West End Shows -Accents?

[BWayFanatic]

West End Shows -Accents?#0

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:43am

Ok, this is gonna sound like a stupid question, and I swear I'm a fairly intelliegent person, but are west end shows mostly performed with west end accents?

I know, it depends on the performer, but for the MOST PART, are dialogue and song delivered in English accents?

[TheaterAddict7652]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#1

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:51am

I think it depends on the show. The only show I've ever seen on the West End was Fame a couple of years ago. It was pretty obvious that some of the actors were English and putting on American accents. But, the show takes place in NYC, so it would make sense for them to act with American accents. I really think it depends on what show.

There's a lot I am not certain of...

[cathywellerstein]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#2

Posted: 6/18/06 at 1:18am

what about Ragtime? I'm sure they had to put on North American accents because it's about America. Right?
(p.s. Maria Friedman was Mother and accent or not, I know she must have been amazing.)

[Over_the_Moon]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#3

Posted: 6/18/06 at 1:53am

It would make sense that certain shows performed in Britain would have American accents, as certain shows in performed in the United States have British accents.


Then again, I wouldn't know.

Just saying.

It would make sense.

"what have we learned? Don't smoke... don't do drugs and don't sing 'Defying Gravity'." -CATSNYRevival

[gumbo2]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#4

Posted: 6/18/06 at 2:38am

How about shows that don't have a specific location, like Into The Woods, on the London Recording they have accents.

[alterego]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#5

Posted: 6/18/06 at 3:26am

If it's an American show they'll do American accents. It is no different than when an English show is perormed on Broadway the Americans attempt English accents.

[ChrisLK]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#6

Posted: 6/18/06 at 4:06am

I know for sure that Ragtime was done in American accents, and I've heard that the first half of new Sunday revival is in an English accent (since it's set in France, and was done with an American accent in the orignal), and the second half is done with an American accent since it says it's set in America.

I'd bet that for non-specific locations they'd do English accents, but I don't know for sure.

"I could use a little... Miracle." ~SWIWS

Updated On: 6/18/06 at 04:06 AM

[sicetergo]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#7

Posted: 6/18/06 at 5:15am

Obviously those productions that are set in North America are portrayed with North American regional accents.

Sunday in the Park with George's first act uses regional accents mixed with the RP accent to demonstrate the mix of society on La Grande Jatte. In the second act American accents are used - my father (an American) complained about the authenticity of one of the character's American accent, only to find out that this actor was the only American in the cast....
Updated On: 6/18/06 at 05:15 AM

[algy]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#8

Posted: 6/18/06 at 5:30am

West End shows, as people have said, will generally adopt whichever accent is called for in the script. This is pretty much what happens across the country in tours, rep, regional theatre etc.

It can sound fine, it can sound disasterous. I saw the Grease tour earlier this year and there were some truly awful American accents going on in that. *shudders*

[All_For_Laura]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#9

Posted: 6/18/06 at 9:03am

Maria did a great North American accent for ragtime. and yes, it all depends on the show.

In february, I saw Once in A Lifetime at the national theatre in London, which is an American show, so everyone did American accents, and I must say, for British performers, the accents were very very well done.

...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...

[lifeisacabaret]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#10

Posted: 6/18/06 at 10:13am

'For british performers'- wow, could you be any more patronising?

To counter this, only three words are needed- 'Dick Van Dyke'.

[All_For_Laura]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#11

Posted: 6/18/06 at 10:19am

Lol, I love how people transmute what one says into something negative. There was no put down toward British performers. All I said was that, for a British performer, one who usually uses a British Accent, the American accents were really very good. It was a compliment, but I guess when one has something nice to say, there is always someone on the board who will make that person feel bad about complimenting others. Thanks!

...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...

[lifeisacabaret]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#12

Posted: 6/18/06 at 10:26am

Well, it sounded patronising, but then i guess internet messageboards arent good for conveying the nuances of conversation.

[All_For_Laura]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#13

Posted: 6/18/06 at 11:07am

No, they are not.

...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...

[Elphaba]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#14

Posted: 6/18/06 at 11:12am

er, why not ask the people on the West End board?

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

[mrkringas]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#16

Posted: 6/18/06 at 11:27am

No one reads it?

I have heard some attrocious accents on both sides of the Atlantic from performers of all sorts of nationalities.

[jimmycurry01]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#17

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:23pm

On the west end they don't perform with accents, to them we do on broadway.

[joshy]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#18

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:43pm

"On the west end they don't perform with accents, to them we do on broadway."

What does that mean?

I saw the London production of Avenue Q yesterday, and I thought all the actors' American accents were really excellent, just the actor playing Gary Coleman slipped once or twice. The actor playing Trekkie Monster/Nicky sounded EXACTLY the same as the actor on the obc recording.

[ljay889]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#19

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:59pm

I know for CHICAGO, they all use American accents, well they try their best with them.

Because well the main theme of Chicago is.. America!

[fairygodmother]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#20

Posted: 6/18/06 at 1:00pm

what do you think a "west end" accent is? lol - i thought that was funny, that's like me saying someone has a broadway accent!

this question has been answered a lot, so i won't repeat the general gist.however, can someone answer me this:
how much training/thought is put into american students of theatre learning RP or varieties of british accents?
as a british performer its seen as important to be able to do a huge variety of accents to a credible degree - although some colleges take this more seriously than others, according to someof the dodgy accents i've heard out there. I'd be interested to see how much an american performer gets to study the british accent.

[Chloe]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#21

Posted: 6/18/06 at 2:02pm

Here's how it works in film - not sure if the same applies to theater. If an actor is supposed to use a different accent for a part, a coach is usually hired to teach it, either by the production or the actor himself. Of course some find it very easy or might not need a coach at all, and others struggle. It seems to be similar to having an ear for music.

[Eastwickian]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#22

Posted: 6/19/06 at 5:49am

I agree with mrkringas - awful acents abound on both sides of the Atlantic. Though I like to think of Whistle down the Wind OLCR as revenge for all the Jekyll & Hyde recordings

As someone else has stated - if the show is specifically set in America, American accents are used. If not, then it's really up to the director and actors. It'll be interesting to see how it will work in Wicked - rumours are that Glinda will have a British accent, but I've no idea what Idina will do...

[algy]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#23

Posted: 6/19/06 at 6:26am

As long is Wicked is consistant I don't mind what accents they use. I've also heard that Glinda is going to be British - posh upper class princessy. But then she could also be Auzzie. I've seen rumours that everyone will be british except Elphaba in order to emphasize that she's different. But that could bug me if Elphie has a different accent to Nessa...

If you look at actors' CVs in the UK, emphasis is placed on whether people can do different accents (along with special skills). This maybe because of the variety and differences between different UK accents and the connotations of each. I'm not really that familiar with the different American accents so I've no idea of the variety that you've got going on over there (I know a Southern accent when I hear it, and a New York one and can hear the differences with others, but maybe not place them) and whether its the same for you.

And FairyGodmother - I too chuckled over the phrase "West End Accent" I couldn't help it! In the same way that I get a bit antsy about people who describe shows as being "on the West End" (the West End is a District not a street. You wouldn't say you lived on London or on New York would you?)

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: West End Shows -Accents?#24

Posted: 6/19/06 at 6:43am

"Ok, this is gonna sound like a stupid question, and I swear I'm a fairly intelliegent person"

Hmm...

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

Updated On: 6/19/06 at 06:43 AM