Sure, I can clarify. When I say playing a role "straight," I meant playing a role earnestly and honestly, and not in a "tongue-in-cheek" manner. It seems to me that Nick Adams has the tendency to play a parody of the character, rather than the actual character, as if he is mocking the role he is supposed to be playing instead of just playing it. I almost feel like he is using his performance to double as an audition for "Saturday Night Live" or something. I find it rare for his face to show any emotion other than other than over the top mugging or bemused detachment. I thought he was the weakest link in the trio of leads in Priscilla, partly because of the way his character was written, and partly because of the way he played it.
I am surprised that no one else has heard of this definition of "playing a role straight," as I had heard of this usage before I heard about "gay" and "straight" differentiations.
I did not even know that Nick Adams was in Little Mermaid. The performances that I have seen him in are Priscilla, A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, and possibly Chicago. I would have to check my Playbill on that last one. And with two of those shows, there were threads on here discussing the amount of clothes that he was wearing on stage, rather than his actual performance ability, which I still feel is a bit slight.
Nick Adams has a lot of credits, I am not denying that his resume is solid. I am not denying that he can sing, or that he can dance. But an actor? Only by way of job title, not by actual ability. I still state that I have not seen Nick Adams play any role other than "Nick Adams". Maybe "Nick Adams as ______(insert role here)," but not just "_______"(role) by itself.
I am still surprised that he was the chosen as the best performer willing and able to play Fiyero on tour.
Dean: Can I tell you something?
Lorraine: That depends on what it is.
Dean: I think you're really really pretty.
Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.
