overhyped/underappreciated roles

[mattonstage]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 7:32pm

I'm relatively new to the boards, Hi, I'm mattonstage. I finally decided to ask my own question. I did a quick search and didn't really see this, so I hope I'm not starting on the wrong foot by posting something done to death. Be kind. Thanks.
Anyway, I was thinking about a production of "La Cage Aux Folles" I helped to cast some time ago and remembering all the women wanting to play Jacqueline when I think that Mme. Dindon is the better role. She has so much more to play than just "The Best of Times". Anyone else have any parts they think are overrated or underappreciated?

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:01pm

Overrated- Elphaba in WICKED

Underappreciated- George in THE WEDDING SINGER, Andre in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:07pm

Overrated - anything in Spring Awakening
Underappreciated - LeFou, Babette, and Three Silly Girls in Beauty and the Beast

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:11pm

Underappreciated:
Lorrell, Dreamgirls (at least in the current movie media blitz)
Old Lady, Sunday In The Park With George

[biggest CHENO fan]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:50pm

underappreciated: LAURA BENANTI in The Wedding Singer
Updated On: 1/19/07 at 09:50 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:56pm

Underrated: Little Red Riding Hood in "Into the Woods". There is so much potential with this role.

Overrated: Curly in "Oklahoma!" and not much with this one....or really this show in general.

[pants2]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 10:14pm

overrated: sweeney todd (though i love the show and the music and sondheim in general and i do LIKE the part, i just cant see the genius in it that everybody else does)

underappreciated anything in spring awakening

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 10:22pm

Underrated: This may shock some people, but Franz in "The Sound of Music." I played this role during May of last year, and it has so much comic potential, which I grabbed for from the very beginning. It's great fun playing the small depressed character in a show filled with happy characters coming out of the ears!

[MimiLovesRoger]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 10:23pm

I agree on TWS ones.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 10:57pm

We are talking about roles NOT people who played them.

[admanrich]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 11:01pm

I agree, I feel Lorrell sorta gets the short end of the stick. It's all about Deena and Effie, and we don't really see that much of Lorrell. Too bad, because Anika Noni Rose did such a great job too.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 8:54am

ThankstoPhantom: I totally agree. I did that show at a dinner theatre when I was a kid, and our Franz was a brilliant comedian. So was our Frau Schmit. The audience loved them.

[Sant]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 9:47am

Overhyped: Fantine & Eponine (Les Mis)


Underappreciated: Father (Ragtime), Amos (Chicago)
Updated On: 1/20/07 at 09:47 AM

[bwayfan4life]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 11:46am

Can't say anything for overhyped, but for underappreciated I would say Mereb in Aida, espacially as performed by Damian Perkins.

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 12:18pm

Underappreciated: The Giuseppi family roles minus Fabrizio in LITP.
Trix the Aviatrix in The Drowsy Chaperone
Ugly and Ida from HONK!

[HumATune]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 1:00pm

Underappreciated: Emma in JEKYLL & HYDE, Ellen and John in MISS SAIGON

Overhyped: The Thenardiers in LES MIZ, The Engineer in MISS SAIGON
Updated On: 1/20/07 at 01:00 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 5:01pm

Lizzya9 SHUT UP! Of course you would say that roles in B & B are underappreciated. I do not see how any of the roles in SA are overrated. you could say the show is, but i don't think any roles are....you clearly just love to start fights with people and you are starting to piss me off.

Updated On: 1/20/07 at 05:01 PM

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 5:04pm

I think Cosette in Les Mis is very underappriciated, mostly because so many people hate the character just because. She's really not that bad...

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 5:05pm

"I think Cosette in Les Mis is very underappriciated, mostly because so many people hate the character just because. She's really not that bad..."

I agree.

[HumATune]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 5:23pm

Cosette doesn't bother me; I just don't think she's well-developed. She's just sort of "there" as the sweet girl who loves Marius and wonders why “Papa” won’t tell her about the past. Of course I’ve never liked ingénue characters much anyway.

But for the record, I've never seen a Cosette I didn't like and I've seen six. But I think this is more the credit of the actresses than the writing for the character.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 5:30pm

Forgive me for the dual-Wickedness, but:

Overhyped: Elphaba
Underappreciated: Boq

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 5:45pm

Overhyped-Sandy in Grease

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 5:48pm

Overhyped- Sandy and Danny in Grease

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 1/20/07 at 6:49pm

Overhyped: Eponine

Underappreciated: Ellen in "Miss Saigon", for sure. If I had to choose between Kim and Ellen, i'd totally choose the latter.