The best and worst live performance witnessed- Page 3

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 11:02am

Best:
Bernadette Peters in Concert

Worst:
The Maria in a recent community theatre production of 'The Sound Of Music'

Posted: 1/12/07 at 11:23am

Best - Alfred Drake in Kismet, Vivienne Segal in Pal Joey

Worst - Bernadette Peters in Annie Get Your Gun

[Horton]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 11:53am

I hated the show Ring of Fire, but I thought it was chock-full of great performances.

But I hated Kate Rienders in Wicked on GV

[CompletlyNakedStatue]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 12:40pm

Off the top of my head, some of the BEST I've seen:
Susan Egan - Cabaret
Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner - Side Show
Kevin Kline - Henry IV
Colm Wilkinson - Les Miserables
Kaitlin Hopkins - Bat Boy
Doug Sills - The Scarlet Pimpernal
Victoria Clark - The Light in the Piazza
Denis O'Hare - Take Me Out
Billy Crudup - The Pillowman
Fiona Shaw - Medea
Heather Headley - Aida
Sherie Scott - Aida

Not going to list the worst. I believe in "off days", "miscasting", and I also believe in karma...

Updated On: 1/12/07 at 12:40 PM

[worrell4077]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 2:58pm

Best:
John Lloyd Young-Jersey Boys
Daniel Reichard-Jersey Boys
Christian Hoff-Jersey Boys
J.Robert Spencer-Jersey Boys
Michael Longoria-Jersey Boys
Michael Cerveris-Sweeney Todd
Patti LuPone-Sweeney Todd
Manoel Felciano-Sweeney Todd
Hunter Foster-LSOH and The Producers
Sutton Foster-Little Women and The Drowsy Chaperone
John Treacy Egan-The Producers
Patrick Page-The Grinch
David Hyde Pierce-SpamAlot
Christian Borle-SpamAlot
Norbert Leo Butz-Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Danny Burstein-The Drowsy Chaperone

Worst:
Joey Fatone-LSOH
Richard Kind-The Producers
Matthew Scott(as Pesci)-Jersey Boys

There are probably others, but I can't think of any. Just to say, I only hate Matthew Scott as Pesci in Jersey Boys, he's not as funny as Michael Longoria.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 3:11pm

Almost every performance on Broadway I have loved.

Didn't really care for Darlesia Cearcy in The Color Purple.

Hated the woman who played Lois at the North Shore Music Theatre's production of Kiss Me Kate.

It's a miracle we were able to get a decent performance out of our Baker in that production of Into the Woods I did. He was beyond unprofessional (showed up for like three rehearsals) and cannot act.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 3:22pm

The outstanding performances:
Companies:
1. Miss Saigon, Broadway - Farewell Performance, Broadway Company led by Lea Salonga, Will Chase, Ruthie Henshall, Michael Lee, and Luoyong Wang.
2. Miss Saigon, Manila Company
3. Flower Drum Song - New Broadway Company
4. The King and I Revival - New Broadway Company

Solo performances:
1. Joan Almedilla, Fantine, Les Miserables Tour, Arizona & Los Angeles (late 90's)
2. Lea Salonga, Kim, Miss Saigon, Broadway (91 and Farewell Performance)
3. Lea Salonga, Eponine, Les Miserables, Broadway & Hey Mr. Producer
4. Lea Salonga, Carnegie Hall Concert
5. Ali Ewoldt, Adam Jacobs, Aaron Lazar, Les Miserables Revival
6. Megan Hilty, Wicked, Broadway
7. Kristin Chenoweth, Wicked, Broadway
8. Rachel Ward, Victor/Victoria, Broadway
9. Yancey Arias as Thuy, Miss Saigon, Broadway
10. Natalie Cortez & Tony Yazbeck, A Chorus Line Revival
11. Jere Shea, Passion, Broadway
12. Patrick Wilson, The Full Monty
13. Philip Quast, Javert, Les Miserables
14. Neil Patrick Harris, Cabaret
and many more.

