Characters You Never Liked Until You Saw A Different Interpretation

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 9:43pm

I never cared for Mother's Younger Brother from Ragtime. I felt like he was a very serious character but that he was being used as comic relief at the same time, and it just wasn't working, especially with the voice-cracking delivery on the OBCR. Then, I saw Bobby Steggert at the Kennedy Center, and he completely stole the show for me!

I always hated Eponine in the musical version of Les Miserables, although I liked her in the novel. She always struck me as so whiny, and she takes up so much stage time that could be used to develop Cosette-- a much more important character in the book. Hopefully, I find an actress who changes the way I feel about her someday. Though Les Mis is probably my favorite musical, I feel sick every time I have to hear "On My Own."

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 9:53pm

Hmmm, I usually don't see that many different casts.

But, the character of Glinda in Wicked... I loved the performances from all the actresses I've seen but never truly liked the character until Alli Mauzey played it, if that made sense.

[HumATune]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 10:02pm

Schmerg who have you seen as Eponine?

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 10:03pm

I always thought June in Gypsy was incredibly annoying and pointless until I saw Leigh Ann Larkin do it.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 10:04pm

I like the Manoel Felciano/retarded adult Toby leagues better than the Edward Sanders/"consi'ah yahself well in" Toby.

I hated the Baker in Into the Woods until I saw a local production that made him a lot less of a cuckholded, neurotic wimp.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 10:11pm

Although I love Shelley, I thought Jan Neuberger squeezed more humanity out of Madame Morrible. I enjoyed both ladies, but Jan sort of re-christened it when I caught her in it.

I also saw Laura Benanti's understudy in "Gypsy!" and thought she brought more restraint and fragility to the second act, and not in an inappropriate. I thought her take on the character, by the end of the play managed to be even more believable. Laura handled the sex siren aspect of the character better though - wow! Wow wow! :::wipes up dribble:::

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 10:11pm

Definately Celia Keenan-Bolger as Eponine.

[broadway122]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 10:57pm

Katie Rose Clarke (Wicked Tour) made Galinda a much more dynamic character for me. I was tired of the shallow Galinda. Katie really did a nice job with this role.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:07pm

I always thought June in Gypsy was incredibly annoying and pointless until I saw Leigh Ann Larkin do it.

Ditto.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:07pm

I never liked Stride or Spider in Jekyll & Hyde until I played them and now they're two of my favorite characters.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:11pm

To be honest, the original interpretation of the Emcee in Cabaret does nothing at all for me. I find it to be bland and pointless... but then this little genius by the name of Sam Mendes met up with another genius by the name of Alan Cumming, and the character of the Emcee was recreated into an iconic symbol of the broadway stage. My main problem with the original Emcee was that he was just a puppet, Alan/Mendes's Emcee was a highly sex driven, fammanine (sp?), physically comedian. Finally, the Emcee found a personality.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:11pm

I didn't not like Herbie, but I do think Boyd Gaines made him more of a fully developed human character.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:13pm

Here's some pictures just to give you a little taste of it.


Original Emcee

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:13pm

I actually prefer Joel Gray's interpretation of the role. I find his lack of personality, being a puppet, as you put it, highly disturbing contextually.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:15pm

Alan's emcee

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:34pm

I agree with the Emcee. I often ponder how in the world Joel Grey won a Tony and an Oscar for that performance. I appreciate it for what it is and I suppose in those days it was more shocking, but I found his performance, at least in the film, to be very tame. I also find it fascinating that Joel won for best featured actor and Alan Cumming won best actor. I'm not exactly sure how or why that happened, and it may have something to do with the producer's campaigning and what not, but I think it does sort of play up the reinterpretation of the character and how Joel was just sort of there and Alan's Emcee was much more brooding and omnipresent.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:46pm

It's really unfair to compare either to the other, because they're essentially totally different characters.

But I really think you're missing the point with Grey's emcee. The character is totally a puppet. A sort of mindless, automat. He doesn't seem to think for himself; it appears he is subservient to someone else or an ideology.

I mean...this is a show about Nazism!
Updated On: 6/16/09 at 11:46 PM

[cmwx122]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 11:47pm

Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls.. Jenna Russell's interpretation in the West End production of it totally changed that role in my eyes

also

June and Louise -- Leigh Ann Larkin & Laura Benanti
.. enough said.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 12:40am

And, since this is a similar topic, as far as Actors I never liked until I saw them in a certain role, which is what I originally thought this thread was about, I would say Stephanie J. Block. I purposefully avoided the Wicked tour when she was on it and used to HATE her voice. Then, I saw her in 9 to 5 and was blown away. I love her now. It was funny how my opinion of her changed so totally after I saw her as Judy.

[jspaeth87]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 1:45am

Roger in Rent always annoyed me until i saw Will Chase's interp

and although i've only seen one production of bare, i've heard several recordings and never liked nadia until i saw the show in chicago. it wasn't the greatest production, but the actress that played nadia found so much depth for the character that never seemed to be there before.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 1:48am

on the note of bwayfan, I never really got Idina Menzels voice in Wicked, but loved it and thought it was great for Maureen, I like her more now

[JP2]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 1:48am

I was just going to come in here and post the same thing about Will Chase/Roger. Hated the character until I saw him.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 2:25am

... but then this little genius by the name of Sam Mendes met up with another genius by the name of Alan Cumming, and the character of the Emcee was recreated into an iconic symbol of the broadway stage. My main problem with the original Emcee was that he was just a puppet

1) Part of the whole point is that he is a puppet.
2) Are you saying Harold Prince isn't a genius?

I love both interpretations. They both make for a radically different show, but both are equally powerful.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 9:23am

^ No, I think Harold Prince is a genius.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 9:51am

Hamlet! I never used to like the dithery little nonce, but then David Tennant had his unfortunate back injury. And it was unfortunate, and it was a shame, but for me, it was far from the worst thing in the world to ever happen - understudy Edward Bennett was awesome enough that he managed to make me like the little toad! None of the others I've seen have managed to achieve that, so it's a special gift Bennett has. He also made me not *completely* hate the ending of A Midsummer Night's Dream. How ridiculously likable can one man get?!

Updated On: 6/16/09 at 09:51 AM