The Dullest Characters EVER!

#1

The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:05pm

In your opinion, who are the dullest characters in modern theatre? The ones that stand out for me is Johanna and Anthony from SWEENEY TODD! Anthony sings one of the best songs out of the show, but they really are throw away characters for me.

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"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

#2

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:15pm

The Wizard from Wicked

Bobby Strong from Urinetown (Though I know he is supposed to b cliche)

Mrs. Meers from Thoroughly Modern Millie

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"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck

#3

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:19pm

June & Tulsa in Gypsy. The show doesn't really take off until they run away.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#4

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:25pm

How about Marius and Cosette in LES MISERABLES? They were much more interesting in the book.

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Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia

#5

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:30pm

Two Sydney Chaplin roles: Whosis in Bells are Ringing and Nicky Arnstein,the latter called the worst male lead in musical theatre history by every man who has ever played him.

Billy Bigelow has those great songs and is as dumb as a box of hair.

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"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

#6

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:33pm

Clayton in Tarzan. He is barely there and doesn't even register on the villian scale.

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"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello

#7

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:36pm

The one that stands out to me the most is definitely Cosette from LES MIZ. I couldn't stand her. She was just... so, so boring. Honorable mentions?

The Wizard from WICKED
George from DROWSY CHAPERONE
Johanna from SWEENEY TODD
Motormouth Maybelle from HAIRSPRAY <-- "I Know Where I've Been" just makes me fall asleep. Oy.

Updated On: 6/27/06 at 03:36 PM

#8

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:38pm

I have to disagree with June in Gypsy. The direction in the reccent revival made June intersting. I mean she had layers, like when she whipped otu the ciggerette and started smoking.

Nessarose in Wicked
Tulsa in Gypsy
Brian in Avenue Q
Signor and Signoria Nacarelli in The Light In The Piazza
Meg in Phantom of the Opera

#9

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:40pm

I think whether Cosette is boring depends on the portrayal. In at least one touring performance that I saw, Cosette and Valjean (sorry, forget who the actors were) put a lot of heart into their relationship and made it very moving.

Of course, to me ANYTHING is better than Cosette in the book getting married and practically forgetting her father existed. Give me a break! (That's one reason why I've always had a sneaking suspicion that Victor Hugo didn't understand women very well . . . )

#10

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:42pm

Fosca from Passion...
and I know it may be a heartbreaking character-study, but nonetheless!
Joel Gray in CHICAGO(though planned)...and as the Wizard (Wicked)

#11

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:44pm

Sarah Brown- Guys and Dolls

#12

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:51pm

I want to second Anthony and Johanna in Sweeney. I hope liberal cuts are made to their stuff for the film. It feels like it's out of an entirely different show.

I also want to vote for Raoul in Phantom.

#13

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:57pm

I know this is not modern theatre, but when I did The Tempest, I convinced my dad to try out, and he got the part of the ship's master. Two lines -- the first and third line of the show -- and then he exits, until a brief walk-on in the last scene.

Almost as bad as Sleeping Beauty and Snow White in Into The Woods or the brother in A Moon For The Misbegotten.

#14

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 3:58pm

I also thought Sara Brown, until I saw the london revival. I forget the name of the woman that played her, but it was by far the funniest, most exciting portrayal of Sara Brown ive ever seen.

#15

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 4:21pm

Sara is boring right up until "Havanna" - when whe gets drunk- the character suddenly gets a lot more interesting.

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"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck

#16

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 4:26pm

Celie in Color Purple. Couldn't care less about her "journey."

#17

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 4:36pm

I always thought Piangi was a very dull character in POTO until I saw the most recent tour. He was funnier than Carlotta. I also second (or third) Meg, and add Mdm. Giry to the list.

Also Ambrose in "Hello, Dolly", Lt. Cable and Liat in "South Pacific". There are more, I just have to think.

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"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert

#18

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 4:51pm

Calvin, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White in ITW were merely cameos. They weren't on stage long enough to form an opinion.

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Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia

#19

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 4:52pm

"Motormouth Maybell from HAIRSPRAY <-- "I Know Where I've Been" just makes me fall asleep. Oy."

volleyballer - I couldn't agree more, although I do end up getting quite a delightful nap during her number. Double OY!!

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"It's like children's theatre for 40-year old gay people!" - XANADU THE MUSICAL

#20

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 5:11pm

Little Inez in Hairspray bored me TO DEATH. God.

#21

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 5:21pm

Cosette is by far the most boring character I've ever seen. I've never seen a Cosette that interested me. She's so obnoxious in my opinion.

#22

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 5:52pm

Forget Sarah Brown...she's at least more interesting then her Uncle Arvid....his song and character are the dullest thing ever

Updated On: 6/27/06 at 05:52 PM

#23

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 5:58pm

What about General Cartwright? Bleeeeeh.

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"You just can't win. Ever. Look at the bright side, at least you are not stuck in First Wives Club: The Musical. That would really suck. " --Sueleen Gay

#24

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 6:17pm

Maurice in Beauty and the Beast

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It was 6 hours, I don't even like to have sex and eat bacon for 6 hours.
Freddy Benson- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

#25

re: The Dullest Characters EVER!

Posted: 6/27/06 at 6:20pm

Brother Abernathy and his song...More I Cannot Wish You

EHHHH


I like General Cartwright


Also I really hate Big Jule, and his long dialogue in the sewer with Sky