What happenened to the acting part in Best Actor Award?- Page 3

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:31pm

You're right. It's not black or white.

What I'm saying is...people can be good---even great--singers without being good actors in an actual scene. The point is, most good singers are performing in concerts, not scenes, so when it comes to their solo number, or some production number, yes--then a good singer may equal a good actor. But when it comes down to scene work, it's almost irrelevant. And just because someone may not be a good actor in that sense, that does not mean that when they are singing that it's just pretty noise that should just be tuned out.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:35pm

Well, unfortunately, I do. Even in concerts. Name one great singer who just stands there and makes pretty notes. None of the greats do that. They act the song---you get the story of the song.

I'm not saying people don't do it--I'm saying they suck and none of them are considered greats.

[broadway86]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:37pm

I'll name one, because it's the only one I can think of: Whitney Houston.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:40pm

Now, if you had said Mariah, I would have been in your car--because she doesn't know what she's saying when she sings. At least Whitney does.

But who would you rather see perform: a Whitney or a Mariah? Or a Barbra or a Liza or a Patti? I mean in terms of PERFORMING, not just pretty voices singing.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:40pm

"Even in concerts. Name one great singer who just stands there and makes pretty notes."

Whitney Houston. Mariah Carey. Both are considered greats, neither seems to connect with the music. Instead they just...ham it up. But that's a whole 'nother discussion.

All I'm saying is that if I stick with my example of Kelly Clarkson: if she were to act (I'm talking a real try at it, not this From Justin to Kelly stuff), and she didn't deliver, that wouldn't negate the fact that she certainly DOES act and that she IS a good singer when she's onstage.

Like you said, Madonna loses the ability to connect when she speaks, but she is a good actress as a singer/dancer. I agree with that. But when you are handing out a Tony award for Best Actor, you don't want to hand it to someone who loses that connection when speaking, or really only succeeds musically. You have to look at the whole picture.

EDIT: Whoops, looks like I posted a little too late. Updated On: 7/9/06 at 11:40 PM

[broadway86]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:44pm

jerby, totally forgot about Mariah Carey.

I totally see your point, though. Pretty voices aren't enough. I, too, prefer more interesting, dynamic performances. I'd rather watch Elaine Strich than Mariah Carey.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:45pm

Fair--I think we have gotten on the same page. Finally.

So, the question is whether or not JLY deserved his Tony. Well, I didn't see Jersey Boys yet. But, from all I have heard and read about his performance and from what I can gather from the CD, he was fantastic in every respect (rumors and gossip be damned) and deserved his Tony. It was a TOUGH year. Of course, Cerveris was deserving. But let's not belittle JLY's deserved success--and the majority clearly agrees it is deserved--JUST because we are bitter our favorite didn't win.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:47pm

I haven't seen it yet either, Jerby, so I can't really form an opinion on JLY.I just thought I'd hop in on an interesting discussion.

[Duckie93]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:51pm

you guys the tonys (where of course everyone wants to win) are really to celbabrate(sry my spelling is really bad i know)the actors thats perfrome every night, 8 shows a week yes they all deserted it but i know how stuipd this sounds but in a sence they all are winners,like john lloyd said 10s of 1000s of people come to NY to be actors,only 100s get in, 12 get leads and 5 are nomanated.
They alreay made it to the final round.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:00am

No, no, BG, I wasn't accusing you!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 6:33am

"If, as someone stated, it is so well known how the voting process works, then why the need to tell the board how your well known process works? Would we not already know? Or must one be "right in the middle of it all" before it becomes well known?

I think to speculate on a voter's vote as 99% a business decision, or any other one reason, does a disservice to those individuals who have actually won an award. I sense it as an attempt to try to diminish an award winner's achievement."

No, etoile, it's your constant attempt to try to diminish anything I have to say. I posted what I did reluctantly - I was discussing it with someone via pm who thought it should be posted and so after some discussion, I did. I'm not trying to diminish anyone's achievement - and there are actors whose achievements aren't diminished because they have yet to win a Tony. People on this board got a tad unreasonable the night of the Tonys and for some time after because their favorite didn't win. I'm just pointing out facts - there's no reason to be that upset unless it directly affects your wallet. And that's what it's about in the end - wallets. Which is not to say that the best man/woman/show did not win. Who is to determine "best"?

[Charlayne Vivika]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 10:21am

Duh! Singing is part of acting. If you can't act when you sing, then it's boooorrrrinng.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 1:11pm

Nicely put, Charlayne.

[etoile]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 3:30pm

Back peddle much?

What about these statements isn't diminishing to an award winner?

"That's what the voters vote for. If you try to make the awards purely about quality, you're going to drive yourself crazy."

"I'm just pointing out facts - there's no reason to be that upset unless it directly affects your wallet. And that's what it's about in the end - wallets."

What facts? The "facts" according to Rathnait? So now you're discounting the reasons, the feelings others that may be upset because they're not ruled by your facts? There's no room for validating what someone may feel unless there's something financial in it for them. How sad.

"It's 99% business decisions. Like everything else in life."

I actually pity someone who has a belief that 99% of life is a business decision, but it is a very telling comment.

Additionally, there is no way possible for me to try and diminish all that you have to say. I don't spend enough hours online to read a fraction of what you post. Life is too short.

Updated On: 7/10/06 at 03:30 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 6:04pm

Good Lord.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 11:18pm

Linda Eder and Sarah Brightman both have decent voices but are as cold as ice to watch. Good singers/non actors?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 1:46am

Pretty singers/boring as watching paint dry

[Christoph]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:05pm

Truth be told, as much I liked Michael Cerveris in the part (and I did), his work still paled as to what Len Cariou, George Hearn and Brian Stokes Mitchell did with this role. The minimalist staging could have somewhat muted his work, but who is to say for certain.

I have not seen John Lloyd Young as yet (I have tickets in a few months), so I cannot weigh in on his work yet, although I think it is a fallacy to reason that the darker or more serious the role, the higher the difficulty in acting it. That is a myth that performers in comedies have been attempting to overcome for years and why many "serious" actors find comedy outside of their talents. I also know many performers claim it is very hard to portray real-life people who hold a familiar niche in the public psyche with any ease, as many viewers have a certain idea in mind of the behavior and personality traits of the celebrity in question.

Also, I think the fact that there were other actors who were critically praised, won awards and (in some cases) were considered superior in the part of Sweeney Todd could have had an impact on how certain people received and remembered Mr. Cerveris' performance here. Although there are many on the board who are young enough not to have seen the original cast in Sweeney Todd, there are still a number of Tony voters who have very clear recollections of the incredible performances and they may have legitimately felt that the performances in the revival were not in the same league.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:49pm

I know this is old but. . . .

"I had similar thoughts when Idina Menzel won Best "Actress"."

I think Tonya gave a more memorable and moving performance.