Keri Russell ?

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Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/9/19 at 1:09pm

For those who have seen her in Burn This- Do you think she is suited-well for Broadway or should she stick to TV/Movies? I've been a fan of hers for a long time and so excited to see her on Broadway but the reviews I've read have me worried about her future on the boards.

She is doing a Tony-winning role and got nominated for zero awards for it. :/ Despite her whole cast now being Tony nominees and the show up for Best Revival. (Interesting fact, Joan Allen originated the role of Burn This and Keri played Joan's daughter in The Upside of Anger :) I wonder if she talked to Joan about the role?

This is her first Broadway show and in interviews it sounds like she is adjusting to it but it's been hard for her, I hope she would consider doing more roles in the future, but what do you think?

..

Hesione Hushabye thinks it tastes like ashes.

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/9/19 at 1:23pm

I have to quibble with quite a few things here:

1) Not everyone is going to nail Broadway on their first outing, and she isn’t doing this as some sort of vanity project for her. She seems genuinely invested in trying her best considering she hasn’t performed on Broadway before, unlike her more seasoned co-stars. To suggest that, at least in this instance, she should “stick to TV/movies” is quite reductive, I didn’t find her utterly fantastic, but she was certainly able to hold her own against Adam Driver and played off of Brandon Uranowitz well, and that was enough to satisfy me.

2) Only Driver and Uranowitz were nominated for Tonys, Furr was not. Also, and many actors on Broadway emphasized this around nomination time, that most actors don’t do their jobs for awards and accolades. Sure, some might pitch a diva fit like Jennifer Hudson when she didn’t get a nod for THE COLOR PURPLE, but that’s a glaring exception to the rule.

3) Broadway isn’t easy even if you are a seasoned stage performer. In Keri’s case, she’s flexing new acting muscles and it’s a learning process for her. She may appear a bit flustered by it, but I’d be willing to bet that she’s enjoying the challenge because it helps her grow as an actress.

P.S - When I went to the stage door, she seemed genuinely touched by the support she has been getting from her fans, and surely that helps her along.

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Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/9/19 at 1:49pm

It's been quite a long time since she's been on a stage and I don't think the role in this production is doing her any favors. It's surprising to me that anyone has ever won an award for this role. She's also in a very crowded year. I think her next Broadway outing will be far more successful. I think she'd make a great Barb in Osage County in a few years. Maybe alongside Laurie Metcalf.

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/9/19 at 1:56pm

I mean, of course, I'd be happy to see her try another piece.

That said, there was a lack of organic behavior in her performance that I found disappointing. Every line reading and bit of movement seemed predetermined, to me. Perhaps Mayer didn't push her enough, or maybe he did and that really was the best she could do with this particular role.

But as quizking said, hopefully she grows from this and can really wow us in time. Jessica Lange was not well-received in Streetcar Named Desire, but then just recently she gave one of the best stage performances I've ever seen in Long Day's Journey... You never know.

Updated On: 5/9/19 at 01:56 PM

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/9/19 at 3:34pm

Glenda Jackson wasn't nominated for a Tony this year either.

And many might go out on a limb to say that King Lear might be comparably signficiant - at least - to Anna in Burn This.

Anyone think Jackson might just not have the stuff for the stage? Is she Broadway caliber?

Updated On: 5/9/19 at 03:34 PM

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/9/19 at 3:38pm

She's not a stage actress in my opinion. Incredibly engaging on The Americans, though

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/9/19 at 8:53pm

I found her fairly adequate in Burn This, as Adam Driver really does steal the show, but I mostly had quibbles with their interactions which I think was more up to direction rather than acting ability. I can see how Keri Russell's line reading seem a little too deliberate, but I took that as her way of portraying grief and a somewhat emotionally closed off character overall. I do agree that she would only get better if she does more stage work and Burn This doesn't do her many favors as a Broadway debut since the character has to play off Pale in such a specific way, and she doesn't seem to have as much of that ease of settling into a character that others might.

Though I will say that I'm not well versed in either Burn This or Keri Russell's screen work overall so I could be missing the bigger picture.

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/10/19 at 6:28am

quizking101 said: "Not everyone is going to nail Broadway on their first outing"

"Broadway isn’t easy even if you are a seasoned stage performer."

I really can't get behind that line of logic. Both of the statements above are true, of course, but I don't think an actor deserves extra slack for a poor performance just because it's a hard job. Yes, it's difficult, which is why we have auditions, and which is why people shouldn't be hired solely for being famous. Now, I'm not really familiar with Russel's other work. It could very well be - in fact it's probably likely - that she was miscast and/or poorly directed, and that she would do a better job in other roles. But using the difficulty of the job as a qualifier for her performance is just not going to cut it IMO. Especially when so many people actually do knock it out of the park on their Broadway debuts - including many celebrities - and so many unknown actors work tirelessly to get their skill to Broadway-level.

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/10/19 at 7:51am

I think she's adequate in the role. The success of the play depends on Driver and to a lesser extent Uranowitz, Give her credit for trying something new. It's not a question of should she stick to films and TV but the fact that she has that option. Very few do. It seems to be a "thing" for names like her to try the stage just to get it off their bucket list. Some return, most don't. She doesn't need to be doing 8 shows a week. Personally, I'd like to see her come back and do some Off Broadway. I kind of wish she had started there instead.

#10

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/10/19 at 9:32am

Unfortunately, I thought she was miscast but then again I really didn't care of this production at all and we left at intermission. There was no chemistry on stage with any of the characters and it was a big stretch to believe that Anna was a dancer and now choreographer. I also didn't get all the love for Adam Driver in this production. He comes in at a 10 and never seems to waiver below that (ok, maybe he gets down to an 8 1/2 briefly) but it's just rapid fire with no nuance. Uranowitz was the only person on stage doing their job so maybe it's the director's fault? I've loved her other work but just couldn't get into this performance.

#11

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/10/19 at 1:37pm

I'm a huge Keri Russell fan, especially in Waitress & August Rush. She was the sole reason I went to see Burn This. Myself and everyone around me thought she was terrible but came away loving Adam Driver's performance. I don't know if she was terrified or miscast but she said each line as if she was reading it, no infliction, no emotion, totally unbelievable as her character. She looked great onstage but her acting was seriously underwhelming in my opinion. The person next to me turned to me after the play was over and asked if it was possible the she actually got worse in the second act. I wish her great things in the future but this was not her role.

#12

Keri Russell ?

Posted: 5/10/19 at 1:46pm

I saw the show last week on Tony nominations day and I thought Keri was terrific. I didn't think she was stiff or out of her element at all. To me, she came across very similar to how she does on tv. I didn't stage door but I've seen video of her at the stage door and I agree she seems very engaging with fans.

This was easily my favorite play of the season thus far so I'd definitely recommend seeing it for yourself.

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