in Wonderful Town. I mean, there was so much phoning in the line was busy. I was happy that she showed up, even if only half of her did.

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

#75

re: Actors that phoned in their performance

Posted: 8/25/06 at 7:06pm

I can't believe someone mentioned Ms. Peters. The woman worked so hard to get those somgs out every night. I can never imagine her phoning in a performance.

Also, please do not tell your friend about what you think of Eden or Kate. Let her make her own evaluation without being told beforehand how much you think they suck. Its not fair to them or your friend.

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