Soon, a Résumé Taller Than She Is (Kerry Butler)- Page 2

[massofmen]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:14pm

someone who is bland. drab. fine, but no sparkle. The same in every show. that's how I define it.

[Craig]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:21pm

massofmen - to each their own. Personally, and bias aside, I simply can't imagine anyone sincerely considering Kerry's performance in Hairspray bland, drab and lacking sparkle. The part became what it was because of her and while those that came after might be more to your liking - they all owe the foundation to her for originating the role and making the part bigger than it ever would have been.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:36pm

I do agree that Penny is what it is because of Ms. Butler. It's the same reason I hate when people say that Kristen Chenoweth was too hammy in her WICKED role, and Megan Hilty or whoever else is the "REAL" Galinda. To honor the original spirit and intentions of the show's creators and crew, her replacements are simply duplicating Ms. Chenoweths performance as best they can while injecting some of their own humor into it.

Perhaps that's a harsh way of putting it, but perhaps not.

But back to Kerry . . .

[massofmen]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:37pm

really? you don't think the role was written incredibly well? I mean, white prissy girl, squeaky voice, becomes hot white girl, with cool black guy boyfriend? she sings meekly at the beginning, and then busts is out in, "without love"? I think it was the role and not her. but like you pointed out, to each his own.

I think audrey is a wonderful role, and I thought that her performance was very bland. Did you get a chance to see her in that?

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:43pm

Yes, when I watched Kerry in Little Shop I felt like it was a regional production. Or a very good senior high school production. Or even a student-directed college show.

But that's just my opinion. Perhaps her wooden delivery of lines translated more as a satirical twist on the material to people who enjoyed her.

And although I agree that Kerry was her "vanilla" self in Hairspray, with, as I suggested before, a few corny/zany flourishes, I honor her completely as the originator of the role. The character of Penny was created by Kerry, and therefore the soul of Penny is infused with her soul. In essence, Pingleton is Butler.

I sort of imagine it as an All About Eve type of thing; Kerry got the part and made it great, but if she had an arch-nemesis, her arch-nemesis would be howling: "I would have been so much better in the role, AND got nominated for the Tony!" and maybe her arch-nemesis would, indeed, have been better. But Kerry won. And although she was her vanilla self, she hit it through the park with her seasoned comic timing.

Updated On: 7/10/05 at 12:43 PM

[Craig]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:54pm

mass-

The part of Penny was actually written out just before Kerry joined the workshop process. It was then added back in and kept getting larger and larger during that process and Seattle because what she's did with the part. Was it well written? Sure.. but it's a chicken/egg argument on this one...

And yes. I've seen Kerry in LSOH and have my own opinions about her performance and also the complete production/direction/etc....

[DoDad]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:04pm

Longtime lurker but felt compiled to join and post in this thread. Butler's one of the most overrate performers of the past decade. Her 'Audrey' was a travesty on stage in every sense of the world, and her Penny was far from revolutionary. Worse than both of those was her laughable attemps in Opposite of Sex. It's a good thing that show has been unable to get the financing or theater it needs to come to Broadway.

[massofmen]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:13pm

I think marc shaiman is the only one who really knows if the role got bigger because of her performance of it, or if the writers decided it needed to for the arch of the show.
I do agree though, that if she blew they would have made the part smaller, or cut her from it all together.
I view a lot of Broadway as a place where risks are few and far between. And while risking an unknown to sell your million dollar musical is scary, risks make you grow. Playing it safe with the same actors over and over again makes Broadway a stale place to see shows.
And as such safety, like Ms. Butler's acting, make it a stale experience to see her on stage. For me.
And did anyone see her in "The Man In The White Suit" up at Vassar? I did..and again, same old thing.

[Craig]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:20pm

Mass

I applaud you giving all varieties of theatre a chance. Clearly, even if you don't appreciate Kerry's talents, you still attend all the shows she's in...

and DoDad
Assume away re: OOS. You don't know why it hasn't been booked yet :)

Updated On: 7/10/05 at 01:20 PM

[DoDad]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:40pm

You'd be surprised actually about how much I know about OOS, but I'm not going to waste time debating the issue with the miscast star's web master.

