MOST OVERRATED AND UNDERRATED BROADWAY STARS- Page 6

[landryjames2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 10:30am

I find that about 75% of people posting on this thread (including the initial poster) are putting performers that they love in Underrated, and performers they don't care for in Overrated. Who a person likes or not is not the same thing as overrated and underrated (well, I guess it is to many).

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 10:52am

I responded previously, but I wanted to agree with the person who mentioned Sarah Uriarte Berry as underrated.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 12:20pm

Dorothy Collins
Alexis Smith
Gene Nelson

How dare I have forgotten them? Hell, I'll add John McMartin, as he is as talented as the other three, but less underrated. Alexis Smith is one of the greatest talents to have ever hit the Broadway stage.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 12:39pm

So many people think the younger generation are a bunch of idiots. And, you know, if they were to read the majority of the posts on this thread, it would be all the confirmation they would need.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 1:20pm

I don't think Nathan Lane is over-rated----over-hyped, maybe, but not over-rated.

I think Michael McGraw is under-rated---I was Spamalot several times, and his Patsy blew me away!

[Wicked_fan]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 1:37pm

Maybe it's just me but I think that Sutton Foster is rather brilliant and that she deserves all the hype that she gets.

and also... Kerry Butler... overrated? Really? I don't agree, because I'm sure not many people even know who she is and she is a fantastic talent. I've never seen someone have so much energy on stage.

but as for underrated... Jen Cody. Get that girl out of ensemble!

[GatorFan]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 2:47pm

My take on this overrated vs underrated performer is as follows: An overrated performer is someone that seems to get a significant part in every new broadway musical yet does not live up to expectations, and an underrated performer is someone that has been around for awhile but never seems to get the appropriate acknowlegements despite getting univeral raves for their perfomance.

As to overrated performer, I would state John Lithgow. While I have liked him in the past ( M Butterfly), his shtick has worn thin (Secret of My Success and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

As to underrated performer, I would add Christopher Sieber to the list along with Jayne Atkinson.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 3:58pm

I've seen Ethel Merman mentioned a few times, and...

(Wait, let me put on the flame retardent suit)

... yes, I'd have to put her in the over-rated category.

Now bear in mind I dont do that lightly. But consider: she got to work with arguably more high profile composers than anyone else, and what did they deliver to her? An "Ethel Merman" show. Yes, the woman had an amazing pair of lungs, but everything sounds alike -- it's almost impossible to tell the difference between ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and CALL ME MADAM and GYPSY when her characterizations for all three roles are almost carbon copies of each other. When folks went to an Ethel Merman show, they pretty much went to see her sing, an that was it. The show itself was almost incidental.

Merman had the great fortune to be on Broadway at a particular moment in history, and I'm sure her name will be remembered for some time to come. But I wonder if history will be as kind when it comes to seeing her as an actress as opposed to a performer.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:28pm

Underrated:
Joan Almedilla, Sandra Allen, Jen Paz, Jose Llana, Rachel York, Greg Stone, Jere Shea, Meg Hilty, and many others.

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:57pm

Seanmartin--and to everyone who says Ethel Merman is overrated. I would like to point out that most of the people posting here NEVER SAW HER LIVE--certainly not in her prime. The fact that you can say you think a woman who never had a flop on Broadway, who remained a star and box office draw on Broadway, who stayed a star on Broadway all her adult life is overrated just shows the idiocy of this whole topic. All it shows is that YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 6:03pm

", Meg Hilty,"

Megan Hilty had only done one major role(not counting Vanities)she had incredible range though.Her belting is amazing. I wouldn't call her overrated or underrated. She gets the praise she deserves.
Updated On: 1/9/07 at 06:03 PM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 6:08pm

>> I would like to point out that most of the people posting here NEVER SAW HER LIVE--certainly not in her prime

There are kinescopes of her performances in stage at the Library of Performing Arts. There are films of her concerts. There are tapes of her television appearances. And most damning of all for you is that we have recordings of her Broadway shows, and yes she comes across exactly the same way in every one of them, a point you casually slide over in the vain hope I'll quiver in fear at your obvious authority on the subject. The woman isnt exactly an unknown commodity when it comes to knowing what she was like in front of an audience. Any other comments you'd like to share?

[HollyImposter]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 6:16pm

The only reason that Ethel Merman got the hype she did in her time was because at that time, no one sang like that. All of the vocals were scatting types, opera or possibly Julie Andrews types. Ethel Merman was a belter which was something brand new at the time.

Now, the only reason that she is praised is because of how groundbreaking she WAS. Obviously now, tehre are quite a few people with her talents. The only respect she gets is from her time which none of you lived in so you can't really make a judgement on whether she is over or underrated.

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 6:44pm

Again, all it shows is neither of you know what you're talking about. The idea that you could evaluate someone's career by watching old kinescopes is just stupid.

[HollyImposter]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:01pm

That's basically what I'm saying. And it's not about evaluating her career. You can evaluate her career with a little research and reading. You can't make a judgement and then use that to determine a career. Careers are about numbers and publicity.

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:12pm

Sorry Hollyimposter I shouldn't have included you in my previous statement. You are right.

[HollyImposter]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:23pm

Okay, cool, Daniel

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:26pm

There are very few women, even in today's standards, that have roles written FOR them.

Merman is a little more than just a "belter," dear.

[HollyImposter]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:38pm

She can do more than belt... not that well, in my opinion, but I'm going to leave that out of this... but she was a musical theater belter.

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:42pm

And the roles were written by Porter, Gershwin, Berlin, the list goes on and on. She was these legendary composer's favorite singer. I don't think they would be writing for a no-talent.

[the.last.five.years]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 7:54pm

I'm going to have to agree that Sutton Foster is amazing. Anyone who says she's overrated needs to realize there's a reason she's gets all that credit.

Im going to have to say for Underrated: Sherie Rene Scott. she gets credit, but not enough consiering her unbeleivable voice and characters (especially Cathy in the Last Five Years)

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 7:23am

>> You can evaluate her career with a little research and reading.

Exactly my point, madam. I have researched it because I was frankly curious about her and wanted to know a bit more about her. And what I found was that she was a great performer of songs, which is why she got Gershwin and Porter and all the others to write for her. But they wrote to her specifications, which again is why almost every Ethel Merman song sounds essentially the same.

I'm making a distinction here that you clearly are missing. No one is dissing The Voice. But as an actress, Merman simply wasnt much. But that's not why people went to her shows anyway. They didnt care about the musical itself, just her. And that's fine with me, because thanks to her we do have an amazing catalogue of Broadway standards. But as an actress, Merman ran that proverbial gamut from A to B, and there's a lot out there that will support that position.

If you can prove me wrong, do so. I'd welcome it. But to just sit there and say, "Oh well, she was great becuse she's a legend" isnt doing a very good job, sorry.

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 12:48pm

Seanmartin, no one ever said Merman was a great actress so I don't know how you can say she was overrated as an actress. Your point remains pointless. I don't know what your point is actually--it seems completely off base.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 1:00pm

Hmm. Let's see. First I'm told, in all caps no less, that I DONT KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. Then, when I point out that I do, I'm told "oh well, see, no one ever said she was a great actress".

Right, kitten. Got it.

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 2:25pm

Seanmartin, you can point out that you do know what you're talking about all you want but you still don't. Also, the people I know who saw her in Gypsy said her performance--acting as well as singing was brilliant--and you won't find it on a kinescope. Honeybunch, you don't know what you're talking about when it come to Merman and you just keep proving it.