The Best Mimic in Theatre

[esparza 333]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 7:58pm

Sometimes people can master a role of a real life person or a well known character so much that the voice, mannerisms and personality are almost a carbon copy. Who do you think is the best mimic in theatre?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 8:10pm

Christine Ebersole as Edie Beale comes to mind.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 8:22pm

Ebersol for sure. Maybe Langela in "Frost/ Nixon"

Also might go way back to John Belushi in the original "Lemmings" stage show and his Joe Cocker. pretty dead on classic stuff.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:07am

I thought Isabel Keating's, Judy Garland, was magnificent in The Boy From Oz. Unfortunately, that was about all that was magnificent in The Boy From Oz.
Updated On: 11/17/08 at 12:07 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:11am

Other than Hugh, you mean.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:16am

You're right, Mr. Jackman was good. I guess it was such a bland show that I forgot his performance.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:48am

Leslie Kritzer - though she does lean closer to parody/satire.

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 7:23am

Jane Horrocks, Jane Horrocks, Jane Horrocks!

Because this actress actually had a play written around her mimicking talents called The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. In it, she imitates Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Shirley Bassey, and others, and she is so frighteningly dead on that when they shot the movie (Little Voice, which I highly recommend), they had to put a disclaimer at the end that she did all her own vocals. The mimicry juxtaposed with her portrayal of the actual character makes for an amazing and seriously inspiring performance.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 7:41am

How can you call what Langella did "mimic"?

The reviews made it clear that he DIDN'T mimic Nixon.

[Weez]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 2:03pm

Yeah, I was going to say that. XD Langella did a phenomenally good job, but it's insulting and inaccurate to call it mimicry. :3

[p.s.]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 2:32pm

Sometimes people can master a role of a real life person or a well known character so much that the voice, mannerisms and personality are almost a carbon copy.

Who do you think is the best mimic in theatre?[ I think the word mimic lessens the mastery you're referring to.]


Now consider Tovah Feldshuh's portrayal of Golda Meir in "Golda's Balcony".


p.s.
Still shlepping along.