crp2000 wrote: I've seen Sherie in the role also (not live though)"
*ears perking up* Is that an admission of owning some *ahem* footwear?
Actually, out of all the Amneris's I'm familiar with (Sherie, Idina, Taylor, Lisa), I'd have to say Sherie or Lisa ahould close it. When I saw the show last week, I thought Lisa was easily the strongest cast member (Will was a close second).
And my 2c, nothing compares to Heather's EAL rendition. (Also, acting-wise, has anyone noticed that Heather was a lot more obtuse with her facial and body expressions whereas Deborah is a lot more subtle, acting mostly with her face? I only noticed this because some friends who saw the show from the mezzanine thought she acted really wooden, but from the front row, it just seems like she reacts very subtly.)
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
I think Deb's facial reactions work more for the role of AIDA. She's supposed to be a strong princess, not flailing all over the place with her body expressions.
Type-A-Tiff: LOL! No "footwear" here. Let's just say there are perks to actually knowing people on broadway...especially if they're actually in the show.
I'm glad you mentioned Lisa! I really enjoyed her and also agree that she's one of the best.
As far as Deb's acting is concerned - it's definitely different from Heathers, however I think they both bring a large amount of 'confidence' to AIDA and simply display it in different ways/to different degrees.
DAME: I'm just taking it one day at a time. my therapist says it's going to take a while, but that i'll be okay.
There's a very big difference between acting and *musical theater* acting. Headley is giving musical theater acting, everything else will be seen as "subtle" or more unflatteringly described as..."wooden".
Regarding musical theatre, I agree 100% that an actor has to really put it out there to avoid coming off as wooden on stage, in the acting context. However, I don't care how good an actor one is, in musical theatre, the player must sing ON KEY. I think each of us knows of at least one Tony Award winning actress that prompts NYPD to issue an all points bulletin (APB) on the KEY the instant she's 8 bars into any musical number. Nuff said.
Javero, are we talking about someone in Aida, because if not, there are far more than ONE! However, if we're speaking strictly of Tony winning actresses the initials MJW, come to mind immediately. She's even off key on the cast recording. Could that be of whom you refer to?
AL you made my day! with "In most circumstances, the originators are the best. There hasn't been a better Amneris or Radames either." I agree 100% with this. Although Idina and Lisa are/were both great in the role. Nothing compares to Sherie.
Was Adam and Will the only two to play Radames (aside from understudies etc.?) Those are the only two i can come up w/ unless my memory is failing me.
As for Deborah's acting vs. Heathers. I agree there is a difference between musical theatre acting and acting on film or a straight play. For one you have to consider the people in the last row. They wont be able to see subtle facial expressions. Although i do like the contrast between the subtleness of Aida and her "animated"-(for lack of a better word) deep booming voiced-powerful father. They are very different people and thats easily seen in the choices they make, i like when it carries over into their acting.
Though scattered and divided we are still its heart...AIDA SEPTEMBER 5th, 2004...one more longing backward glance...
I AM NOW "TGIF!"
Yeah... Adam and Will were the only two that were always set to play Radames on Broadway, but there have been a bunch of understudies/standbys though (Richard Blake - currently Link in Hairspray - ... the guy who understudied Boy George as Leigh Bowery in Taboo - his name is escaping me right now and Cheyenne Jackson, to name a few). Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose, Rent) did it on the tour. But, no one compares to Adam!! Sorry, I had to.