Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types of characters...?- Page 3

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:18pm

ana gasteyer (counting in her snl work)
norbert and raul for the 80,000th time
gary beach

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:25pm

Donna Murphy...she always transforms herself. I've been observing her television and film appearances and in each her voice, accent and physicality are completely different.

And Meryl Streep who does the same. I haven't seen Cherry Jones but I understand she's brilliant at that as well.

I've never liked Johnny Depp really (I can't define why) but I do admit he does try to change himself for every role.

Playing different types of roles doesn't always mean one is a a good actor. Plenty of actors can "do" that but still play themselves really. Kristin Chenoweth (in all respect) played Marian, but still seemed very much Kristin Chenoweth in a slightly shrewdish mood.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:28pm

As much as I adore Audra to the end of the earth and around 600 times, I think she still needs work on creating specific characters. She's excellent at pretty much playing herself, which unfortunatly is stronger than a lot of actors but I have yet to see her engulf herself completely in a role.

[ozdustgirl2]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:37pm

Norbet Leo Butz, I mean look at all he has done and especially his role from WICKED to DRS is an amazing change

[Aigoo]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:39pm

If you want to talk an amazing change, give kudos to Mr. Matt Morrison! From Link to Fabrizio?! Wtf?

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:42pm

I agree with someone who said Ana Gasteyer. In fact, many of the cast members of SNL and MAD TV are remarkable and unrecognized simply due to the nature of their shows. They often perform remarkable transformations in very little time. Of course the ones who "make it" (movies) are often not the strongest performers. Good for Ana though.

Updated On: 8/7/05 at 10:42 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:47pm

I think Idina Menzel is a lot more versatile than Kristin Chenoweth, although both are great performers. I still agree with Bernadette Peters and definitely Donna Murphy. What about Brooke Shields, I know she is mostly known as a TV star but anyone that can do Sally Bowles, Ruth Sherwood, and Roxie Hart must be a versatile actress.
Joel Grey is also one of the best actors on Broadway!

[sassypanz]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 10:51pm

NORBERT LEO BUTZ AND DONNA MURPHY!!

[LostLeander]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 11:04pm

Audra pretty much plays herself?

Audra was a fiesty early 1900's girl from the North East who falls in love and almost looses a loser named Mr Snow?
Wow.
She sassed Maria Calllas?
Oh my.
She burried her child in the ground because her man left her in Reconstruction 1900?
Hmph.
She considered abortion because her husband may not love her enough/ have enough money to raise a child?
Interesting.

Not to mention a passionate jealous lover, a crazed beggar woman, Dot (and all the complexities that go along with that), and ALL of the different characters she plays when she sings ANY song.

Versalitily? I think so.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 11:22pm

I'd say Kristin C. is a great performer, but not a great actress.

I have a hard time thinking of musical theater actors who really achieve that Meryl-esq transformation from role-to-role. I guess a lot of musical theater actors are afraid to let go of their images and delve. Norbert Leo Butz COULD qualify, but in the times I've seen him, while he was playing varied roles, he never quite looses that Norbert-ness that people expect from him. Great performer yes, and could be a great actor, I'll wait until I see more from him.

"Elphaba and Maureen are two completely different characters."

On paper? Yes, I guess if you want to be kind and call Elphaba a character. But be serious, almost any actress who has played Maureen could concievably play Elphaba and visa-versa. Changing your own mood to suit a character isn't acting. Idina Menzel is not a great actress, give it up.

I've never seen Donna Murphy perform, but if I were to judge by her reputation, I'd say that she qualifys.

And though she isn't working on broadway now, I'll throw out Angela Lansbury.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 11:51pm

I have yet to see her entirely transform herself. She does perform her songs, true and changes herself a little for each. I love her for that. But I still haven't seen or heard a performance of hers (I didn't see her Dot though) where she has yet completely. I've loved her in everything I've seen or heard her do, but part of that is because she's such an excellent performer. Right now she seems more of an ingenue though, not a character actress. I think the same of Bernadette Peters who has also done many many different roles and was enjoyable in each but not quite a complete transformation (the closest I've seen is her Marie) . I did not mean to imply that Audra is not versatile. She is. Much more than say, Chenoweth is, but what I mean is that she is not yet created a character that is entirely distinct in all aspects from another she has played. I'd place Audra much higher than the majority of broadway actors, yes, but I think she is far from THE MOST versatile. As an actress I don't think Audra is up to Donna's level yet.

