Darren Criss in Hedwig — Page 16
#377
Posted: 7/23/15 at 7:52pm
skies, I'm not going to go over every single response from a Darren fan in this thread. The topic was brought up because of particular comments in the last 2 pages. I personally have no problem if someone does not like DC as Hedwig. Again, to me, the issue is choice of phrasing, where the comment is phrased in a manner to insult and offend, rather than convey information in an even manner. And others' opinions do not need to follow "my prescribed category," or my "box." But if someone does express himself/herself in a way that I find offensive, then it is my right to call them out, or for others to call them out, which was what was done. Are you saying that I do not have that right? If so, then I do not need to follow "your box." And yes, it is up to me, as a person with opinions, to determine, in my opinion, if a comment was stated in such a way to cause offense. You have the right to interpret the comment differently from me. We both have the right to comment on another person's remarks.
From merriam-webster.com, "visceral" is defined as: "Coming from strong emotions and not from logic or reason," "not intellectual : instinctive, unreasoning." Are you saying one solely may have a visceral reaction to a performance only as a whole, versus that one may have a visceral reaction to certain parts of a performance, for the way an actor performs one dramatic scene, versus a different dramatic scene? May one have a visceral reaction where one is moved to tears by a particular song performance, versus the performance of other songs by the same actor? Is it possible that one's visceral reaction to a dramatic scene in Act I, may be different from one's visceral reaction to a dramatic scene in Act II? May one be deeply touched by one scene as performed by a certain actor, yet fail to be moved by another scene as performed by the same actor? Of course one may have a visceral reaction to the way a certain actor performed as Hedwig as a whole. But that does not preclude one from having visceral reactions to certain parts of the performance by an actor.
Updated On: 7/23/15 at 07:52 PM
#378
Posted: 7/23/15 at 8:30pm
Eh we might as well drop it as I have a definite "visceral reacticon" to this whole discussion now. :)
"when I’m on stage I see the abyss and have to overcome it by telling myself it’s only a play." - Helen Mirren
#380
Posted: 7/23/15 at 8:37pm
Agreed. My visceral reaction is now more pronounced.
#381
Posted: 7/26/15 at 10:17am
SDV, what a piece of work your comments are! Let me qualify my remarks by saying I don't mean to be insulting or rude like I'm sure you didn't mean to be when you said Darren Criss's performance was "embarrassing." However, being in the Darren thread as you requested I'm not going to equivocate my feelings concerning your remarks.
You have never missed a chance to slam his portrayal of Hedwig. Your comments, all of which have been issued with the caveat, "IMO," capitalized to deemphasize their thrusts as provocative barbs whether you think so or not, have been offending. You and Skies (yes, I'll bring him into this as well) have berated Darren Criss sometimes sarcastically, sometimes cryptically, and sometimes more directly for things that obviously Taye Diggs is struggling with now. You've also done it with a haughty, holier than thou "I'm right because I'm intellectually superior about theater" attitude. Give Taye Diggs time to "master" Hedwig? Some people were expressing their less than kind opinions about Mr. Criss being Hedwig prior to his first performance. Actually, I had strong reservations about his casting, but I didn't comment until I saw him on stage. Two hundred dollars, even forty nine bucks for a ticket is not chump change. People deserve to be rewarded for their time and their money with at least a workmanlike performance. Knowing the book is part of a basic expectation of the audience. Darren Criss knew the book. He was on point. Also, Skies, did you see his performance? I'm curious.
As Skies said about Patti Lupone (paraphrasing), someone I love, too, people are going to criticize and say malicious things no matter what. Does that make it right? Not in my opinion --- a phrase thrown about liberally on the board which translated means "I'm right and your opinion is wrong." The thing is when someone puts their all into a role, loves the role, and is prepared for the role, to savage them and call them an "embarrassment" is not a classy thing to do. Maybe SDV, you didn't see it all because you were hunkered down in your chair in embarrassment (of course), but Criss's performance was really good especially in some parts. Since you couldn't wait for him to get off the stage, perhaps you were anticipating his exit and not focusing on his execution so much. Maybe my comments are just as incendiary as some of the ones you've made because I'm, by extension, using some loaded language as well. However, at this point I feel like I might as well get in the ditch with you.
Therefore, I will say I've seen more than one Hedwig as well as the movie. Until this thread, I wouldn't have really seen myself commenting on behalf of Darren Criss of all people, but I wanted to respond. Also, I'm certain there are people on this board who go beyond the often lowly thought of "fan of celebrity" status (although you have previously expressed your own admiration of Taye Diggs which would qualify as "fan" of, IMO). There have been comments about this not being a fan board and that fans of Darren's should go elsewhere to remark. That is a rude suggestion and not true. This is nothing but a big fan board, whether of individual personalities or of Broadway. Even so, not everyone who has commented in Darren Criss's support has been an 18 year old fan girl (not that there's anything wrong with that). These are my visceral comments. Yes, feeling very visceral right now...not a rude reaction...but visceral...I don't like rude.
#382
Posted: 8/13/15 at 1:45am
At the request of Phan2 in the Taye Diggs thread, here's the entire Criss clan!
Either way, it's probably best to move all things Darren-related back over here...
