Idina Menzel's Tony performance

[YouWantitWhen????]

I watched it again and thought she was fantastic. I do think this musical ended up hitting a wee bit to close to home, and I can imagine some nights these songs are better than therapy. I just hope she is enjoying all of the accolades (I didn't expect her to win, but wanted her to nail the performance, which she did) and takes it all in. I also hope she is able to move on from Taye and find someone new. If the rumors are true, she deserves better.

[arapp721]

"I consider her shouting because I perceive her to be mistaking volume for emotional intensity. Her performance was very, very bombastic, but not at all moving. So "shouting" is a substitution of "sing louder!" instead of "tell more story!" She is an incredible singer, and a very underwhelming actor"

would that then be more of an acting choice, rather than singing technique...?

[Mr Roxy]

Was Merman ever described as a great actor? We all know about her singing.

[gabrieljwickedone]

Idina sounded much better at the show! I saw it Friday (6/6)..

The number is a show stopper. It was wonderful. The Tony performance did not do the show justice at all. (This comment is coming from a pretty tough critic).

[uncageg]

Coming from another tough critic, I think it did the show justice. A matter of opinion I guess.

[jnb9872]

would that then be more of an acting choice, rather than singing technique...?

That's a fair assessment. I'd be more willing to see Menzel in concert than in a show.

[blaxx]

I like her voice but her acting is still awful. She couldn't ground herself if someone nailed her to the stage, her pacing back and forth once she reaches a spot drives me insane! And she still does those awkwardly unjustified arm movements in order to give her body something to do.

She is a good musician with a nice presence but she should polish her acting basics.

[getlucky2]

"For a performance that wasn't moving...a lot of people seemed to have been moved by it lol"

Exactly.

[getlucky2]

"I like her voice but her acting is still awful. She couldn't ground herself if someone nailed her to the stage, her pacing back and forth once she reaches a spot drives me insane! And she still does those awkwardly unjustified arm movements in order to give her body something to do.

She is a good musician with a nice presence but she should polish her acting basics. "

LOL @ Idina Menzel not being able to act. What a crock of crap. Idina's acting was amazing in If/Then and it's what got her her THIRD Tony nomination. I really am dying laughing at the idea that Idina freaking Menzel needs acting 101!!!!

[blaxx]

LOL ur right lol @tony nomination lol sillyme shes practically HelenHuys Lansbry lololololol

[jnb9872]

Having seen all five nominated performances this year, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that Idina was the least impressive in her show. I've discussed my opinions of the Best Actress contenders this year in other threads, but impressively belting does not a layered performance make.

[blaxx]

Having seen all five nominated performances this year, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that Idina was the least impressive in her show. I've discussed my opinions of the Best Actress contenders this year in other threads, but impressively belting does not a layered performance make.

Did you not read that her THREE TONY NOMINATIONS practically make her Meryl Streep's b***h?

[VotePeron]

Here's her conductor conducting her from a Radio City bathroom during her performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Dva_BCTjI#t=169

[FindingNamo]

Great video.

[Theatrefan2]

I found it a one note belt performance. All belting all the time.

[Jane2]

I also thought there was too much belting.

[BroadwayGirl107]

I do admit the cut of the song made the number suffer. They skipped the intro, we lost pretty much an entire verse and chorus. The song normally has a slow (and very thrilling) build, but it just skipped right to the second chorus and the bigger part of the song. So I guess I don't disagree that it felt a little bombastic and belty, but I think it was the cut more than anything.

[gavyj]

Honestly, this was the best I have ever seen her perform on television. While I am a huge Idina fan, I am always concerned after watching her on TV because she always seems nervous and misses the money notes. Here she seemed comfortable and ready to present her character, which I think she did wonderfully.

A really great performance, in my opinion.

[lovepuppy]

Oh-Em-Gee. I can't stand when people get on here and bug about who missed what performance, and when, and why. People are human. They get sick. They get exhausted. They get hurt and fall halfway through and need their understudy, as Idina did during her first run in "Wicked" years ago.

The performers on the Tony's last night probably missed a show or two this weekend to prepare for the dang awards show, and probably got to take today off, too. So that they *don't* risk getting sick or exhausted after such a taxing extra-curricular activity. Egads. Do you want people bugging about how, and when, and why *you* miss work? It's because you're a human with only one body and sometimes it isn't 100%. And please don't start in on "people are paying good money to see this or that person." Yeah, that's true. But they get sick days in their contracts. And so do you, most likely, if you're working full-time in this country. And your employer pays good money for you to show up, too--we hope, but that's another topic. They all budget for it. And that's why they *have* understudies. So can't we just be human about this stuff?

On another note, I saw Idina at House of Blues in Chicago on one of her more intimate tours, and she was lovely. Obviously much less pressure than these televised performances to millions, she's been doing lately. One story she told, that has stuck with me, was when, in her early success in "RENT's" early days, she discovered that her sister wanted to be a singer too, but just wasn't as lucky as she had been, for whatever reason. She had gotten married and had a baby instead. She said of her sister, "she was singing a lullaby to the baby, and she just has the MOST BEAUTIFUL voice." A lovely tribute.

[NeverSoShy]

Here's a video from the dress rehearsal. She did sound fantastic in the actual performance, but I think she sounds a little better here without the pressure of live television.



Rehearsal Video

[jets]

Hilarious article by Roger Friedman on Menzel's use of a teleprompter (with "HUGE" letters) at the Tony Awards. What a scandal!!

Menzel Uses Teleprompter!

[uncageg]

Everyone jumping all over her for belting. I'm thinking maybe the music was writtn that way so maybe throw some of the " blame" on the writers. Look what their music did to another actress's voice. Just my thoughts and opinion.

[ljay889]

^ THIS!! While I really enjoy their work, their score basically destroyed Alice Ripley's voice (which was declining to begin with) and IF/THEN's score is even more demanding.

[veronicamae]

"Hilarious article by Roger Friedman on Menzel's use of a teleprompter (with "HUGE" letters) at the Tony Awards. What a scandal!! "

THE HORRORS OF USING A PROMPTER WHEN YOUR SONG HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY RE-ARRANGED.

HOW VERY DARE SHE.

[jnb9872]

I wouldn't mind the belting if she convinced me there was a reason in the story for it... This show sounded like it was written primarily for her to belt the ever-living crap out of it first, and then they tried to fill out some story ideas around the premise of maximum-beltitude.

[mstar13]

^^ this. I know this isn't a fair comparison, but I prefer actors like Kelli O' Hara who don't do belting, and focus on the story. Doesn't mean she isn't capable, but it keeps her well rounded. For me, I would rather pay to sit in a theatre to be told a story, which is what I believe theatre is, than see someone hit really high notes for an hour. It lacks depth, and it isn't very moving. Granted, there are some exceptions of people who dont just throw their head back, and wail. There is an audience, and to me I find it more captivating in that sense.