Updated On: 1/12/07 at 03:22 PM

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 3:28pm

BEST:
Will Chase in both Rent and Miss Saigon.
Idina Menzel in Wicked


WORST: Scary Spice

[bwayfan4life]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 3:56pm

Your right about Will Chase in Miss Saigon, he nailed the part.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 4:21pm

Best musical theatre performances- Audra McDonald in Carousel, Rachel York in Anything Goes (LA Reprise), Valarie Pettiford (Fosse), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me Kate), Angela Lansbury in everything.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 4:54pm

I know I've forgotten a few, but here are some of the standouts in my mind (in somewhat random order):

Plays:

Elizabeth Ashley (CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF)
ELizabeth Ashley, Geraldine Page and Amanda Plummer (AGNES OF GOD)
Zoe Caldwell (MEDEA)
Zoe Caldwell & Jason Robards (A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT)
Vanessa Redgrave (A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT)
Uta Hagen (COLLECTED STORIES)
Julie Harris (THE BELLE OF AMHERST)
Stephen Spinella, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeffrey Wright and Kathleen Chalfant in (ANGELS IN AMERICA)
Kathleen Chalfant in (WIT)
Rosemary Harris and George Grizzard in (A DELICATE BALANCE)
Charles Dutton (THE PIANO LESSON)
Ian McKellan (AMADEUS)
Ian McKellan (ACTING SHAKESPEARE)
Maggie Smith (LETTICE AND LOVAGE)
Alan Bates (FORUNE'S FOOL)
Judi Dench (AMY'S VIEW)
Charles Ludlam and Everett Quinton (THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP)
Trazana Beverly (FOR COLORED GIRLS)
Al Pacino, JJ Johnston and James Hayden (AMERICAN BUFFALO)
John Kani and Winston Ntshona (THE ISLAND)
Nathan Lane (THE LISBON TRAVIATA)
James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer (OTHELLO)
James Earl Jones (FENCES)
Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn (THE GIN GAME)
Swoosie Kurtz, John Mahoney and Christine Baranski (THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES)
Maureen Stapleton (THE LITTLE FOXES)
Harvey Fierstein (TORCH SONG TRILOGY)
Stephen Dillane (THE REAL THING)
Joe Mantegna (GLENNGARY GLENN ROSS)
Lily Tomlin (THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE)
John Malkovich (BURN THIS)
Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE)
Mark Ruffalo (THIS IS OUR YOUTH)
Eileen Heckart (THE WAVERLY GALLERY)
J. Smith-Cameron (AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN)
Janet McTeer (A DOLL'S HOUSE)
Cherry Jones (THE HEIRESS)
Jefferson Mays (I AM MY OWN WIFE)
Viola Davis (KING HEDLEY II)
Natasha Richardson (A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE)
Simon Russell Beale (JUMPERS)
Simon Russell Beale (THE LIFE OF GALILEO)
Edward Hogg (WOYZECK)
Meryl Streep (MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN)

Musicals:

Ben Vereen (PIPPIN)
Donna McKechnie, Kelly Bishop and Sammy Williams in A CHORUS LINE
George Hearn and Angela Lansbury (SWEENEY TODD)
Angela Lansbury (MAME)
Ann Reinking (DANCIN)
Dorothy Loudon (ANNIE)
Nell Carter (AIN'T MISBEHAVIN')
Jim Dale (BARNUM)
Patti LuPone (EVITA)
Lena Horne (LENA HORNE: THE LADY AND HER MUSIC)
Jennifer Holliday, Cleavant Derricks and Loretta Devine (DREAMGIRLS)
Jennifer Holliday (SING MAHALIA SING!)
Raul Julia and Anita Morris (NINE)
Bernadette Peters (SONG & DANCE)
Bernadette Peters (SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE)
Gregory Hines (JELLY'S LAST JAM)
Donna Murphy (PASSION)
Brent Carver (KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN)
Natasha Richardson (CABARET)
Nathan Lane (THE PRODUCERS)
Harvey Fierstein (HAIRSPRAY)
Antonio Banderas (NINE)
Hugh Jackman (THE BOY FROM OZ)
Tonya Pinkins (CAROLINE OR CHANGE)
Victoria Clark (THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA)
Patti LuPone (GYPSY)
Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson (GREY GARDENS)

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:59pm

best:

Tonya Pinkins- CAROLINE, OR CHANGE

im not going to say

[*brina-doll*]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 8:29pm

MargoChanning, that's amazing that you've seen all those productions; especially Pippin with Ben Vereen. I'm extremly jealous!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 11:12pm

Best--
Len Cariou in Sweeney Todd
Bernadette Peters in Sunday In The Park, Into The Woods
Bill Irwin in anything
Cherry Jones in Pride's Crossing
Jessica Tandy in Foxfire
Kathy Bates and Anne Pitoniak in 'night mother
Kate Nelligan in Plenty
The cast of The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Mark Rylance as Richard II
The cast of the revival of The Normal Heart
Ron Liebman in Angels in America
Elaine Stritch in At Liberty
George Grizzard in A Delicate Balance and Seascape
Charles Busch in The Lady In Question
Jane Houdyshell in Well
Charles Keating in Loot
Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life


