Norbert Leo Butz

Posted: 11/20/03 at 1:29am

First of all, I just joined this message board and I want to say hi to everyone.
Next, I just wanna say that Norbert Leo Butz is the best actor on broadway. I saw him in Thou Shalt Not and found gold in a terrible show. He displayed the perfect balance of a great voice and GREAT acting in The Last FIve Years. I have tickets to see him in Wicked in a week and I have heard mixed things about his performance. I heard that the part was just really underwritten. How is he in it?
thanx

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 1:53am

Welcome and Howdy, Holdme. Be gentle with us.

[Cadriel]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 7:08am

Norbert is thoroughly decent in Wicked, and as a fan you'll enjoy him. His first song, "Dancing Through Life," is the low point of the score, but as an acquaintance pointed out, the references to what happens to him later in the show are quite clever. A lot of people balk at "As Long As You're Mine," but I enjoyed it thoroughly both times I saw it.

Norbert's performance is probably seen as hampered because the character of Elphaba is so unaware of herself sexually that Idina blocks off much of the chemistry they share in one of their best scenes in Act I. His acting in Act II is quite good, and he pulls off a somewhat unbelievable character with ease.

I don't think he's as good as he was in Last Five Years, but in large part that's because L5Y gave him a better role. He does what he can in Wicked and that's good enough for me.

Welcome to the board.

-Wayne

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 7:21am

I'm glad you enjoy Norbert, but I would have to strongly disagree about him being the best actor on Broadway. I'd never seen him before Wicked, but he made my flesh crawl. In the future, I will go out of my way to avoid any production with Norbert.

[Becky]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 7:50am

"In the future, I will go out of my way to avoid any production with Norbert. "

You would write him off after only seeing him in one performance? Harsh.

I've seen him now in several productions, and while I haven't seen WICKED yet, I've been *very* impressed with him in all of his past performances.....

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 8:13am

Yes, that's how much I disliked him.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 9:13am

I don't quite agree, but I understand Namo's POV. The WICKED creators decided to cast Fiyero with a character actor, rather than a traditional leading man (the Saigon Chris guys, the Aida boys; the casting pool for both an overlapping list). I think it was a calculated attempt to de-Disney-fy the romantic triangle. Anyone else share that POV? It was risky, like several elements in this ambitious show (shifting tone, contemporary argot), and from anacdotal evidence at this/other boards, it seems that it hasn't really worked for many.

I think the duet in act two -- though admittedly generic in lyrics -- has a certain amount of real heat to it, as performed. Butz made me believe his hard-to-handle attraction to this odd girl. It's the one moment of expressed sexuality in WICKED, and I wish it gone further.

Thought: they might've costumed Butz better. He comes on dressed like a jockey, and made me think of "Seabiscuit." The jodhpur effect may highlight the Butz butt, but doesn't entirely sell the idea of an elegant party boy prince. The costume he wears in the Vanity Fair spread is seen only briefly.

Updated On: 11/20/03 at 09:13 AM

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 9:24am

"Yes, that's how much I disliked him."


glad to see you aren't closed minded

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 9:35am

Yes, Princess, I know that that's the ultimate insult coming from the folks of your generation. "You're so closed minded." But am I, really? Let's actually break this down. I saw Wicked. Norbert, as a performer, repulsed me. (I disagree with Auggie that by casting him they de-Disneyfied the character. I agree with Frank Rich that he was directed to play Fiyero as a macho Disney lunkhead.)

My decision to avoid any production that Norbert is in in the future is an informed one. It is the opposite of closed minded. If I ordered a pizza with an ingredient I had never tasted, let's say pesto, and it actually repulsed me, I would avoid pesto on any future pizza and any other dish that used pesto in its preparation.

If Norbert is ever an ingredient in an upcoming production, I will avoid it based on my experience of enduring one of his performances. Closed minded? No. Experienced? Yes.

[Becky]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 11:02am

I'm sorry to hear that Namo. It's been *my* experience that some performers have been terrible in one role only to surprise me in the next. I don't think one role defines the talent of an actor -there's too many factors. But, to each their own. Avoid him.

Had I shared your same theory, I would have missed out on some incredible shows if I would have avoided the production based on one performer I disliked....

