Favorite Character Personality Transformations

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 10:42am

What are some of your favorite personality transformations?

Mine would have to be Evita. In the beginning of the show she's a powerless individual living in poverty and by the end she's one of the most powerful women in Argentina.

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 11:20am

That's just a change of circumstances. Eva has an interesting personality transformation as well, from a small-time grifter well aware that she is just using people to a power-addled woman convinced that she really IS as good as the world sees her.

My favorite personality transformation in a musical character would be Pinkerton in "The Wall," who moves from young idealist to desensitized, drug addled rock star to raging, delusional sociopath... all before the final moments tear down his emotional walls and force him to realize the shambles his life has become.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 11:24am

Norma Desmond. From beautiful Hollywood movie star, confident in her talent, to insecure, dementia recluse.

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 11:34am

Ditto the above, with minor changes in wording, for "Grey Gardens."

[Queen of the Night]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 2:52pm

Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I love how they both go from bitter, angry and self-absorbed to lovable characters through the act of loving someone and being loved. I think the changes in Glinda and Elphaba over the course of the show in Wicked are also rather interesting.

[steven22]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 3:06pm

Elphaba if there's a good actress portraying her...her transformation from the start of the show to mid 2nd act

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 3:07pm

I'd like to add Louise in Gypsy. She starts out as an ignored, talentless little girl in the beginning and turns into one of the highest paid strippers in the business who acts like they're on top of the world.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 3:39pm

Mother in "Ragtime" finding her strength and independence is always a favorite of mine.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 3:44pm

Effie in Dreamgirls. She goes from allowing people to abuse her talent to "this is my lawyer and he wants to talk to you."

[followspot]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 5:59pm

The Sound of Music, when Maria transforms from a joyful free spirit into a sullen wife and stepmother.

Updated On: 12/23/13 at 05:59 PM

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 9:57pm

I'll never forget Louise Dearman's transformation of first act Elphaba to second act in Wicked on the West End. I've seen three Elphabas (Hayley Gallivan and Lindsay Mendez) and never have I seen the transformation that you are supposed to see like Louise's.

I weirdly love Fanny Brice's transformation in Funny Girl. And every character's transformation from Into the Woods.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 10:46pm

Maybe I'm biased because of the author's note included in the program, but Neil LaBute's REASONS TO BE PRETTY has one of my favorite character arcs in Greg, the main character.

It felt not just like a man growing and maturing, but a playwright growing and maturing along with him. Though it remains to be seen as LaBute continues to write, PRETTY is by far my favorite of his texts.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 12/23/13 at 11:21pm

To echo, I'd say Louise in Gypsy, and Mother in Ragtime.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 2:32am

The Sound of Music. Maria's transformation from outspoken and carefree postulant & governess to mature and subservient wife/Baroness & stepmother is quite interesting.

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 9:08am

Tevye

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 2:27pm

Hands down, Wanda in Venus in Fur!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 2:31pm

Sandy Dumbrowski from sweet virginal high school student to leather jacket wearing trollop in GREASE.