Worst--
Bryan F. O'Byrne in Coast of Utopia - Shipwreck
Mandy Patinkin in Sunday In The Park With George
Alan Cumming in Elle
The kid who played Little Red Riding Hood in the revival of Into The Woods

Special Achievement Award for Sheer Bloody Laziness:
Nathan Lane in The Frogs. At the performance I witnessed, he was too busy counting the numerous empty seats to pay any attention to what he was doing. It is the single most phoned-in insult to the audience I have ever witnessed, and Lane wound up injuring himself, missing the first act finale and making it necessary for his understudy to complete the performance. I will never forget or forgive this one.

Updated On: 1/12/07 at 11:12 PM

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 11:18pm

Just gonna stick to DRS for tonight..

Best:
Norbert, Jonathan Pryce, Lucie Arnaz (she did such a better job that Joanna, hate to say it)

Worst:
Keith Carradine, Rachel York *runs/hides*

[mattonstage]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 12:36am

only the best:
Tyne Daly in "Gypsy"
Cherry Jones in "Doubt"
The cast of "The History Boys"
James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer in "Othello"
Hugh Jackman in "The Boy from Oz"
The cast of "Spring Awakening"
Meryl Streep in "Mother Courage"
The cast of "Ragtime"

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:22am

DRSisLove,

You better hide! And you know why.

lc

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 1:48pm

best:
alexanger gemangiani(sp?)- les miserables
ali ewoldt- les miserables
adam lazaar- les miserables
shoshana bean- wicked
eden espinosa- wicked
megan hilty- wicked
mara davi- acl
deidre goodwin- acl
Jaime Lee Kirchner- rent
christian borle- spamalot
hugh panero- POTO
Derrick Williams- ACL
sutton foster- drowsy
bob martin- drowsy
steve blanchard- BATB
christy carlson romano- BATB
michelle t. williams- aida

worst:
carole shelley- wicked
joel grey- wicked
charlotte d'amboisse(sp?)- acl
natalie cortez- acl
stephanie j block- wicked
daphne rubin vega- les miserables
lauren kennedy- spamalot
harvey fierstein- fiddler
rosie o'donnell- fiddler
andrea martin- fiddler
did i mention daphne?! lol

thats my list =]

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:48pm

Best: Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn in THE GIN GAME (magnificent, both of them - like dancing with words)

Worst: Sebastian Bach in JEKYLL AND HYDE (torturous, absolutely torturous)

lc

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:55pm

Maybe I'm too easy to please, but Ive seen over 50 Broadway shows and I don't think I could come up any performance to list as worse, or even very bad. I usually find something to like, the worse I can come up with is "just okay."

[IdinaAdamFan]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 3:12pm

Best:
Beth Leavel, Danny Burstein, & Bob Martin in the Drowsy Chaperone
Norbert Leo Butz in DRS
Julia Murney, Megan Hilty in Wicked
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Celia Keenan Bolger, Adam Jacobs & Aaron Lazar in the Les Mis revival
Antonique Smith, Bryce Ryness in RENT
Will Chase in Aida

Worst:
Kate Reinders in Wicked
Tim Howar in Rent, Ano Okera(or something...) in the Rent Tour

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 3:24pm

Margo, if you had to choose, which performance from the '03 season was more noteworthy? (I believe it was '03)..Fierstein or Banderas?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 3:35pm

I'm going to attempt to spell every name correctly, because I like being an exception to the rule.

Best:
Jason Danieley and Marin Mazzie in 110 in the Shade
David Miller (pre-Il Divo!!!) in La Bohème
Ma-Anne Dionisio in Les Miz
Tyrone Giordano and Michael McElroy in Big River

Worst:
Michael Genet in Lestat
Robert Goulet in South Pacific

There are a few more I could've put in some of these, but attribute it to lack of caring.

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 03:35 PM

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 3:37pm

vanessa williams in both into the woods and kiss of the spider women

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 3:39pm

I don't know. Both were great in roles that couldn't have been more different from one another -- and neither could have played the other's role convincingly (though it would have been funny to see them try). I suppose Banderas had the higher degree of difficulty (Guido is a b*tch to try to sing 8 times a week, he has to dance and he's on stage nearly the entire show), so he gets a few extra points there, but the timing and comedic skills that Fierstein brought to Edna shouldn't be undervalued either. Frankly, I didn't have a preference Tony-wise that year, and still don't, but I guess if I had to pick I'd give a very tiny edge to Banderas because of the sheer physical demands of his role.