751 posts
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Post by horton on Jul 10, 2017 6:20:11 GMT
Personally, I think she is a brilliant musical theatre actress- and can certainly hold her own in straight drama, too. However, she is known in the business to be fond of the grape and also to be big-headed.
For me, these do not seem like major flaws, but they give rivals the opportunity they are looking for to bitch about her.
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Jul 10, 2017 6:41:05 GMT
Why do people throw shade at Elaine Paige? Maybe it's time for BurlyBeaR to dig out That Puff Ball Clip? (I would if I could..) |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 7:05:37 GMT
For me she has become a parody of herself and not a very good one. Her radio show is annoying beyond belief even though she is promoting MT. As far as acting is concerned her Carlotta in Follies was dire and her Shakespearian role in Midsummer Night's Dream on TV was cringeworthy.
The glory that was Rome ...
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 10, 2017 21:28:08 GMT
You lot are actually discussing this? It can ONLY be honking Paige. She practically demands to be introduced as the First Lady of Musical theatre wherever she goes.
Sure she was a big breakout star as Evita, but those days are long gone. She can only play grotesque characters because she has no real depth to her acting ability. As someone said, she's become a parody of herself. Like a dodgy lounge singer who can no longer hit the notes.
Her presenting on the radio programme is abysmal. The things she finds funny defy belief and her snorting laugh is repulsive
She ruins that programme.
I'm no fan of Maria Friedman but she's delivered way more stronger musical performances, likewise Joanna Riding. I'd add Ruthie too but I think beyond She loves me, CrazyFY and Chicago, she hasn't really delivered the goods in other roles.
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 11, 2017 14:13:18 GMT
Love her or dislike her.. Elaine was one of the best Norma Desmond's in SUNSET.
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on Jul 11, 2017 14:58:41 GMT
If Lady Paige is the first lady of British Theater, who is the first lady of American Theater? Would you say Patti and/or Bernadette? Audra?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2017 16:00:22 GMT
As much as i dont rate her i think Patti Lupone, she just seems to be a bigger draw and wider known. Bernadette and Kelli O Hara id say are close behind
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Post by Scswp on Jul 12, 2017 5:22:27 GMT
I would say that LuPone is a bigger draw than Peters, although I think Peters has actually done more Broadway musicals than LuPone. I think it may be because LuPone is a much bigger 'personality' so she attracts more attention. Audra McDonald has multiple Tony Awards and sells tickets by her mere presence (and talent!)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2017 6:52:08 GMT
Have never seen Ms Peters in person so can't give a real opinion as to her stage magnetism.
Both Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald have that star quality that rivets you to their performances. Having seen Ms LuPone more times than Audra I would have to say her.
This of course might change after seeing "Lady Day" in September.
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Post by musicaltheatrequeen on Jul 28, 2018 10:55:56 GMT
I think Elaine Paige is 100% deserving of the title and I immediately knew it was her that was mentioned in the article. I don’t believe actresses such as Kerry Ellis deserve this role because they have not got the fame that others such as Elaine Paige and Imelda Staunton have. I believe that fame is one of the key aspects to the title because they are names everyone knows. Also, The Idea of First Lady means they don’t necessarily have to be doing anything currently, as long as they have left a lasting impact on Musical Theatre which Elaine definitely has. She has originated at least 6 West End roles, won several awards, and is still going. She just completed Dick Whittington at the London Palladium Last Christmas and is still doing concert tours across the globe. We must also remember that she is 70, So roles will not be as easy to achieve for her. I do feel she deserves a lot of credit for her success career of over 5 decades. She is truly a National treasure and an incredible singer and actress.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jul 28, 2018 13:52:33 GMT
In recent years they have used this for Kerry all the time.
Not sure why as the last West End show she did was Murder Ballad a long while ago with very mixed reviews.
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Post by Boob on Jul 28, 2018 20:32:04 GMT
Anita Harris.
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Post by hulmeman on Jul 28, 2018 20:46:41 GMT
Martine Mccutcheon - she left on top!
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Post by LaLuPone on Jul 28, 2018 20:49:22 GMT
Alexandra Burke.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 28, 2018 22:04:01 GMT
I adore Kerry but they shouldn't use the title for her - she's 'only' been in the business for 20 years so I think you need longer run before you can be considered the First Lady. While I don't particularly enjoy Elaine, I'd say she gets the title. Give it another 25 years and Kerry, Rachel Tucker and Louise Dearman can have an Elphaba-Off and fight it out for the honour 😀
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Post by showtoones on Jul 30, 2018 19:42:17 GMT
In America it's Patti...She's a much bigger draw than Bernadette. Also, Chita Rivera?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2018 20:24:30 GMT
Yes, is definitely EP. She really was lead in one hit show after another. Evita, Cats, Chess, Anything Goes, Piaf, Sunset, King and I etc etc.
