The Green Room - Copying Famous Performances

Mar 25^th, 2010 at 3:04pm

QueenMorgaus Offline
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Sometimes I catch a well-known show where an actor is blatantly copying a famous performance. The three that come to mind (and seem to happen most frequently) is Topol's Tevya, Walter Matthau's Vandergelder, and Streisand's Dolly. I've yet to see this work successfully, usually the performance being an unfortunate and hard to watch impersonation.

Why do directors allow this? Am I the only one who doesn't think this is the best idea?

"I don't need to compromise my principles, because they don't have the slightest bearing on what happens to me anyway." - Calvin and Hobbes

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Reply #1 - Mar 25^th, 2010 at 9:21pm

spiker Offline
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You're not alone. I think it's a terrible idea. I've heard actors talk about wanting to play a part because they want to do it just like so-and-so did it. I think it just turns out to be a fundamentally untruthful performance--you don't bring yourself to a role if you're trying to do it the way somebody else did it, which means there's no immediacy and no connection.

"...there are more people alive now than have died in all of human history. �In other words, if everyone wanted to play Hamlet at once, they couldn't, because there aren't enough skulls!"

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Reply #2 - Mar 25^th, 2010 at 11:59pm

QueenMorgaus Offline
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I agree that it is fundamentally untruthful. But it's also just... bad. Nobody can be Walter Matthau but Walter Matthau. If I wanted to see Walter Mattahu as Vandergelder, I wouldn't go to the play, I'd just rent the movie. No actor will make as good a Topol as Topol did, it's just common sense.

I can understand actors wanting to do a role just like so-and-so as you said, but my biggest question lies with directors who allow actors to do it.

"I don't need to compromise my principles, because they don't have the slightest bearing on what happens to me anyway." - Calvin and Hobbes

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Reply #3 - Mar 26^th, 2010 at 9:20am

Dexter the Halls Offline
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QueenMorgaus wrote on Mar 25^th, 2010 at 11:59pm:

I agree that it is fundamentally untruthful.� But it's also just... bad.� Nobody can be Walter Matthau but Walter Matthau.� If I wanted to see Walter Mattahu as Vandergelder, I wouldn't go to the play, I'd just rent the movie.� No actor will make as good a Topol as Topol did, it's just common sense.�

I can understand actors wanting to do a role just like so-and-so as you said, but my biggest question lies with directors who allow actors to do it.� �

This happens on Broadway even. The guy I saw in the producers very well could have been Nathan Lane if I were blind. He had the voice down pat.

Maybe, of those who audition, someone's best Walter Mathau is better than anyone's best Vandergelder.

Spencer I think recently complained that the guy playing Shrek was too "Mike Meyers" while the rest of the cast found their own characters. When someone defines a role the way some have, maybe its difficult to imagine (for the director) the part being played any other way.

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Reply #4 - Mar 29^th, 2010 at 3:21pm

shortredhead Offline
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I think some of the problem is audience response. If you are playing Teyve, everyone is used to the Topol version and that's sometimes what they expect. I don't, but a lot of audiences want that. When I saw Phantom at Hale, I heard people comment that they didn't like it because it was nothing like Michael Crawford. I wanted to tell them that that is a completely different show, but didn't - should have but didn't. Many people want to see the same show, even with different actors. It's really sad. Embarrassed

It's like in a Hitchcock movie, you know, where they tie you up in a rubber bag and throw you in the trunk of a car. You find people.

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Reply #5 - Mar 29^th, 2010 at 4:16pm

Cheeky Monkey Offline
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I think you guys hit the nail on the head. I'm almost wondering if it's the producers who are pushing it. For example, only casting "Nathan Lane"-esque actors for his part in The Producers because they know that's what gets butts in seats.

Similarly, Mike Meyers-esque Shrek. I've seen Brian d'Arcy James in other things and he's a crazy-talented guy. I'm sure he wouldn't be doing that on purpose.

"Depends. Did you feel anything for the pumpkin? The midgets?" -Wildcard&&&&If Mary Matalin and James Carville can make it work, ANYONE can. The end.

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Reply #6 - Apr 15^th, 2010 at 1:44pm

Summer Offline
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Here's an intersting excerpt from a Broadway Across America Q&A that I received by email this week....what are your thoughts?

Joanna Glushak plays the role of Frau Blucher on tour. She shares what it�s like to play a character originated by a film legend, perfecting her character�s accent, and performing in a smash hit.

Q: You play the character made famous by Cloris Leachman. What's it like to fill her shoes?
A: Well, you can't really think about filling anyone else's shoes. I watched the movie and got a sense of the character. One tries to go for an overall sense of the character and get past the other actor's portrayal... I must admit, Cloris Leachman is an incredible actress and a lot of the things she did felt right so I stole them. They never look the same on someone else anyway so take what you can and leave the rest. There's an old saying in the Biz... "Steal from The Best!"

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Reply #7 - Apr 16^th, 2010 at 8:20am

Dexter the Halls Offline
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As an actor,if you're not good enough come up with an amazing performance without stealing, then its probably in your best interest, and the show's best interest, to steal from someone who did it better. I'd rather see that than a boring performance.

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Reply #8 - Apr 16^th, 2010 at 10:29am

Mister Grinch Offline
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Dexter the Halls wrote on Apr 16^th, 2010 at 8:20am:

As an actor,if you're not good enough come up with an amazing performance without stealing, then its probably in your best interest, and the show's best interest, to steal from someone who did it better.� I'd rather see that than a boring performance.

Which is why I take from Lucille Ball when I'm on stage.

There is one thing you never put in a trap, if you're smart - if you value your continued existence - if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow there is one thing you never EVER put in a trap.� Me.

Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flying around with in outer space, but you're not telling me to shut up!

As long as I don't bleed or cry, I'll do it!

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Reply #9 - Apr 16^th, 2010 at 2:43pm

gem2477 Offline
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I also sometimes take issue with theaters that cast a lead that looks similar to the famous person who did that role.

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Reply #10 - Apr 17^th, 2010 at 9:50am

QueenMorgaus Offline
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I think stealing from famous actors can work, especially if it's out of context (like Mr.A stealing from Lucy for shows un-Lucy related).

However I think I disagree with you Dexter, in that if you're not good enough to be original, copy. I know you said steal, so let me claify that to me, "stealing" from a famous performance means using a few small things here and there. Copying is when you're flat out trying to do an impression and the majority of your performance is unoriginal. I have yet to see it work. I would rather see an original that barely succeeds, than an impersonation attempt that fails miserably.

"I don't need to compromise my principles, because they don't have the slightest bearing on what happens to me anyway." - Calvin and Hobbes

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Reply #11 - Apr 18^th, 2010 at 9:41pm

Dexter the Halls Offline
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I'm confused about where we disagree because I'm such a flip-flopper on this issue. Grin

I honestly really do enjoy seeing different character choices for the same role, maybe what I really prefer is seeing the BEST performance, and if the person who gave the best performance isn't available, I don't feel like there's anything wrong with trying to perform it the same way.

It's funny because when I was 18 I saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and I was so disappointed that the performances were so different than the CD that I loved. Grin

I've matured in my tastes since then, but I still would rather see a Crawfordesque Phantom than any other.

That being said, I really love seeing fresh performances.

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