Do you expect performers to be great 8 shows a week?

Obviously actors are human beings and you can't expect them to act, sing or dance successfully 8 shows a week for a year or two. They are bound to have their "off" days.

Someone here (I won't name names) went to see A Chorus Line and complained about Jason Tam as Paul. He/she called him "horrendous", "worse than Paris Hilton", "didn't understand the character" (even when 99% of the people disagreed). But then he/she was proven wrong, when Jason Tam's audition tape came out and his performance was so raw and believable that it made the casting directors cry and applaud. He obviously understood the character and it showed why he got the part.

But then, he/she said "too bad he didn't replicate that performance on the show". Um, have you ever thought that maybe he DID replicate that performance, but just not one of the shows you went to?

I don't know about you guys, but I don't expect actors to be perfect 8 shows a week. Just because they can't do their best ALL the time, doesn't mean that they're horrible in their roles in general.

I don't expect them to be "perfect", but 8 shows in a week is 16 to 24 hours. I realize a performer's "work" is more than the time spent on stage, but still, an actor/singer/dancer in good health should be able to give consistent performances throughout the week.

I have, however, seen and worked with performers in their late 70s or 80s, who sometimes struggled for lines or blocking, etc. In the best cases, the experience they brought to their roles more than compensated for a few missed cues.

The example you gave from A CHORUS LINE sounds more like a difference of opinion than an off night.

I don't understand the OP. If I want to gamble, I'm going to Vegas not Broadway.

Therefore, if someone is awful I'll bitch about how awful they were here and everywhere I want. I'm not going to give them a pass because the ticket I bought fell on their "off" day.

It's up to the production and the performer to discuss the matters, not to the audience.

---

If a Tony voter goes to an "off" performance, you're not getting a vote.

Actors are hired to perform consistently well eight times a week (or whatever the performance schedule is). Yes, the pressure is high, but this is their career and reputation. Yes, it happens and it's too bad, but such is the job of a stage performer (and musician and stage manager and technician, etc.).

YES! The competition is waiting and whoever gets a Broadway role had better be putting in their best effort at every performance or they will be replaced by someone who will. Unless they are physically or vocally ill the audience is paying dearly for "great performances".

---

"I also think it's unfair to say that an actor is horrible as a certain character just because they had an off day. Having an off day should not overshadow all of their previous amazing performances."

If someone saw a bad performance, they're entitled to state their thoughts on what they saw and their feelings on that actor's take on the character. I'm not sure what you even mean by that. Someone is supposed to see another performance if they feel like the person was "off" or if they have a different opinion than the majority? Critical commentary on a performance should be disregarded because the person could've been having an "off" day and surely, all their other performances were incredible?

We judge on what we see.

---

Yes, that's what I just said. It's their job. Thank you for telling me what I clearly already said....

Critics used to come on opening nights, now they come whenever they want?

"This isn't new..."

Gee, you don't say...

I'm just saying because I read a critic went on an opening night recently, can't remember which show.

Since their reviews come out on opening night...often just after the curtain rises, they can't possibly go ON opening night. They aren't given tickets for opening night.

Once again, you don't really want to discuss, you want to be right. Well, it's not right for an actor to be less than the role demands. Of course, it happens, but to the 500 to 1500 patrons at THAT performance -- the overwhelming majority that will ONLY see that specific performance -- they can ONLY judge what they are given.

---

These are trained actors. Most audience members dont know when an actor is at 75% or 100%. They put out-they know how to deliver. Leads usually deliver. After long runs, I tend to see the ensemble get a little sloppy or less juiced, but leads tend to bring it and I probably wouldnt know if they werent feeling well.

---

Ugh, this is one of those threads where the OP has to be right and they won't have it any other way.

---

Exactly. "I don't want to disagree with you, but I know I'm right".

---

Updated On: 5/19/13 at 09:32 PM