Kerry I like very much but she is (in my opinion) still waiting for that career defining lead role in a new hit musical (I mean originating). I can't see where this is gonna come from but I hope it does materialise as she truly has the most wonderful voice. Worth more (again in my opinion) than Wonderland and Murder Ballad.
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Post by martello736 on Jul 30, 2018 21:20:57 GMT
On Broadway I’d say it’s Audra no question, although I can see why people would also say it’s Patti, Bernadette, Chita, Liza, Melba Moore, Lillias White or really any of that older generation who’ve gone from show to show.
Elaine is great but she’s not really done anything of any note for a long time. Frances Ruffelle is pretty iconic, I remember reading through her theatre credits in the Wild Party programme and thinking “woah, she IS the West End.” I’d agree with what has been said before that Ruthie and Joanna Riding are also quite deserving. I feel like Haydn Gwynne could be another throne claimant too. Give the Wicked generation (Rachel, Kerry, Willemijn, Alice, Louise) another decade or so, they’re all huge talents, and I think Kerry could definitely earn the title somewhat unfairly bestowed upon her, but none of them have done enough outside of Wicked yet to be a general West End First Lady in their own right.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2018 21:29:50 GMT
Elaine Paige is a household name, because she is a musical theatre actress. That is what she is known for, for creating some of the most iconic roles on stage.
She is definitely the FIRST Lady of musical theatre.
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Post by djp on Jul 30, 2018 23:56:37 GMT
I don't think you can have a first lady of musical theatre who can't sing well any more. It opens up the criteria to anyone dead - who can't sing well any more too.
I don't think the current system allows anyone to claim the title at the moment.
The longer established names do less and less.Staunton features a lot, but I always think she's playing Dolores.
And if you drew up a list of the top, exceptional, younger females getting the best reviews, getting the nominations, and putting in the definitive sounding performances since 2010, at the moment you will find nearly all of them are not on the West End stage. They are in America, doing plays, singing to people who can play £180 a ticket in the wilds of Surrey, resting, on the few tours that require great singers, recovering from one , teaching, or just doing events, and cabarets.
Lloyd Webber had the idea with his TV shows of creating a new generation of stars, but he seems to have lost focus quite quickly there- Broadway has arguably been better at creating BrItish stars then we have. Now the trend seems to be for American producers to import unneeded, and often dubious, talent, too many roles to be filled by names, and lots of roles to be filled by someone cheaper, straight out of drama school.
It could be so much better if we actually used the top talent we have..
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2018 0:58:09 GMT
I’d definitely say Adura is the one for Broadway...she just needs to do a musical over here now!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2018 11:47:16 GMT
Have thought about this a bit more and I think a big hurdle to a new 1st lady of British musical theatre emerging is the fact that we have not had a new original British musical with a strong iconic heroine since I can't remember when. So there are no roles for the likes of the Wicked girls to originate. Nearly everything is imported now and most of that is juke box or film based - there just isn't the same opportunity for someone to shine.
Also those that do originate roles with a female lead (Tina, Bodyguard, Dreamgirls) are amazing but are recreating (very well) an existing icon and I wonder if they are good enough ACTRESSES to play for example Tina one day, Norma Desmond the next. I don't think so. They are slightly typecast too. EP, LuPone etc are versatile actresses and can play vastly different roles.
EP came along at the same time as ALW dominance when these incredible roles were being created, which would also have helped.
We also struggle more now with the "what next" for people that wow us today and so many people who are incredible in one show just don't find a subsequent show of equal 'hit' status. Back in the day EP, Marti Webb, Sarah Brightman, Stephanie Lawrence would land one lead after another.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 31, 2018 12:06:25 GMT
I don’t think Kerry Ellis is a good enough actress to be considered for First Lady.
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 31, 2018 12:20:48 GMT
I don’t think Kerry Ellis is a good enough actress to be considered for First Lady. And she just seems to be everywhere! To the point where if I see her image or know she in it, I won’t book |
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 31, 2018 12:30:14 GMT
The judges on the first series of The Voice UK didn't think Kerry Ellis was the first lady of anything!
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