Updated On: 8/7/05 at 11:51 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 12:01am

Bruce Vilanch
Harvey Fierstein
Raul Esparza gifted is the word!
Stephanie D'Abruzzo- From Q to "I Love You Because" Stephanie is very talented.
Jen Simard- All the different characters she played in FB, shows how talented she is.
Megan Lewis- Same thing
Christine Pedi- Same thing
Matt Morrison- Hairspray, Piazza
Denis O'Hare- Take Me Out, Assassins, Charity
Barrett Foa, Cupid and Psyche, Mamma Mia, Avenue Q

Updated On: 8/8/05 at 12:01 AM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 1:20am

'"Elphaba and Maureen are two completely different characters."

On paper? Yes, I guess if you want to be kind and call Elphaba a character. But be serious, almost any actress who has played Maureen could concievably play Elphaba and visa-versa. Changing your own mood to suit a character isn't acting. Idina Menzel is not a great actress, give it up."

What? Menzel completely changed her physical movement and the way she talked for these roles. That's just a cler thing you can see from watching her play each role. In her performance, there is MUCH more than a "change in mood," she is absolutely a whole nother character. And there is great depth to both characters.

Not every actress who plays Maureen could play Elphaba, most of them can hardly play Maureen to begin with.


And Angela Lansbury? Totally agree.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 12:15pm

Sorry, but I think that the hardest working people concerning Idina's so-called Wicked transformation were the make-up artists. I could have recognized her voice anywhere, so I don't know where you go the idea that she did any work to change either.

Anyway, you can believe what you want to believe but I think it is foolish to give performers credit for more than they deserve just because you are a fan. If you want to call her a great vocalist, I may not agree, but I won't argue with you (I could, but I won't) but let's not insult real artists of the stage by calling her one. Yes, that was harsh, but I hold to it.

And I'm surprised that I was the first to mention Lansbury (wasn't I?)

And I think Audra is on her way. I would have loved to have seen her begger woman. That role requires such a transformation as it is, you'd think that she'd have to break away from her ingenue-ness. Anyone here see it?

Oh and... "Bruce Vilanch and Harvey Fierstein"--??
Come on. If you think they are talented, say that they are talented. But to suggest that they completely tranform themselves into their roles is nonsense. Anyone who has a moments trouble realizing that it in Harvey in Fiddler is on drugs. He is a great talent, and I'd say a true artist in his participation on and off stage, but best at acting "different types"? Please. And I don't see how Vilanch qualifies at all, but maybe I'm unaware of his body of work.

[katygrace84]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 12:31pm

I have to go with those of you who said Anthony Rapp. Why? Because I adore the man and think he can (and should) play absolutely anything. I never get tired of seeing him in the roles he chooses. If you hated him in RENT and/or YAGMCB, then surely the longevity of his career and the versatility in both his film and theater roles should convince you. Anthony Rapp is magnificent and can play any role (anyone else here having a Sunset Boulevard moment?). Even, as Kevin Smith once put it, "the shark in Jaws."

* And though this really is my honest opinion, it is very obviously a bit tongue in cheek.

Posted: 8/8/05 at 12:37pm

I think Bernadette Peters was brillant.

[Jera]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 12:57pm

I don't agree with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.

Kristin, as mentioned before, always plays the ditzy blond, and I don't think that Idina has been in enough roles to classify her as a versitile actress.

I'm going to throw in Patti LuPone:
Concert Version of Sweeny Todd,
Anything Goes
The Cradle will Rock,
Oliver,
Evita,
Les Miserables,
Sunset Boulevard.

