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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 17:06:47 GMT
I saw his Benedick with Susan Fleetwoods’ Beatrice in Stratford and he reduced the audience to hysterics with an amazing cigar puff. Mind you I’m sure Judy and Deborah know how handle a cheroot. I’m sure they do!!! Just while we’re on Dame Judy, a colleague recently told me how he’d worked with her a long while back in the West End. He was depping a friend on a show for a few nights and La Dench came to the wing ready for her cue and said excitedly; “oooh, you’re new!”. She proceeded to introduce herself(!) and ask all about my colleague and his life, family etc. She interrupted and said “excuse me, that’s my cue, remember where we got to!”, went and did her scene, then came back and carried straight on where she left off with the chat. Absolute dignity and respect for everyone. I’ve only met her briefly once at a charity function and she was the picture of class and politeness. She's a class act. I've heard similar stories about her chatting to a member of the crew, hearing her cue, hitting her mark, exiting stage and continuing the conversation as though there hadn't been a break. I'd also heard a story that she had heard from a member of the crew that their mother was unwell and in hospital and that she was a fan of DJD. Without telling the crew member, she popped in to the hospital to visit his mother and check she was OK and even took her some flowers. She stayed for about half an hour and when she next saw the crew member, he thanked her and told her how thrilled his mother was but she just told him that she was passing by the hospital one day and thought of his mother so popped in as she had a spare half hour. What a Dame! |
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 22, 2018 17:12:13 GMT
I’m sure they do!!! Just while we’re on Dame Judy, a colleague recently told me how he’d worked with her a long while back in the West End. He was depping a friend on a show for a few nights and La Dench came to the wing ready for her cue and said excitedly; “oooh, you’re new!”. She proceeded to introduce herself(!) and ask all about my colleague and his life, family etc. She interrupted and said “excuse me, that’s my cue, remember where we got to!”, went and did her scene, then came back and carried straight on where she left off with the chat. Absolute dignity and respect for everyone. I’ve only met her briefly once at a charity function and she was the picture of class and politeness. She's a class act. I've heard similar stories about her chatting to a member of the crew, hearing her cue, hitting her mark, exiting stage and continuing the conversation as though there hadn't been a break. I'd also heard a story that she had heard from a member of the crew that their mother was unwell and in hospital and that she was a fan of DJD. Without telling the crew member, she popped in to the hospital to visit his mother and check she was OK and even took her some flowers. She stayed for about half an hour and when she next saw the crew member, he thanked her and told her how thrilled his mother was but she just told him that she was passing by the hospital one day and thought of his mother so popped in as she had a spare half hour. What a Dame! Absolute class - thank you for that memory. It doesn’t surprise me. Theatre can be a small world, and personalities can clash - but it’s so heartwarming that I’ve earnestly never heard a bad word spoken about Dame Judi by anybody. Class to match the talent. Brilliant stuff |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 17:14:13 GMT
My mother saw Judi Dench play Juliet at the Old Vic in the 60s, and remembers it vividly, all these decades later. She raves about the Zefirelli staging that looked like a hot sunny Italian city, and about how gorgeous John Stride was, but most of all she raves about how shocking and moving and heartbreaking Juliet was. She remembers the way Juliet gasped and how little and vibrant and passionate she was. I've never seen her on stage, but I feel as if I have, because she's talked about that performance with such fondness.
For me, I would have said Alan Rickman (the most memorable performance I've seen by a mile was Tango at the End of Winter) were he not sadly gone. Otherwise, I struggle to narrow it down - Derek Jacobi yes, Deborah Findlay yes, Harriet Walter, Ian McKellen (although I absolutely bloody loathed that Pinter thing he did with Patrick Stewart).
Someone who I've only seen once but who really stood out was Oliver Ford Davies (in Richard II at the RSC) - he was spellbinding.
