Tamayra Gray/RENT/Last night- Page 2

[Becky]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 9:23pm

Haven Burton has given the most consistently good performances as Maureen I've seen- Idina included

I haven't seen her, but I've seen some great performers as 'Maureen' over the years (Maggie Benjamin comes to mind.) What I haven't liked since Idina, however, is "Over The Moon". I loved how it was so simple - almost mesmerizing - and she wasn't *trying* to be funny. She took herself so serious, and that's what was so funny about the piece. Not long after Idina, it's like they didn't trust the material - and had to hit the audience over the head with humor. It's *way* too over-the-top, and some of it is just plain silly. While I still laugh, it's not for the reasons it used to be.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:06pm

For some reason, I can't stand Maggie Benjamin's Maureen. She's too much, and not in a good way. Maureen is an insane drama queen, but I hate it when actresses play Maureen super-silly and like she knows how absurd she is. Maureen takes herself seriously, and that should be what's funny about her.

So basically, Becky, I agree with everything you said -- I just don't think that Maggie gets that at all, and her Over the Moon is probably the most over-the-top I've seen.
Updated On: 5/30/07 at 10:06 PM

[Becky]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:47pm

So basically, Becky, I agree with everything you said -- I just don't think that Maggie gets that at all, and her Over the Moon is probably the most over-the-top I've seen.

I agree that Maggie was another "over-the-top" Maureen. I think most (if not all) of them have been since '97. I know "Over The Moon" has been directed that way for a long time, and I disagree with that choice. Just out of the 2nd generation (and on) Maureens, I did like Maggie - in spite of the way the character has transitioned over the years.

I don't think anyone has played her the way I truly liked since Idina - even though there are ladies I enjoyed.
Updated On: 5/30/07 at 10:47 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:56pm

I think it's not only the already-mentioned problem that the actors aren't trusting enough of the material, but also (especially if it's being directed that way) that there's not enough trust in the audience that they'll "get" Maureen as she was intended. I feel like there's not enough trust in audiences to find her funny unless they really push her for laughs, and beat them over the head with more overt humor, if that makes sense.

Updated On: 5/30/07 at 10:56 PM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 11:08pm

orange, "most" as in ANY Maureen I've seen or heard on any medium Menzel's work 10 years ago excepting (her Rent 10 and film performances...eh). None of them got it.

I agree with what's been said; the role is not only suffering from actresses who probably don't get the role in the first place, but the way the role is being directed as of late is absurd, over-the-top, hit the audience over the head kind of humor. What was so great about Idina in the role is that she never once tried to make anyone in the audience laugh; she just believed everything the character was saying, which is so much more funny and so much more the character than TRYING to make us laugh. I don't want to sit through Rent in which there are caricatures on stage.

The other misguided direction that makes me want to hit things is that little fight between Maureen and Joanne towards the end that is now being played for laughs, when it was once a sweet reminder that Maureen *gasp* actually has a heart. Wow, character arc. What a concept.

Anyway, back to Tamarya, this girl here is excited to see her. If anything, I get the impression from watching her on Idol a few years ago, that she's genuine. Which is more than can be said for a lot of people who are cast in this show!
Updated On: 5/30/07 at 11:08 PM

[Becky]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 11:12pm

I feel like there's not enough trust in audiences to find her funny unless they really push her for laughs, and beat them over the head with more overt humor, if that makes sense.

Yes Em, that's exactly what I was saying as well. Maureen hasn't been able to be...for the lack of a better word...authentic for a long time.

especially if it's being directed that way

I know for a fact that there was one specific Maureen that was kind of a turning point with the character (specifically with "Over The Moon") - and the director wanted it done that way indefinitely. I can't speak for how the direction has been since, but the way the character has been done has pretty much been consistent over the years....so I can only assume that's how they want it done.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:17am

orange, "most" as in ANY Maureen I've seen or heard on any medium Menzel's work 10 years ago excepting (her Rent 10 and film performances...eh). None of them got it.

Not that you have any sort of bias that would prevent you from being able to make a legitimate critique, of course.

Does anyone know when Christopher Hanke is supposed to leave? He's supposed to go on vacation in July and they're bringing Caplan back, but his last show is before the vacation, right?

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:33am

"Not that you have any sort of bias that would prevent you from being able to make a legitimate critique, of course."

Uh. No more bias than I think anyone would have? If you're talking about Menzel, the first time I SAW her was as Maureen in Rent, so I couldn't have possibly gone in watching THAT with a bias, now could I?

My critique is legitimate. Maybe not to somebody who wants to believe the show is just fabulous no matter who's butchering it on stage, but nonetheless, it's legitimate.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:07am

A critique is not "legitimate" if you're incapable of admitting any anyone in the entire history of Broadway could possibly be better than Idina, which is something you've more than proven in the past.

And just because I don't hate every actor post-OBC (even all the actors I haven't seen) doesn't mean I'm jumping for joy as Drew Lachey and Scary Spice piss on Jonathan Larson's grave. It would behoove you to learn the about that big gray area in between, because it's much more realistic (and healthy) than the mindset you're stuck in.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:13am

i saw karmine's maureen last time i was there, no that was incredible.

And i adore tim howar even if he does overact a bit.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:24am

I'm not sure why I even respond to you sometimes, orange. All you've ever done is project your own warped ideas of what you THINK about me or my opinions, like your last statement. (It's quite similar to the obnoxious way you respond to nearly everyone on this board, but I digress) Where do you even get this? Where have I EVER claimed that Menzel is the best "in entire history of Broadway?" She is my favorite performer, but I have many, many times talked about her flaws and what I think she could do better, and *gasp* even those who are better than her!

