Tamayra Gray/RENT/Last night- Page 4

[Becky]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 1:29pm

wait, but hasn't Tim been there for awhile? Or do you mean he was "fresh" when he started the role?

I meant "fresh" as in Tim hadn't played the role before.

Maggie's Maureen was similar, too, in her early days, having also learned the role from Jen, but, unfortunately, she eventually turned the character into a caricature with her craziness.

A friend of mine was doing the tour (along with Maggie) years ago, and when I mentioned to her about how silly "Maureen" had become - she said that it was the way the director wanted it done, and apparently he was quite adamant about it.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 1:58pm

I guess that's possible, Becky, but I honestly didn't see it with other tour Maureens back in the day, or even swings who covered the track - Cristina, Erin, Leigh, Anika, Stefanie, even Haven, whose ditziness in the role probably tops all others, didn't take 'her' Maureen down the crazy path that Maggie did. It could very well have been a combination of the direction and acting choices. Maggie was young, and not as experienced or as well-trained as many of the others in the role, so this may have also played a part in her choices. I think Maureen may be the role where I've seen the widest swing in interpretation over the years. Not that that's a negative thing, I enjoy seeing different interpretations of every role, it's probably why I still see the show after all these years. :)

Oh, I agree with you about Tim. One of my least favorite Rogers. One of my friends described Tim's performance as "so over the top, he could be looking down at the stage from the catwalk!"
Updated On: 6/2/07 at 01:58 PM

[Becky]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 2:13pm

I guess that's possible, Becky, but I honestly didn't see it with other tour Maureens back in the day, or even swings who covered the track - Cristina, Erin, Leigh, Anika, Stefanie, even Haven

One of the Maureen's you mentioned above helped to shape what we see in the role now (specifically with OTM), and it's what Greif liked and wanted to keep. But you're right about Leigh and Anika. Earlier on in the tour - the role wasn't being played that way.

Maggie could certainly be considered "over-the-top" - not arguing with you there! I think she was just encouraged to be that way to a point. (Never saw Haven or Stefanie, but I've heard great things about Haven....)

[Becky]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 2:19pm

One of my friends described Tim's performance as "so over the top, he could be looking down at the stage from the catwalk!"

Forgot to respond to this....I laughed out loud when reading it!! I'm going to remember that......

Also, I agree with you about new interpretations. I actually liked the tour Maureen I saw a few weeks ago (Tracie?). Even though some of the silly elements are still there, she brought back some of the seriousness in OTM, and it worked better for me.
Updated On: 6/2/07 at 02:19 PM

[misschung]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 2:20pm

Becky - that's what I thought you meant. I feel like Over the Moon is largely misunderstood sometimes. But it does have a lot riding on it since its essentially Maureen's introduction and there has been all this buildup to her character through the phone calls and the Tango, etc. Leaving the film aside, I agree with what Chris Columbus said (and someone above mentioned) about her performance in OTM, which was that it can't be too over the top since Maureen is taking herself very seriously. But at the same time it's very comical in a kind of endearing way and also because Maureen is somewhat of a physical comedian in general.

*edit* did someone already post this? there's just a few more pics
http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Photo_op.aspx?ci=548951

Updated On: 6/2/07 at 02:20 PM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 2:38pm

Becky, I totally agree with you about Tracy. She's a fantastic Maureen, one of the absolute best I've seen in over ten years of seeing the show. She is a great actor and vocally she handles the role well. You're right that there are a few bits of sillyness there but she always makes me think when I watch her performance. She's got a subtlety to her acting that hasn't been apparent in a lot of Maureens. She's smart and tough, yet there's a vulnerability there that makes you want to give her a hug. I loved her performance every time I saw her. She nailed it every time.

Glad you liked my friend's comment about Tim. Everyone who heard her say it has repeated it ever since! :)

edited to add: It's too bad you haven't seen Haven. Vocally, I think she's the most talented I've ever seen as Maureen. She's absolutely exquisitely beautiful, too, which is kind of distracting at times. :)

Updated On: 6/2/07 at 02:38 PM

[Becky]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 2:49pm

Becky, I totally agree with you about Tracy.

Ya know, I think we're really similar in our taste Seems we agree on a lot...

I like your description of Tracy - it's spot on. I hope some of the "rumblings" are true and she is at the Neder by summer's end.

[timrobb]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 3:07pm

interesting about the maureens. I will say, that one of the best maureens i ever saw was kristen lee kelly. Her performance was not over the top and she looked/acted like a maureen. she was also amazing paired with gwen stewarts' joanne. just my two cents!


seeing adam, anthony, and tamyra on august 3rd and cannot wait!

[Becky]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 3:16pm

she was also amazing paired with gwen stewarts' joanne.

AGREED. Not to mention that I think their "Take Me" is probably the best combined vocals I've heard to date.

