This is my response to anyone who says that Montego can't act- Page 2

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:06am

That's "Memphis" star Charlie Williams by the way, in case anyone wondered.

No sir. He's not a star in any sense of the word. The only reason I keep a look out for him after seeing the show was the Mr. Broadway competition & his Bway Bares photos.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:15am

There's no denying she's got one hell of a voice. A total powerhouse vocally. And while she is the bright spot in the total rip-off that is MEMPHIS, her acting is NOT good. It just isn't. The fact that she is considered the frontrunner for this year's Tony just proves that no one has any clue what to make of this unbearably sh*tty year.

[PauloFanClem]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:15am

Haha, TheatreFan. FINALLY can put a name to the picture I starred for a month on the Broadway Bares' website.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:17am

I may or may not have spent an hour screencapping every picture that came up on the Bway Bares website.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:54am

"Colored Woman" was one of my least favorite moments in the show. So heavy handed and overacted and flat (in terms of both vocal production and quality of song).

Let's be real... Montego wouldn't even be nominated in any other year. Let's not kid ourselves. Just because something is nominated doesn't make it brilliant. There were slots to fill. And this was a sad, sad year on Broadway.

~Steven

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 2:05am

She radiates emotion on stage, that's true. Her acting choices are a little bizarre though (I thought the same thing when I saw her in The Color Purple too). She is wonderful when she is singing, but her acting in scenes is, again, bizarre. It is disjointed. I think she does her best and she is not by any means terrible, just... bizarre lol. Incredible voice though, that can't be denied.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 2:21am

"Just because something is nominated doesn't make it brilliant. There were slots to fill. And this was a sad, sad year on Broadway."

Not defending or detracting from her performance, but the committee saw something worthwhile in it, and the slots to fill line doesn't hold weight. Look at 95, when there were only two nominees, Glenn Close and Rebecca Luker.

I know we keep hearing what a sad year this is, but I think that year was worse. Only two nominees for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Revival of a Musical, and Best Musical, not to mention Sunset winning book and score by default.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 2:41am

I don't understand how one can call this a weak year for Leading Actresses- I saw Baldwin, Noll, and Jones and they all gave stunning, award-worthy performances. I haven't seen Scott and Glover in their nominated roles, but they had to have been good enough to push the excellent Chenoweth and Williams out of the race.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 2:47am

Williams was submitted in the Feature Actress category.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 2:50am

Chenoweth was horribly miscast. Even Brantley, who usually worships the ground she walks on, knew this. And Williams was up for Featured, not Leading.

The point is that none of these 5 actresses would stand a chance in basically any other year.
Updated On: 6/13/10 at 02:50 AM

[ThatsCoffee]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 2:50am

It's sad that this woman is even considered a front-runner, let alone a nominee. Does anyone else miss a year like 2004 or 2007 when it was (almost... because there is no such thing) an embarrassment of riches?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 3:00am

The point is that none of these 5 actresses would stand a chance in basically any other year.

Say what you want about Montego, but CZJ & Sherie would both be up for their awards any other year.

[ThatsCoffee]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 3:04am

agree with TheatreFan4 100% and then some

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 3:10am

^The fact that Chenoweth was miscast does not detract from the fact (well, my opinion) that she gave a wonderful performance. But thanks for the information about Williams. I also think Terri White, Stephanie (Sarah from Ragtime), and the ALNM women (other than Lansbury, of course) could have easily been contenders for Featured Actress.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 3:47am

I just find it strange to look back at this past decade with names like Christine Ebersole, Victoria Clarke, Idina Menzel (and EVERY other actress nominated in 2004), Patti LuPone... and Montego? I mean... like I said before, she is a very talented singer and she does truly put her heart and soul into it, but I don't think she is Tony worthy. If she wins, I will be happy for her (because, again, she is giving it her all), but I can't see her having the same star power in a year or two that all these women above have.

Updated On: 6/13/10 at 03:47 AM

[binau]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 3:56am

"and the ALNM women (other than Lansbury, of course)"

Which one?

[Here I Am]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 5:37am

I have not seen 'Memphis' yet, so I'm not really one to judge. But that You Tube clip really did nothing for me. Belting your face off does not an actress make. I'm sure she does a fine job in the show, but I still can't fathom anyone winning over Sherie Renee Scott's tour de force in 'Everyday Rapture.' Just my two cents...

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 7:16am

Now, why is Montego the front-runner again? I'm sorry if I missed something, but I think Christiane Noll was absolutely brilliant.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 7:30am

I had no interest in seeing Ragtime, so I can't comment about Noll. But I think Glover, Jones, Scott and Baldwin would have been nominated any year as best actresses. They are all brilliant in their roles. I think it is a weak season when it comes to new musicals though. Memphis being the only original new musical of the season. I don't think that either Fela!, American Idiot or Million Dollar Quartet deserved to be nominated. Just my opinion.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 9:17am

@qolbinau, I thought Davie, Larkin, Whittaker, and Mallory (yes, I liked her) all deserved nominations.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 9:58am

I don't even think Glover's voice is all that special. In any other year, she'd not even be nominated, much less be a frontrunner to actually win.

The fact that she's going to join the likes of Alice Ripley, Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole, Victoria Clark, LaChanze, Idina Menzel, et. all is horrible.

Equally disturbing is the fact that this is not a horse race between CZJ and Sherie Renee Scott, even of whom I'd have no problem winning. It's sad, sad, sad that Montego is probably going to beat those two far more deserving women.
Updated On: 6/13/10 at 09:58 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 10:59am

She reminds me of a really good understudy playing Effie in a second national tour of "Dreamgirls."

Capable? Certainly. She would be well received on any stage. She's a solid performer and should have a long "working" career ahead of her.

But I don't see star quality, uniqueness, or electricity in this clip. She's not Jennifer Holliday, Jennifer Hudson, LaChanze, Heather Headley, Tonya Pinkins, Audra McDonald, Fantasia, Leslie Uggams, Diahann Carroll, Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, etc., etc.

Those ladies all have "it." The intangible quality that sets them apart from everyone else in the room.

Again, this isn't an "all or nothing" criticism of her. Just because I feel this way doesn't mean she "sucks" or is "terrible" or "shouldn't be allowed ..."

I don't frankly understand why people can't see shades of gray. In their minds, someone is either a 10 or a zero. There are no gradients of talent in between for them. So they have to hammer their points home to make them relevant. That's too bad.

She is good. Just not great.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 11:46am

Now, watch this.

To think she didn't win and Glover might....
Link

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:06pm

Sure, CZJ and Sherie would have been nominated. But they wouldn't have won. This isn't discounting their performances, however. CZJ gave a fine performance. Maybe not as great as many seem to think it is (she was charming, but much too hammy), but fine. And from what I hear, Sherie is great. But that isn't what this thread is about. I was just stating my opinion on that matter.

bwayguy22089 said it best, I think. It's always great to see someone acknowledged for their hard work (and she IS giving it her absolute all), but it's sad to see her name in that lineup of wonderful performances from years past. I would feel (and I know I'm not alone here) much better if the Tony went to anyone but Montego. She can sing, but she can't act. She just can't. The Tony isn't about the best singer. It's about the best performance. She doesn't merit that honor, in my opinion.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:16pm

I think she is acting that song, not just singing it. Just my opinion.