What about Mark Rylance? I saw him play Romeo and Hamlet in Stratford in the 80s and have never forgotten his performances.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 17:15:41 GMT
Jacobi it is then. Plus he's got the most lovely twinkly eyes. Spacey doesn't deserve to be remembered as anything but a disgusting, vile piece of sh*t but perhaps there's a forum in Hell that might consider his hammy talents worthy. Well, I’ve never found him hammy, personally. I’m happy to discuss the merits of his performances, but I don’t think speculating and discussing media reports about alleged crimes is really helpful until he has actually been charged with a crime. The whole concept of trial by media just makes me uneasy, regardless of my personal opinions about the cases involved (or rather, what I know of them). I'm not really talking about his alleged crimes. The fact is that when the Anthony Rapp allegations came out (and let's not forget that Anthony Rapp alleges he was 14 at the time), what did Spacey do? He tries to create a smokescreen by releasing a statement announcing he's gay, thereby reinforcing many bigoted people's views that homosexuality = paedophilia, something we face every day. For that reason alone, that man is going to Hell and I'd be happy to drive him to the gates. And I don't care how harsh that sounds. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 17:20:43 GMT
Hell, Kevin Spacey wasn't even the best actor I saw playing Richard III *that weekend*, Richard Clothier smashed it into the GROUND. (Yes I saw two Richard IIIs in one weekend, and?)
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Aug 22, 2018 17:21:30 GMT
So, this morning I stumbled across someone on twitter describing Anthony Hopkins as 'the greatest living English stage actor', and my reaction was basically, 'lol, no'. But then I realised I've never seen Anthony Hopkins on stage! So, I wondered - since we have a whole range of theatre-going experience here - who would the denizens of theatreboard consider the greatest living English stage actor? And why? 'Actor' is gender-neutral for the purposes of the question, but I'm insisting on 'English' because that was the original comment. Show your workings, please - I want to know what great performances I've missed out on over the years. Also: this is strictly for fun :-) I'm not doing a poll. Good post |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Aug 22, 2018 17:25:37 GMT
Some great names mentioned. I'm adding Ben Whishaw.
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 22, 2018 17:26:20 GMT
Well, I’ve never found him hammy, personally. I’m happy to discuss the merits of his performances, but I don’t think speculating and discussing media reports about alleged crimes is really helpful until he has actually been charged with a crime. The whole concept of trial by media just makes me uneasy, regardless of my personal opinions about the cases involved (or rather, what I know of them). I'm not really talking about his alleged crimes. The fact is that when the Anthony Rapp allegations came out (and let's not forget that Anthony Rapp alleges he was 14 at the time), what did Spacey do? He tries to create a smokescreen by releasing a statement announcing he's gay, thereby reinforcing many bigoted people's views that homosexuality = paedophilia, something we face every day. For that reason alone, that man is going to Hell and I'd be happy to drive him to the gates. And I don't care how harsh that sounds. Well his homosexuality has been common knowledge in the industry - and to anyone with a working gaydar - for decades... I agree that was an extremely poor decision. I could argue about this a lot more, but I don’t want to go into definitions of paedophilia/age of consent stuff on a theatre board! The laws set our moral guidelines, they decide what is right or wrong in any given generation - not the actions/thoughts of the common people. Look at British history for proof of that. I think the whole of society works on rules, checks and balances. It used to be the rules, based on checks and balances - and the “people’s will” that homosexuality was illegal. I just think when making moral judgements we should all be careful about what standard we’re judging it to. An honest, law abiding 80 year old who lived heir whole lives without breaking a law might hold views which in 2018 are horribly dated to a millennial’s eyes. It’s all a thorny issue is what I’m saying 😂 we all have to believe in something and I believe in the “system” more than Twitter, the National Inquirer or Wikipedia |
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 22, 2018 17:26:53 GMT
Hell, Kevin Spacey wasn't even the best actor I saw playing Richard III *that weekend*, Richard Clothier smashed it into the GROUND. (Yes I saw two Richard IIIs in one weekend, and?) Fair enough! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 17:28:10 GMT
Clearly Tom Bateman and dear Jonny B should be in this list somewhere.
Mark Rylance would be in this list if we could hear a blasted word he mumbles.
I think Judi steals it really if only for the breathtaking range - comedy, drama, musicals, Shakespeare, highbrow and low. Even when the production might not be great, she usually is. And the fact that she's so humble about her achievements make her even greater in my opinion.
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 22, 2018 17:31:03 GMT
Not a the “greatest living actor” but I’ve never seen Sam West give a bad turn.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 22, 2018 18:49:21 GMT
Interesting that Rylance hasn’t been mentioned more, given some of the ‘greatest actor of his generation’ hype that was surrounding him not so long ago.
I am also a huge fan of Ben Whishaw - but with a ‘greatest’ discussion the tendency is to pick people who have had longer careers than his. Perhaps because you need the opportunities to show your range and that usually needs a long career.
