Cherry Jones Blanks Out!- Page 3

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 11:44am

I had no problem understanding her. And she is playing the role exactly as it should be played.

[mikewood]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 11:50am

if I as a consumer want something, then I am d*mn well guaranteed it! >>>

I'm sorry, DGrant, for not quoting your whole post so if you feel I am taking you out of context, I apologize.

But yes, Cherry Jones is a professional, and yes, I would expect a darn near perfect performance...and if a mistake was made I would expect her to have the grace and aplomb to cover, fix it and move on....not to retreat and commit the cardinal sin of breaking character.

I don't so much have an issue with a mistake being made....every show, every actor I am sure makes some small, miniscule mistake or maybe not so small....maybe a huge mistake. This I don't have an issue with. However, I do have a problem with the breaking of character, stopping the flow....it's wrong.

This is my opinion, and I sincerely apologize if it offends you. But folks, insulting me.... "pathetic", "brutal lout" etc... won't change my mind. I know the people who have expressed disagreement with my feelings on the issue are thoughtful, compassionate people. And I respect your opinion, believe it or not. But not enough to change my own...

Especially since I know I'm right.

Cherry Jones is paid to one thing...to act. Yes, it is inexcusable to be so frozen up you need to call for line in the middle of a performance and grab some pages from your script.

Hey, it's just my opinion.....so sue me.



So, is being brutally loutish anything like being painfully tragic?

Updated On: 9/19/05 at 11:50 AM

[magruder]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:03pm

Maybe you should just sell your November 13th tickets, for fear of Cherry Jones insulting you with her amateurism.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:04pm

As ususal, the community theatre actors, who most likely play cowboy #3 in Oklahoma, are the most critical. Professional athletes drop baseballs, the fans dont get refunds. The definition of a professional is one who maintains a high level of excellence on a consistent basis. They are also the ones who, I don't know, hmm, win 2 Tony's! They are also the ones who understand "crap happens" and to move on. The woman's an amazing actress, no argument. I remember years ago sitting behind some community theatre actors at a performance of Les Miz, and they were CONVINCED they were better than those on stage. It was quite pathetic. Oh, and I got news for some of you..its a job...we
are human beings doing a job, and when you perfect your cashier job at Walmart, then you may criticize others. My apologies to community theatre actors who possess a dose of reality. Community theatre is a great training ground. Provide you learn the lessons it affords one, as some obviously have not.

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:04pm

I'll ammend to say that I think the act of judgement is brutally loutish and pathetic, without necessarily reflecting on the character of those who make that choice.

And frankly, my curiosity is what would you have had her do? Obviously, in a perfect world, every performance would go off without a hitch. And in a slightly less perfect world, every actor would be in control enough to cover and move on without breaking character. That apparently wasn't this case in this particular scenario.

So, what - does that mean that one instance negates a career full of performances? Should she have just stopped and said, "Since I've lost this moment for you, you should all now get your money back and we'll try again tomorrow?"

The only thing 'painfully tragic' I see here is the apparent ability to hold a human being accountable for being human.

[mikewood]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:41pm

Not once did I say, I was a better actor than Cherry Jones so, Phillyactor, your whole diatribe is groundless. I'm not a professional so what I feel is worthless. Okay, we've established that. You win.

And Dgrant, as I said, what should she have done, well, apologize, for one thing, which apparently she did so she was appropriately mortified. I'll amend my commentary enough to say if an audience member demanded a refund then it should have granted. I think a professional should be held accountable for for being a professional... so sorry if that is brutally loutish.

And Magruder, I'll take my chances, but thank you for your concern. Your compassion is an example for us all.

So c'mon let me have it....!

[mikewood]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:45pm

By the way....so what's wrong with being a cashier at Walmart? You above all of them, Phillyactor? I'm sure all those cashiers at Walmart might read your post and be offended by your efforts to use them as a punchline. I'm sorry that are beneath you....!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:48pm

If she had improvised her way out of it though, it still would have broken character and the flow of the show. As Margo pointed out before I had a chance to, Doubt is a drum tight piece of writing with not one extraneous word to it. If Cherry had ad libbed her way back to where she left off, it would have been far more ruinous than asking for a line, and then breaking the show to go get her script. My guess is that the cast have been told NOT to improvise if they forget lines. With a show like this it wouldn't surprise me.