As someone in the industry, I've seen Kerry in nearly every on stage, and reading performance that she's made in and around New York and it's been the same one-note, snooze-worthy performance each time. To each his own tho.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:19pm

i can't believe no one mentioned rob's little teaser giving us a clue that kerry might be elle woods!

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:51pm

Wait, seriously? That would be sweet...

And, anyway, I don't care whether people think she is good or not, she's on Broadway. She is a working actor. Someone must like her... me included. So, even though everyone can sit on the internet and talk about how she's unworthy of her praise, at least she's doing it. I have to look up to her for that...

Oh, and I also look up to her because she's... SWEET!

Ok, apparently I overuse that word... but you get the idea.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:17am

Hooray for Kerry and short actresses everywhere! (I'm 5ft 3 or 5ft 4)

[zoran912]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:17am

Exactly. She's doing it. You're not. Get over it.

That may sound harsh, but it IS true.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:18am

Dreamcatcher, that's not short! You're only like..one or two inches short than me!


And let me add in to the Kerry love...I really do love her voice.

Updated On: 7/11/05 at 12:18 AM

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:22am

I love Kerry Butler. I think she is a fantastic performer.

I walked by Kerry Butler and her husband today on Broadway at 96th Street. I quietly gasped and immediately proceeded to call my friend Jessica.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 1:22am

HAHA joshua amazing

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:02am

I know, I'm a dork. I get easily star-struck. Even if they're not really a star. Well, only if they are worth it. Like, for example, I'm not star-struck by ensemble members and such. Updated On: 7/11/05 at 02:02 AM

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:29am

Kerry is amazing in every way. I loved her in Little Shop!
I CAN NOT wait to see her in Miracle Brothers with the amazing Karen Olivo!!

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 10:04am

Kerry IS amazing. It's kind of sad that the select few of you decide you need to bash an amazing performer, not to mention person, when the article )and thread) were only intended to tell a little bit about her, let people know what she's up to. The banter you post does NOT make you sound smart. It makes you seem like a a total ass. You don't like Kerry? THat's nice, but then don't click on a freaking thread clearly marked 'KERRY BUTLER'. And joining just to bash her? That's ridiculous. You should be embarassed. Keep you nasty comments to yourself, folks. Again, it doesn't make you seem smart for not lik,ing her. And it makes you appear DUMB to post that bullcrap. Ugh. I'm repeating myself now, but enough. Why every positive thing on this board needs to be turned negative is BEYOND me.

Anyway, I adore Kerry, and her performances. Her voice is distinct and lovely, and she always brings more than her share to the table.

[massofmen]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 1:12pm

i kinda think I can say whatever I want to. And if I think she is vanilla I can say that.
thanks.

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 1:27pm

Sweetheart, no one said you couldn't say what you wanted. However, the sh!t you care to share with us is ridiculous, and pointless. Thanks.

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 1:52pm

Ha, Joshua... I would have stopped, hyperventilated... and may have even started following her hoping that she'd have to stop somewhere and I could pretend I had to too and then meet her... you're not that bad... lol

One time I did gasp and like couldn't breathe and just started laughing... the actors looked at me like I was nuts and then walked around the corner. Yeah... I'm a HUGE nerd lol

[massofmen]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 3:38pm

as is your juvenile response to the posting.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 1:11pm

To the guys who are mad at people for saying bad things about Kerry Butler: the message boards are DESIGNED for debate.

If you want a Kerry Praise Party, go to kerrybutler.net.

I, for one, usually try only click on threads that I know I have something unique to bring to them.

And Joshua, I wasn't laughing about the fact that you did that! I call literally everybody I know whenever I see Kelli O'Hara on my block. I was just loving that your friend's name was Jessica. It was too perfect.

P.S. I stalked Charlotte D'Amboise and Norm Lewis as they walked arm in arm down 8th avenue for about six blocks.

Updated On: 7/13/05 at 01:11 PM