Every time I make any comment on Rent, you, like a child, make some attack about how I'm somehow not a real fan of the show, as if you're desperate to prove that you love it more. In fact, I remember you making a moronic statement about me being a "fair weather fan" as if the show were a baseball team, not a work of art that, like any sort of script or libretto, can turn into something quite bad in the hands of the wrong actors, directors, producers, etc. I'm sorry I have standards and think the show is worthy of so much more than the buffoonery that happens too often at the Nederlander. I'm sure Larson would have loved it that actors--and apparently even his director--don't trust his material. I guess it's really a negative thing that I think it's worthy of being trusted.

Keep projecting your delusions. You can go on believing I only like Rent because of the original cast, though I'm no fan of any of the original cast members outside Rent save Menzel and Rubin-Vega. And keep pretending they were the only people I liked in their respective roles, though I have favorites and a few that I enjoyed that I saw after they left.

And when you grow up, maybe then we can have a mature conversation about the show.

Updated On: 5/31/07 at 01:24 AM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 2:05am

To whoever posted this, I posted a thread with the same subject like a day before you did! also her name is Tamyra, not Tamayra.

xoxo

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:28am

BroadwayGirl, I don't need to make things up considering your entire posting history is evidence enough. You said just in this thread Idina has been the only good Maureen in 10 years of Rent (even the ones you haven't seen, which you said in another thread).

Speaking of which, why DO you respond to me? You're the one that turned this into an argument. I made a comment about the characterization of Maureen and you jumped into disagree and insult "most" of the dozen-plus actresses to play Maureen. Don't claim I attack every comment you make about Rent to be the "Biggest Renthead" when you're the one that brought up the whole contest in the first place. My posts *were* about Maureen's characterization until you turned it into yet another Idina > everyone discussion. God help us if someone remind you of the biases you want to pretend don't exist. I'll have that mature discussion with you when you finally admit to them.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 10:38am

Muscle speaks the tr00th!

[viola13]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 10:49am

Does anyone know when Christopher Hanke is supposed to leave? He's supposed to go on vacation in July and they're bringing Caplan back, but his last show is before the vacation, right?

Chris already took his vacation, Caplan has come and gone, and he hasn't really said when he was leaving, but it doesn't really make sense for him to leave before Anthony comes in.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 10:52am

Ah, THIS is why I respond to you, orange. Becauuse you so grossly twist everything I say, that it bugs me that anyone reading this might believe it. Anyone with eyes can go back in this thread and see that it was not I who brought up Menzel, but you. I made comments about Maureen's characterization as well.

Anyone with eyes can also go back and see that when I said "most" I clarified that I meant any that *I* had seen in any way, shape or form, which DOES amount to most who have played the role, but certainly doesn't amount to ALL who have played it. Anyone with eyes could probably also go back and read that I readily admitted (as I did in other threads) that I wasn't crazy about Menzel's Maureen in the film or at Rent 10 (in fact, that one pretty much sucked)

Like I said, I'm not sure what my so-called bias as far as Idina in Rent are. I told you already that the first thing I saw her DO was Rent, so if you're imagining me going into the thing thinking "Well, I love Idina already, I'll love anything she does!" and I have talked often talked about her shortcomings and bad performances, so again, if you could please stop making idiotic assumptions about my "entire posting history."

As for you turning the maturity argument on me, I'm not the one who responds to everyone on the board except for her little chums in the Adam, Anthony, or Raul obsession threads with rude, obnoxious remarks. Yet you talk to me like I'm the one with the complex.


Annnd, this argument is done. Updated On: 5/31/07 at 10:52 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 10:59am

Annnd, this argument is done.

Arguments always end when one person says this.

[ozone20]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:47pm

anyway back to the original reason for this thread. anyone else SEEN her with an opinion to share?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 5:09pm

http://www.compulsivebowlers.org/boards/viewtopic.php?p=82824#82824

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 5:19pm

ugh oh the rentheads are going crazy....

some problems they have found and/or pointed out

- she is TOO skinny
- her hair is TO modern
- they found it ummm...interesting

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 5:21pm

TO or TOO? Pick one!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 5:37pm

lol. I love reading the crazy that IS message boards.

makes me laugh.

[jarred03]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 5:53pm

alright Tamyra is very skinny but lets face it Mimi is a drug addict with AIDS she really shouldn't be curvacious. And I actually like the hair, and it's sad that people have to find stupid things like that to say just to be jerks.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 6:24pm

As for you turning the maturity argument on me, I'm not the one who responds to everyone on the board except for her little chums in the Adam, Anthony, or Raul obsession threads with rude, obnoxious remarks. Yet you talk to me like I'm the one with the complex.

If you could please stop making idiotic assumptions about my "entire posting history." If you're going to keep insisting I'm the one that started the argument, maybe you should stop bringing up crap out of left field that has nothing to do with what was being discussed, just for the sake of attack. It has the tendency to negate your claims of innocence.

Annnd, this argument will be done when you stop responding to argue. Not because you want it to be. Don't act as though you're taking the high road, when anyone with eyes can see that you're making provocative statements.

Thank you viola13. I was mistaken; I thought I read Caplan was coming back in July. This makes more sense. And as an added bonus, Adam and Anthony won't have to sit through Caplan's performance during rehearsals.

[raphael06]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 6:43pm

She is not too skinny! When you're on the drugs that Mimi's on they make you look emaciated.