This Season's Performances You Consider Underrated

[romain2]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 7:25pm

Now that the awards groups are announcing their nominees and the season is coming to a close, I ask you:  What is a performance you consider wonderful but feel is just a little bit underrated?   This is all in the eyes of the beholder, so please just have fun with this.

I'll go first:  Will Roland, Dear Evan Hansen.  Yes, I know the show has received praise.  Ben Platt and Rachel Bay Jones will most likely receive well-deserved Tonys love.  In my eyes, the show wouldn't have worked so well without Roland's expert comic timing as Jared--he makes some of the more disturbing laugh lines very funny.  We need Jared's bursts of disbelief, his "can you believe this guy?" reactions to Evan's plans, and then his fed-up anger towards the end of the show.  Roland pulls off this snark and this arc beautifully.  Just listen to "Sincerely Me" and the brilliant way Roland handles the asides when Evan goes on about trees and forestry ("no!"  "absolutely not!".  I'm writing this before the Tony nominations come out and maybe Roland will sneak into the Best Featured Actor category--I surely hope he does.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 7:32pm

I thought Grace McClean was terrific in Great Comet. Her voice was so powerful and acting was commanding. I think she's brilliant and sad to see she is most likely not going to get love from the Tonys.

[ethan231h]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 7:48pm

Love this thread....

Sas Goldberg in Significant Other....LOVED her performance, so funny.

Betsy Wolfe in Falsettos

Ashley Park in Sunday In the Park...(also adored her in The King and I)

Nancy Zamit in The Play That Goes Wrong (Didnt care for the show but I thought she was brilliant...What I didnt like about the show was that I felt with everyone in the show you can sort of predict what was going to happen as the play "goes wrong" but with Nancy's performance I really was impressed with how every thing she continued to do was new, and fresh in this show that honestly, drags and drags) 

 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 7:58pm

I thought that Ashley Park, Phillip Boykin, Ruthie Ann Miles, and basically the entire supporting cast were all brilliant in Sunday and yet I don't hear too much about their wonderful performances.

Grace Mclean is also brilliant.  What a voice!

Also, there have been many brilliant off broadway performances that have been overshadowed such as Carolee Carmello in Sweeney, Tony Shalhoub in The Band's Visit, Shuler Hensley in Sweet Charity, and Amber Gray in Hadestown.

Updated On: 4/28/17 at 07:58 PM

[carnzee]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 8:15pm

Michael Xavier in Sunset. It isn't a "star is born " moment like Karl or Platte. But he deserves better than reviews referring to him as "inoffensive eye candy" and the like. 

The Liaisons revival got lukewarm reviews, but I was so impressed by the female ensemble, especially Bridgette Hort Sorrenson ( sorry I butchered her name). Her pain was real. 

[littlemouse921]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 8:22pm

LesWickedly said: "I thought Grace McClean was terrific in Great Comet. Her voice was so powerful and acting was commanding. I think she's brilliant and sad to see she is most likely not going to get love from the Tonys.

 

"

I agree with this wholeheartedly! McClean was mesmerizing for the whole show. She could switch from being the fun aunt to being stone cold as Marya. I really wish she got more recognition because she is giving this show her all. I got chills when she sang In My House

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 8:27pm

McLean is indeed sensational as Marya D. She truly terrified me during "In My House." That voice! How she can blast her voice like that for eight shows a week, I'll never know.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 8:28pm

I agree that Michael Xavier is getting lost in the shuffle; GC is superb but she's not up there by herself.

Another decision I can't fathom is withdrawing from Tony consideration for SITPWG. Annaleigh Ashford's performance will be talked about and remembered for years. A stunning, remarkable and once in a lifetime performance for her. I'm glad it's being recorded and hope it was filmed.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 8:53pm

Adding my voice to the chorus of praise for Grace McLean. (Not to mention, she's a hoot rocking that leather catsuit during the club scene)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 9:08pm

Paul Schoeffler in Sunset BLVD as Cecil B Demille.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 9:11pm

 

The Entire Cast of Indecent 

[bear88]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 9:29pm

I thought of McLean first too, because she won't be nominated but her performance - and that amazing, throat-shredding voice - is fierce and fantastic in every way.