And seriously, it's not enough to merit a refund. The show finished without further incident and on time. There's NO cause to give anyone their money back.

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:52pm

mikewood - I think on this particular case, we'll just have to accept we come from two different perspectives. I wouldn't give a refund for that, but if you feel it's justified, so be it.

I am curious, however, where you would draw the line? Obviously, a perfect performance without any hiccups is the ideal, but at what point to you think refunds should be considered?

[mikewood]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:52pm

And seriously, it's not enough to merit a refund. The show finished without further incident and on time. There's NO cause to give anyone their money back. >>>

I respectfully disagree.....what more can I say?

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 12:54pm

Disagree all you like, but anyone who saw that show is not ENTITLED to a refund under the terms and conditions of sale.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 1:06pm

pooryorick---how about constructive criticism instead of viciousness? It sounds like you have a vendetta against Ms. Goldenhersh. I think Heather is fantastic in the show.

mikewood---you have a right to your opinion. But your opinion does not make you right. Cherry Jones is not someone to be admonished. She is someone to respect and learn from. And, on top of that, she is one of the nicest people on the planet. So, I take great issue with this attacking her for one **** up. ONE **** UP. Good grief. If someone who many consider to be the greatest American stage actress of our time can be damned to hell for this, what hope is there for any of the rest of us?

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 1:15pm

And you'd have more of a point about your refund nonsense if Cherry had left the stage after her line flub and not returned and they'd cancelled the show at that point. THAT is unprofessional behaviour. Overcoming the flub and carrying on is not.

[mikewood]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 1:26pm

MY LAST WORD:

"...damned to Hell....."?????? Like I said that.

I apologize if my opinion offends, but it stands.

I have nothing more to say. Time to move on.

Best wishes.

Updated On: 9/19/05 at 01:26 PM

[pooryorick]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 1:28pm

This is one of the silliest threads I've ever read on this board.

Bad acting is not the same thing as going up on lines badly. Jones had one lousy show. Had a similar problem in April too. It's why they call it live theater, kids.

Vendetta? Hardly. But Heather is one of the three worst actresses I've ever seen work (or audition).



Updated On: 9/19/05 at 01:28 PM

Posted: 9/19/05 at 1:29pm

Mikewood - your opinion doesn't offend me, it's just different - I tried to make that clear, but I guess I failed.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 1:43pm

poory--a real pro would never be so nasty as to say that in public--and this is public.

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 1:55pm

And jerby, if I'm right--she's been with the show from the beginning? I thought she was fine in the role. And she is a very nice down-to-earth actress, one of three I've met.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 2:22pm

I believe all 4 cast members have been with the show since its inception at the MTC. I might be wrong.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 2:24pm

I saw the first preview at MTC and yes, it's been the same cast since the beginning.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 2:29pm

Oh look I wasn't wrong. I really shouldn't doubt myself.

[magruder]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 2:42pm

Doubt can be a bond, as powerful and sustaining as certainty.

[Pippin]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 2:55pm

when I first read this, I agreed with Mike Wood. however, my opinion has been swayed. I have not seen the show, but if, As Margo and others say, every single word is important and nothing is superflous,(spelling) then I applaud Ms. Jones' decision to read the exact script rather than try to struggle back to her real lines. it would have given the audience the wrong impression of the author's intent because the words at that point would have been Cherry's and not true to the original text.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 2:58pm

Praise be.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 3:03pm

What if Cherry said IN CHARACTER--'Now Father, you contemplate what i've said --i'll be right back.' She reads her lines offstage while the Father sweats it out. That makes more sense. And it's short and sweet. As tight as this show is (i've seen it twice), that's what i'd prefer to see as an audience member.

Updated On: 9/19/05 at 03:03 PM