Who was the best Paul in ACL? It ain't Tam

[taylormade]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 1:48pm

Thought Jason Tam totally missed the mark -- his singing was flat and his monologue very stilted: no nuance or real feeling. It seemed at times that he was having trouble remembering the words. Such a wonderful and historic moment of theater history and it was total oatmeal. Who was the best Paul?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 1:53pm

I know most people will disagree with you, but I am agreeing. The night I saw it, I just wanted him to shut up already. The monologue was interminably boring.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 2:51pm

I think it's hard for me to say he was excellent because he's the only one I have seen perform that role.

However, I thought that he was good.

[SCBWannabe]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 3:01pm

I actually cried during his speech. I thought he conveyed his feelings and emotions perfectly, and I was all the way back in the SRO section. I was moved.

[hellzapoppin2000]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:16pm

Tam was God-awful. He just looked uncomfortable and wooden, as if delivering the lines by rote. When done properly, it is a riveting and heartbreaking monologue. I saw many Pauls during the Broadway run. Two that come to mind are Tommy Aguilar, so sweeting and vulnerable and Rene Clemente, like a deer the headlights. Both delivered the goods differently, but it hit you in the solar plexis. The moment when Zach had to go up on the stage to comfort Paul and stop Larry spoke to us all. That moment is really weird in the revival, particularly because it appears Zach is trying to put the moves on Paul. Creepy. Avian and Lee really ought to be ashamed for not taking more care of this national treasure.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 10:24pm

his monologue gave me chills. I thought he was very good although anyone who's seen Sammy Williams(the original Paul) will likely say he was the best.