So on this thread, at least, she's not underrated.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 9:35pm

I was moved by Laura Dreyfuss' multi-layered performance as Zoe in Dear Evan Hansen.  There were many moments I couldn't take my eyes off her, even though all the action was happening elsewhere.  Her facial expressions told their own story.  

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 9:45pm

I'll add on to Grace McLean too- her voice is unreal, and I have no idea how she's able to do that eight times a week.

I thought Michael Potts was excellent in Jitney- he's always been a welcome addition to any show, but he was a real stand-out in a terrific cast. I'd throw in Astrid van Wieren in Come From Away too- Colella gets the big song, but van Wieren for me grounded the whole ensemble. 

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:07pm

" I'd throw in Astrid van Wieren in Come From Away too- Colella gets the big song, but van Wieren for me grounded the whole ensemble."

THIS! I've seen the show twice now and I love this entire cast so much and the show, but Astrid really is doing such fantastic work in this show that unfortunately won't be recognized. Her emotional honesty feels like the true heart of the show. And the way she plays the final phone call with Hannah towards the end of the show ruined me. Equal parts Hilarious and Heartwarming.  She is in it and connected in every moment and I will go see her do anything now. 

[5377brian]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:07pm

I agree with you 100% regarding Will Roland.  Plus, there's something about that boy...umph

[littlemouse921]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:09pm

Does any one have any thoughts as to why McClean isn't being as recognized for a possible nomination? Is her part not show enough?

 

When I saw the show, she stood out a lot more than Amber Gray to me. They were all fantastic, I just didn't really connect with Helene

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:18pm

Unlike Sonya and Helene, Marya's big moment isn't a solo- it's a shorter scene. She's terrific in that moment, but during Sonya Alone and Charming, it feels like the whole show stops to highlight those respective women. In My House, for me, doesn't have the same effect for Marya as a character. 

[The Josh]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:22pm

Allow me to echo Grace McLean!!!  Really, really wonderful performance.  

I also want to mention Charlie Russell in The Play That Goes Wrong.  Every word out of her mouth had me in hysterics!

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:23pm

Steve C. said: "I agree that Michael Xavier is getting lost in the shuffle; GC is superb but she's not up there by herself.

Another decision I can't fathom is withdrawing from Tony consideration for SITPWG. Annaleigh Ashford's performance will be talked about and remembered for years. A stunning, remarkable and once in a lifetime performance for her. I'm glad it's being recorded and hope it was filmed."

It was filmed on April 19th by NYPL theater archives though I think it can only be viewed by professionals/students in the theater industry for research purposes.

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:23pm

wonderfulwizard11 said: "Unlike Sonya and Helene, Marya's big moment isn't a solo- it's a shorter scene. She's terrific in that moment, but during Sonya Alone and Charming, it feels like the whole show stops to highlight those respective women. In My House, for me, doesn't have the same effect for Marya as a character."

I just have to say that this is so well-said.

[bear88]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:23pm

McLean doesn't have her own solo, as Gray and Ashford do. Even "In My House," which she dominates, is shared with two other performers. It's tough to choose one featured female performer from that show. I liked all of them.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:32pm

Grace McLean. I love her deep, throaty voice.  Plus, she plays "adult" to Natasha and Sonya so well, when she's really not that much older then Benton and Ashford.

The entire supporting cast of SITPWG was marvelous.

 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/29/17 at 12:55am

I've always found Jennifer Laura Thompson's performance in Dear Evan Hansen underrated. I feel like Rachel Bay Jones gets far more attention because she has more musical moments, but Jennifer's acting is beautiful. I feel every break of her heart and every rise of her spirits through the entire show, and it's sad that not many people acknowledge what wonderful work she's doing. 

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 4/29/17 at 1:05am

Totally second Will Roland - he plays that role so perfectly. I'd be thrilled to see him sneak into the Tony nominations.

For me it's Beanie Feldstein. I think she's hilarious throughout Hello Dolly, even when she's not being highlighted.