Originally Posted by thenetworkbabe:
“I don't think anyone whose name was made playing a cat and who acts a third line role in Eastenders has that much claim to offer massive wisdom.
They also have an enormous problem as they judge completely against what they would do.
Sheila rambles on about what the song is about - oblivious to what it might be about or even how the best people have actually played it. She likes some performances that are so subtle they may not exist and misses others that don't fit her pre-conception.
John Partridge marks on the basis of who does it as he would. But he tends towards show off, panto, OTT acting which I would pay to go miles to avoid. He misses anything subtle (except in Danielle where its magnified) and confuses acting big with having a big impact. There are big pantos and all singing all dancing shows in the Westend but there are a lot of understated, precision, acting performances that work brilliantly too.
Neither of them have mastered either the other point that the viewers are judging what works down a TV screen. Thats what a sane Dorothy should be doing well - being less subtle was Helena's problem. Its a far more complex question whether who can do it well down a TV screen is going to command a Westend stage - experience suggest many people who can act well can do both better.
Charlotte at least knows how to work a variety of audiences and a TV camera and she knows that there's a range of ways to interpret a song.”
“I don't think anyone whose name was made playing a cat and who acts a third line role in Eastenders has that much claim to offer massive wisdom.
They also have an enormous problem as they judge completely against what they would do.
Sheila rambles on about what the song is about - oblivious to what it might be about or even how the best people have actually played it. She likes some performances that are so subtle they may not exist and misses others that don't fit her pre-conception.
John Partridge marks on the basis of who does it as he would. But he tends towards show off, panto, OTT acting which I would pay to go miles to avoid. He misses anything subtle (except in Danielle where its magnified) and confuses acting big with having a big impact. There are big pantos and all singing all dancing shows in the Westend but there are a lot of understated, precision, acting performances that work brilliantly too.
Neither of them have mastered either the other point that the viewers are judging what works down a TV screen. Thats what a sane Dorothy should be doing well - being less subtle was Helena's problem. Its a far more complex question whether who can do it well down a TV screen is going to command a Westend stage - experience suggest many people who can act well can do both better.
Charlotte at least knows how to work a variety of audiences and a TV camera and she knows that there's a range of ways to interpret a song.”
Completely agree with you. I didn't personally know much about John Barrowman's theatre performances before Dr Who, but it was clear he had a good track record, and he was also constructive and kind to the competitors. John Partridge was a total unknown until EastEnders, and in that he's just playing himself anyway. He's so up himself it's a wonder he knows when the sun's shining, and his favouritism is very annoying. Sheila Hancock might be wowing audiences in Sister Act, but she looks bored witless most of the time and her comments are rarely very helpful. I suspect that if this type of show is ever made again, neither Partridge nor Hancock will feature in it.