[mabel]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 2:12pm

I think a lot of people on here are pretty much just listing performers that they enjoy...Don't get me wrong, that's probably what I'd end up doing, so I'm going to refrain from adding a list, because I'd be tempted to say Billy Crudup, Robert Sean Leonard, and Michael Stuhlbarg, but truth be told, I've seen all three give great performances in a couple of different plays, and Crudup/Leonard on film, but I don't know that they necessarily play a wide scope of varied characters. RSL for example, seems to really excel in period pieces. He just looks strange in a t-shirt and jeans to me...much better suited to Invention of Love type parts (though he has obviously played contemporary roles...whatever, you get it)...I guess Crudup's pretty versatile: Arcadia, Three Sisters (neither of which I saw), The Elephant Man, several roles in Arturo Ui, Pillowman, and film roles running from a goofy addict in Jesus Son to his role in Stage Beauty.

BUT, for people to mention Jeff Goldblum (I love, love, LOVE Goldblum, but he always sounds the same, delivers lines in that Goldblumian way) and Denis O'Hare (who I also LOVE) but I don't think necessarily plays the most varied roles (at least not lately). I don't know...and Cheno. Well, I don't care for her, so I guess I'm biased anyway, but she does always seem to be playing the perky blonde.

[leon1489]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 2:18pm

I will agree to Patti Lupone. She went from Reno Sweeney to Fantine. Major transformation.

And for the record, by no means do I mean that Idina Menzel is the most versatile actress. Heavens no. I just meant she's played different roles. But no more of that.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 2:20pm

I'm finally just catching up on this thread since I last posted, but I'm noticing two totally different dynamics; there are actors who CAN play many different types of roles and get by and do well, and then there are the types of actors who truly do transform themselves every time they take on a new role - the types of people that, when you watch them, you just don't even feel like they're acting. And obviously, the later category is much more of a rarity.

[JayKid]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:06pm

to the above... EXACTLY what I want is the rarity.

I wanted this post to have people say who they thought were the latter of your statement, who can transform themselves into a role and when they play that part, they aren't themselves and you don't think of their name, but just the character they are acting. Even though... it doesn't look or feel like acting, it's as if they are themselves.

I am really glad a lot of people posted here and there are dozens of different names flying about, and many I agree with, however, many seem to just be naming people who have acted different roles... and when looking at past work have a lot of different stuff under their belt, however, that doesn't really mean much.

Sure, an actor and play different roles and some be complete opposites, however, many tiems you watch them and it's still just them, acting a role. You know what they are trying to get at and what they want the character to be like, but they aren't that character... off the first few words they say, you already are watching them as themselves playing a character, and not that character and the story.

It's hard to find an actor or actress who truly engulfs themselves in a character and transforms themselves, but that is what acting is about and what I would hope EVERYONE who acts strives for.

So on this last page I've seen a few posts noting this (the one above, buffysomethinsomething, and maybe another) and to those people, I agree with you guys, 100%.

So just letting everyone know this and think about it before posting who you think can best portray differently roles.

I used believably, but that isn't even strong enough of a word to describe what an amazing actor can do. It's more than being convincing and believable in a role... they shouldn't even seem like they are acting a role, it should just be another version of themselves.

Anywayz, enough of that, just felt the need to post my thoughts about this. Sorry it was a bit long.

Continue with the replies...

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:14pm

for a present day broadway star-- i would have to say cherry jones. for a present day featured actor, i would say julie halston. i think swoozie kurtz is very versatile. from gwen in Fifth of July to Bananas in House of Blue Leaves is a jump. i also thank dennis o'hare can go anywhere.

and special props to nathan lane. i saw work he did before he was famous and he was amazing.

Updated On: 8/8/05 at 04:14 PM

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:19pm

Anthony Rapp.
Hedwig AND Charlie Brown? Wow.


And Raul, definately.

And Norbert! Cabaret, Wicked, and now DRS? Wow to that too.

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:24pm

it's amazing how this board has turned into the Wicked post as well.

when those two women shouldn't even be mentioned.

kristen has played the same girl in every show.
and idina..just yells and gasps at everything.

we need total transformations here:

like patinkin, cerveris, esparza
peters, close, streep