Updated On: 8/13/15 at 01:45 AM
#383
Posted: 8/13/15 at 3:21am
Thanks BroadwayConcierge. So interesting. You can see how Darren can pass for white (in my opinion), whereas his brother really won't. I have four cousins who are part Asian-American and part "white." When you look at all four of them, it's really hard to see that they also are part Asian. I haven't seen when one "hapa" sibling looks "white," and the other "hapa" sibling does not. Cute photo! Thanks for posting.
Updated On: 8/13/15 at 03:21 AM
#384
Posted: 8/13/15 at 9:05am
Looking at them all together I don't think he looks any more like one parent than the other. Imho his "passing for white" is really more about that being the unfortunate default, rather than because he looks like the Irish son of an Irish American. As an actor he's a highly attractive young man with a lot of talent who is a bit racially ambiguous. He wouldn't fit the bill for a Filipino character or an all American. He really lucked out with his big break being a character who was seemingly open to whoever the best guy was for the part.
#385
Posted: 8/13/15 at 9:25am
He most definitely favors his dad. There are many racially mixed actors that can pass for different races. In the Hollywood dark ages if you weren't Anglo then you were considered ethnic and therefore you could play almost any other ethnicity that wasn't Anglo or Caucasian. Just ask Puerto Rican born Rita Moreno who has played Native Americans, Filipinos, Orientals and Italians. Naya Rivera who is 1/2 Puerto Rican a 1/4 German and 1/4 African American started off playing African American girls when she was very young up until her early teens and then wound up playing a Mexican American on "Glee". Darren Criss can easily pass for a Latino, Greek or Italian.
#386
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Posted: 8/13/15 at 10:38am
I feel like the eyes and chin are his mom, and his nose and mouth.
Either way...
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#387
Posted: 8/17/15 at 8:45pm
Carefully posting this here and not in the Taye Diggs thread 
Darren Criss posted on Twitter last week that he is coming back to NYC for a "one night stand in September" and that an official announcement is coming tomorrow. Naturally speculation is wild that he's coming back to be Hedwig for one night for some reason - possibly to fill in between Taye and the next Hedwig?
To me this seems kind of unlikely, but I guess we'll know tomorrow. Just thought I'd mention it!
https://twitter.com/DarrenCriss/status/632311554596167680
Maggie-the-schnoodle
Updated On: 8/17/15 at 08:45 PM
#388
Posted: 8/17/15 at 8:50pm
I think speculation is actually that he will fill in for Taye for one night only in September, not after Taye's run since Taye's run ends in October, not September.
I guess it could be that, that Taye has a good reason to miss a performance next month? With their current numbers it might not be a good alternative to simply go dark that day.
Just speculation I've seen. We will know for sure tomorrow if that announcement has anything to do with Hedwig.
Updated On: 8/17/15 at 08:50 PM
#389
Posted: 8/17/15 at 8:51pm
I wish...anything would be better than our current situation.
Unfortunately for your theory, each time an actor is switched, they have several tech rehearsals to fine-tune the in ear monitors and set vocal levels on the main mixer. It would be more cost-effective to just skip a performance
#390
Posted: 8/17/15 at 9:01pm
I would probably give my firstborn for this to happen. I need something to tide me over until the next one.
Honestly though, would he remember it enough? I doubt he'd be able to rehearse at all and that could be dangerous.
#391
Posted: 8/17/15 at 9:02pm
Yes, Gage2, that's kind of what I was thinking - that technically it wouldn't be feasible/make sense to bring someone in for only one night, even if he'd been in the role before. I actually really liked him in the role and wouldn't mind seeing him again, but I'm not getting my hopes up.
Maggie-the-schnoodle
#392
Posted: 8/17/15 at 9:08pm
I have no clue how much prepping him again would cost. I guess if it's too much then it might not be worth it to let an actor take over for only one night.
It might depend on what they expect to sell ticket wise for that day? I don't know, if they think they could sell out that show since that actor's fans would want to see him again one more time, then maybe it would be worth it after all? No idea.
Should he really take over for a day in September then his last performance would have been 2 month-ish ago. I am not a theatre actor so I don't know how much a text is still in your brain 2 months later. Ah well, should that be the announcement tomorrow we can still worry about that.
#393
Posted: 8/17/15 at 10:34pm
There are tons of reasons an actor would come to NYC for one night only. A benefit or some kind sounds far more likely than anything else. Tits of Clay also has a standalone gig for one night in September. Now THAT is far more possible...
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00004EF8E381A2CE
Updated On: 8/17/15 at 10:34 PM
#394
Posted: 8/17/15 at 10:53pm
It's definitely not the Tits of Clay gig since Darren is nominated for an Emmy and his category is part of the Creative Emmys which are on that day.
#395
Posted: 8/17/15 at 10:59pm
#396
Posted: 8/17/15 at 11:07pm
"Tits is the 13th. Emmys are the 19th/20th, no?
http://www.emmys.com/awards/emmys/creative-arts-emmys"
It is aired on the 19th but it actually happens the weekend before. It's apparently on the 12th, not 13th, but still same thing basically.
#397
Posted: 8/18/15 at 9:19am
Announcement is out, it has nothing to do with Hedwig. Darren is launching a musical festival for Broadway fans in NY.
For more info go here: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/181811/darren-criss-aaron-tveit-lea-salonga-laura-osnes-more-to-headline-outdoor-elsie-fest-in-new-york-city/
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