[courtney4]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 7:46pm

I never saw Idina as Maureen excpet clips from Rent 10 and in the movie, which is sad because she really wasn't good in either of them. I'm sure she was incredible in the show 10 years ago though. The two Maureen's I've seen love were really good though. I saw Maggie and she was good. Not my favorite, but definitely good. And in my opinion Nicolette Hart is incredible. She puts so much ebergy into the role and she is hilarious during Over the Moon. I think she's doing a great job and I'll definitely miss her when she leaves. I haven't seen Haven but I've never heard a bad review about her. Everyone seems to love her Maureen and I would absoulutely love to see her in that role. When Nicolette leaves I really think they should either bumo Haven up to full time Maureen or bring in Tracy.

[Becky]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 10:08pm

I never saw Idina as Maureen excpet clips from Rent 10 and in the movie, which is sad because she really wasn't good in either of them.

Out of those only accustomed to the more recent interpretations of 'Maureen' --I wonder how many would actually like Idina's performance (even if they could go back and see her 10 years ago.) If I wasn't exposed to her interpretation first, I'm sure it would affect how I saw her now - because Maureen has changed so much.

[misschung]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 10:09pm

that's an interesting point, and it's hard to say

[courtney4]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 10:24pm

Well, to everyone who saw Idina when she first did Rent 10 years ago, please tell me her Maureen was much different then it was in the movie and in Rent 10. Because in the movie she just made the character too boring and in Rent 10 it really seemed like she just didn't care.

[Becky]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 10:48pm

Well, to everyone who saw Idina when she first did Rent 10 years ago....Because in the movie she just made the character too boring

I certainly don't want to make a generalization here - but I would think Idina's interpretation *would* seem boring compared to the way actresses have done it for years now. Some think it's boring - but I find the subtle delivery more interesting...more real.

That's also what I mean about people only knowing the new interpretation. I think if you're used to it done the "new" way, the "old" way will seem boring. I don't expect everyone to agree with me because I like the "old" way best, but it's hard to know how people would have viewed her if they had the chance to see her (without knowing the over-the-top interpretations.) I'm too confusing now!

*edited to clarify!

Updated On: 6/2/07 at 10:48 PM

[courtney4]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 10:55pm

No I see what you're saying. You're right. I guess I'm just used to seeing Maureen being portrayed as really outgoing and lively and not more subtle.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 12:43am

Becky, I think you're right that we seem to agree on a lot! :)I always find it fun, and interesting, to have discussions with people who have seen the show many times through the years, with lots of different combinations and permutations of actors.

[timrobb]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:16am

for the record - the character of maureen became "over the top" when sherri renee scott took over the role. i have had the opportunity of seeing the show over 35 times over the last 10+ years and i remember seeing sherri and thinking - what did they do to this character? from that point on, the character of maureen morphed into a caricature. idina was real - solid and played the character as a person (so did kristen lee kelly). maggie was way too much as were/are many maureens. just my thoughts . . .

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 9:14am

So you were one of those snotty OBC fans that booed Sherie Scott for- the horror- daring play the character differently than Idina?

I've seen both Sherie and Idina at multiple performances. Sherie was not "over the top", especially in comparison to the recent Maureen actresses. She was just different. Different does not equal bad. Actually, I think Sherie's "dumb blonde" potrayal is the best imitation of Idina's normal personality, though not necessarily her Maureen.

Updated On: 6/3/07 at 09:14 AM

[misschung]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:06am

Courtney - I don't think that Rent 10 is representative of Idina's Maureen. That night had some quirks that aren't a part of the usual show. I thought she still sounded great, tho! As for the movie, I don't know. Its hard to compare the stage and screen versions because the entire tone seemed a little different

Sherie's portrayal of Maureen had parallels to her portrayal of Amneris, I thought. I don't dislike it, and I thought she was hysterical, its just a different interpretation, you know? Same with the different Rogers

Updated On: 6/6/07 at 10:06 AM

[timrobb]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:51am

not a huge obc fan - in fact i liked norbert and jim p. better then adam and anthony. and i liked marci better then daphne. i just thought and still think that sherri's performance started the whole over the top. i didn't say good or bad - i was just stating fact.
Updated On: 6/3/07 at 10:51 AM

[timrobb]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:02pm

speaking of jim poulus - where is he now???

[courtney4]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:09pm

I have nothing against the OBC but it just annoys me when people say that there have been no good actors in Rent post-OBC. I mean, I've been on a lot of Rent boards and a lot of people think that. I'm sure they were all amazing but they aren't the be-all-end-all of Rent. There have been a lot of great people in Rent and I think it's interesting to see how each person portrays their character.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:11pm

Jim Poulos is in Urinetown at the Geva Theatre Center.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070521/ENT0105/705210319/1053/ENT01
http://jimpoulos.com/jimpoulos.html

[timrobb]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:14pm

thanks lizzie!

[Becky]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:14pm

I don't think that Rent 10 is representative of Idina's Maureen

They didn't know until what...the day or two before(?)...that they were going to block and perform the show. They thought they were showing up for a sing-through from what I recall. So I agree - I wouldn't base opinions of any of them on RENT 10 -- they really didn't have time to put a great deal of thought into characterizations, etc...

Didn't realize Poulos was in Urinetown! Wish I could see that....