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Post by vabbian on Aug 22, 2018 21:55:07 GMT
English speaking? Bette Midler
English? Ralph Fiennes
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 22, 2018 22:03:09 GMT
English speaking? Bette Midler English? Ralph Fiennes Fiennes is a good shout. If we had a list of underrated actors going (someone should do that!) I’d go with Tom Goodman-Hill. He’s great in a Jonathan Creek - which I love, but was hilarious in the original London cast of Spamalot and fabulous in Enron (alongside Sam West actually!) - oh and he was brilliant in Darker Shores - again a while back. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 23:03:55 GMT
What about Imelda Staunton? I've never seen her be anything less than outstanding.
Nobody's mentioned Kenny Branagh yet. And him the next Olivier and everything!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2018 0:15:47 GMT
McKellan and Gambon were my two initial thoughts for the men.
With the Dames born in December 1934 for the women.
Slightly newer generation guys like SRB, Brannagh are worth considering too and I am a fan of both Rylance and Allam.
I was wracking my brain if any real venerable sctors in their 90's are still with us but long retired from the stage.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2018 1:24:21 GMT
Before she became a film star Olivia de Havilland (now 102 and with British parents, although born in Japan) played Hermia for Max Reinhardt in 1934.
Again, not primarily stage actors but Joss Ackland (90), Tony Britton (94), Geoffrey Palmer (91) and Leslie Phillips (94) are still with us. As are Honor Blackman (93), Fenella Fielding (90), Glynis Johns (94), June Whitfield (92) and, of course, Dame Angela Lansbury (92).
Still directing at 93 there’s Peter Brook.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 23, 2018 7:32:45 GMT
What about Imelda Staunton? I've never seen her be anything less than outstanding. Nobody's mentioned Kenny Branagh yet. And him the next Olivier and everything! Love Imelda! Chuckles Branagh I think might end up being more significant as a director than as an actor. Which is not to say that he’s a bad actor - I’ve enjoyed his work that I’vd seen - but he seems to have more impact as a director/producer. He’s great at finding talent and creating opportunities for it to shine. |
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Post by altamont on Aug 23, 2018 8:57:20 GMT
A mention for David Suchet - never seen a poor performance (even in the dreadful Complicit at the Old Vic), and I still think that his Joe Keller in All My Sons a few years ago is just about the most powerful bit of acting I've seen
I am also possibly influenced in suggesting him after seeing The Price in Bath last night - another wonderful performance
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Post by emsworthian on Aug 23, 2018 10:03:08 GMT
Oh, dear. Perhaps I should have posted this in the unpopular opinions thread but the one occasion I saw Dame Judy on stage was in "Coriolanus" at Chichester nearly 30 years ago and I am afraid that I was underwhelmed. I wasn't impressed by Kenneth Branagh's performance in the title role either and I am a big fan of Branagh. Perhaps it was just a dud production.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Aug 23, 2018 11:15:16 GMT
Imelda's Mrs Lovett is probably the best performance I've ever seen (at least in a musical), but her Sally in Follies was underwhelming and I thought she was bad in Virginia Woolf.
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Post by lynette on Aug 23, 2018 11:22:20 GMT
May I add Suchet? He has stage acting nailed. Rylance not so much, though v good stuff when he was at the Globe. Good in movies of course. I agree with all of the above and his subsequent fall notwithstanding, Spacey was outstanding in The Iceman and up to that point I had not experienced acting like that. But he is American anyway, so let's stick to the Brits.
Simon Russell Beale in the premier league surely.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2018 11:38:42 GMT
I'm another Suchet fan. I've only seen him on stage once, in Amadeus, and his performance was just so good. I still vividly remember the huge surge of emotion and pain I felt at that moment when he's just met Mozart and comes outside into the street and hears the start of the horn concerto and is so torn with pain and jealousy and conflicting emotions. Oof.
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Post by lynette on Aug 23, 2018 12:16:54 GMT
For me the Suchet moment was the Miller play All My Sons at NT. And then Long Day’s Journey in West End was another one. I was v taken aback and a bit sad I hadn’t seen his previous work. So am Hoping The Price comes within my reach
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2018 15:37:03 GMT
David Suchet has achieved a huge body of work both on stage and screen, surely his knighthood cannot be far away now.
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