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Post by anthony40 on Jan 30, 2017 16:42:10 GMT
So I was thinking, who is the most tragic theatre character? In terms of their character development, the arc of their storyline and their demise, depending upon what that may be (not necessarily death).
Now I know the question is subjective because it's a matter of opinion buy my initial thought was Paul, from A Chorus Line.
Then I though Fantine and Eponine, both from Les Mis
Kim from Miss Saigon
Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard
(Possibly) Mickey and Eddie from Blood Brothers
Stephen Ward
Tony & Maria from West Side Story
Anyone else?
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Post by d'James on Jan 30, 2017 16:51:49 GMT
As soon as I read the title, I thought of Fantine. Will have a think about others. You mention the boys from Blood Brothers but you could also include Mrs Johnstone (sp?).
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 30, 2017 16:52:53 GMT
As soon as I read the title, I thought of Fantine. Will have a think about others. You mention the boys from Blood Brothers but you could also include Mrs Johnstone (sp?). Hmm, possibly |
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Post by d'James on Jan 30, 2017 16:54:12 GMT
As soon as I read the title, I thought of Fantine. Will have a think about others. You mention the boys from Blood Brothers but you could also include Mrs Johnstone (sp?). Hmm, possibly Maybe not. I guess you have to die. Haha. |
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 30, 2017 16:56:29 GMT
Maybe not. I guess you have to die. Haha. No, not necessarily. Paul didn't die. Nor did Norma Descend- her mind and her career maybe, but nor her. |
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Post by d'James on Jan 30, 2017 17:00:09 GMT
Don't know A Chorus Line. I think you could argue that Norma's life was basically over even if she wasn't dead.
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 30, 2017 17:02:16 GMT
Don't know A Chorus Line. I think you could argue that Norma's life was basically over even if she wasn't dead. Lol! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 17:09:00 GMT
For me I also find Rise in Gypsy a bit sad. Even though she is quite a ruthless chacaracter in the end of act 2 and especially roses turn you feel sorry and I just want to give her a hug.
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Post by northernhomo on Jan 30, 2017 17:11:17 GMT
Sally from Follies is quite tragic.
As is Emma from Tell me on a Sunday.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 17:11:47 GMT
Mrs Lovett from Sweeney Todd. You could say she brought it on herself, but still very tragic
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Post by alece10 on Jan 30, 2017 17:35:41 GMT
What about Fosca in Passion
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 30, 2017 17:57:29 GMT
Leo Frank in Parade
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Post by Tibidabo on Jan 30, 2017 17:59:03 GMT
As soon as I read the title, I thought of Fantine. Will have a think about others. You mention the boys from Blood Brothers but you could also include Mrs Johnstone (sp?). Hmm, possibly Mrs Johnstone was the first one who came to my mind when I read the thread title, before reading the thread! |
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Post by synchrony on Jan 30, 2017 18:03:13 GMT
Carrie White and her mother I think are both tragic. Especially Carrie - she can't really escape being a victim of her fate.
Hunyak the Hungarian girl in Chicago.
Mary from Merrily We Roll Along. Basically wastes her life loving someone who will never love her back.
Every character in Spring Awakening?!?!?!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 18:20:15 GMT
Javert's inabilty to let Valjean start again, his desire to hunt and haunt him leads to his suicide. This is particularly tragic considering Valjean gave him an escape route, but he couldn't take it and would rather take his own life than allow something that doesn't square with his take on how things should be...
I always find Lucy's demise tragic in Sweeney Todd. She knows who he is, and we have guessed, but he doesn't know and he slits her throat to be rid of her quickly so he can kill Judge Turpin. I always want to call out, "Nooooo!" at that moment.
I'm also going to nominate Eva Peron. She doesn't get much of our sympathy, but she certainly raised herself from the gutter. To be snuffed out so young, at the top of your game, is tragic I feel...
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 30, 2017 18:30:41 GMT
Dr Dillamond in Wicked. Deprived of speech and, by extension, of humanity is a fate worse than death in my opinion.
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Post by daniel on Jan 30, 2017 18:46:08 GMT
What about Elphaba? She is beautifully tragic...
I'll get my coat.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jan 30, 2017 18:49:48 GMT
The victims in American Psycho?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 30, 2017 19:37:27 GMT
Tony and Maria in WSS.
Charity Hope Valentine
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Post by Raven on Jan 30, 2017 19:46:16 GMT
What about Angel from RENT? A character who teaches the group about the importance of love and acceptance and is nothing but kind and charitable yet his/her life is cut short from HIV.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 19:47:45 GMT
Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls. That poor man literally unraveled.
Violet and Daisy in Side Show. Constantly out of the frying pan.
Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. Constant setbacks, and when she finally catches a break, falls in love with a crook.
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Post by Kenneth_C on Jan 30, 2017 19:57:05 GMT
Mrs Lovett from Sweeney Todd. You could say she brought it on herself, but still very tragic That's funny. I don't find Mrs. Lovett to be tragic at all. She lies, she steals, she manipulates, she assists in murder, and she grinds up people and bakes them into meat pies. Next to the Judge, she's the real villain of the piece (and even he stops short of cannibalism). Sweeney is a much more tragic figure, imo. He loses his wife, his daughter, his freedom, his sanity, his daughter (a second time), his wife (ditto), and finally his life. |
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Post by Jon on Jan 30, 2017 20:01:45 GMT
For me I also find Rise in Gypsy a bit sad. Even though she is quite a ruthless chacaracter in the end of act 2 and especially roses turn you feel sorry and I just want to give her a hug. I don't think she's tragic, if anything, the fact that Louise became a huge success was in spite of her mother and Rose's ruthless ambition was the reason why she's left alone at the end. Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard comes to a sticky end but I don't consider him a tragic character, if anything he sort of deserved it. |
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 30, 2017 20:25:17 GMT
What about Angel from RENT? A character who teaches the group about the importance of love and acceptance and is nothing but kind and charitable yet his/her life is cut short from HIV. Great choice! |
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Post by Raven on Jan 30, 2017 20:35:13 GMT
I've thought of another one: The Phantom. Loathed as a child by his mother, spending the vast majority of his childhood in a circus where he was a cruel "spectacle" and a laughing stock. Seeked refuge in the cellars of the opera house to escape from the world, fell in love with the pretty chorus girl and uses his passion to help her succeed and is ultimately rejected and his love unrequited (if we are to forget about Love Never Dies).
Also, Nancy from Oliver. Corrupted as a child and forced into a life of crime and (it is implied) prostitution yet still remains a sympathetic and motherly figure to Oliver and Fagin's gang. Despite being abused by Bill she still sticks by him and is ultimately murdered.
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