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 1:40pm

yeah, NAMO, usually i can get on board with you (so to speak). But to examine your analogy (as you often do with others here), what you'd really want to do is avoid that brand of pesto. There are many kinds of pesto, and many ways they could be used in various combinations with other ingredients to make recipes. Such avoidance of pesto is not really giving your very discerning taste buds a chance.

If Mr. Butz is in a new show or revival with other factors you admire, and you ignore the production because of your WICKED experience, you have indeed "closed your mind" to a realm of possibilities. And cheated yourself of the glorious freedom to change an opinion. What's any theory that can't stand challenge really worth?

[sheekala]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 1:49pm

Please they were considering him for Leo Bloom, he maybe be a Norbet Leo Butz, but a Leo Bloom he ain't. I didnot like him when Isaw the SF mounting of WICKED, yet I liked him fine in RENT.

[localonecrew]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 1:51pm

Norbert is an incredibly talented actor and a really nice guy as well.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 2:07pm

I enjoyed Norbert's performance in Wicked. It's not the greatest role, but he does what he can with it. I do think there is a slight lack of chemistry between him and both of his leading leadies, and that's a shame.

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 2:23pm

I've only seen Norbert in two shows (WICKED and L5Y) and I have found him both times, in a word, unlikable. That doesn't necessarily mean he's a bad actor...not at all. He just does not arouse much sympathy in me. It's an intersting quality that could be used to a show's advantage, but not the ones I mentioned.

I, too, wouldn't necessarily go as far as Namo. However, if I did follow his advice, I would not have had to sit through a certain revival with a certain actor whose talent is so mediocre that it is an insult to God and man.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 3:27pm

Good points, all. Let me adjust my analogy. Let's say you try a food such as pesto and get sick, perhaps because of the food itself or maybe salmonella or ecoli contamination. But whatever the cause, you eat a huge steaming portion of pesto and you puke all over the place.

It may be the ingredient (Norbert) or the contamination (bad material or direction) that causes you to hurl. It's impossible to really know. All you know is, every time you hear mention of the word "pesto" your stomach flips and you vow never to eat it again.

THAT is how I feel about Norbert from his big steamy pile of a performance in Wicked.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 3:43pm

Wait...is Norbert the hottie who turns into the scarecow??

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 3:43pm

personally, i just try to stay away from those kind of extremes...i'm a relativist. i'd hate to be the one saying "Butz Sucks" all the way up until he got Tonys and Emmys and Oscars and keys to the various cities and a Good Citizenship award for cleaning the best erasers. i'm perfectly comfortable saying "i didn't care for the score of LA MANCHA in its entirety" but would never say "i'll NEVER see another show by Mitch Leigh, Joe
Darion, and Dale Wasserman again" (as if there was another). i don't mind having the courage of my convictions, i just like to leave a little room to let my convictions evolve.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 3:46pm

I almost never say never. But that truly is how much I disliked him. If he were to get a bit part in a show starring somebody I loved, I would go so far as to try to see the show when he is on vacation.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 4:01pm

well, NAMO, now that IS inventive and determined *wink*. Be careful though...announcing your fatal flow can be unwise. Soon your enemies will be making little Norbert dolls to wear around their necks and ward you off. Broadway producers afraid of your critical wrath will be casting him to avoid your attendance at their pathetic offerings. Malicious friends will be arranging blind dates with Leo to mortify you (insert Ashton Kuchner saying "punk'd!").

[Elphie]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 5:25pm

I love Norbert. I thought he was "enchanting" in Wicked. He has an awesome soft and smooth voice- fresh talent. If you love Norbert as much as you say, you will love him in WICKED. Hes hard not to cling to through out the course of the play.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 6:01pm

Enjoyed him in "Thou Shalt Not"

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 6:39pm

yeah, he sounded more Connick than Connick in THOU SHALT NOT. i think he has some different colors in his singing voice, i love that kind of versatility.

[Becky]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 7:19pm

"i think he has some different colors in his singing voice, i love that kind of versatility. "

I like the way you put that - it's so true. The thing I enjoy most about him is that in RENT, Last Five Years, and Thou Shalt Not -- I never had to worry about whether or not the notes would be there. His vocal power seems effortless and his notes are solid all of the time. (Or at least they were all the times I've seen him).

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 9:22pm

"Hes hard not to cling to through out the course of the play."

Say what?