Neil Patrick Harris Appreciation Thread

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:03pm

I'm continually surprised at how much NPH disdain I see on here, and how some people seem to delegitimize Neil's performance in Hedwig because the O.G. JCM came later in the run. I'm not sure how many people understand that this entire production would literally have never have happened if it weren't for Neil. The show's producers waited years for his schedule to allow him to do the show. Not only that, but once he committed to the role, he took home the Drama Desk, the Tony, and earned the freaking Drama League Distinguished Performance Award. He deserves so much more than "I didn't see Hedwig, I saw Neil Patrick Harris in drag."

 

Sorry not sorry.

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:03 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:10pm

The NPH critiques were the same during his previews and throughout his run. It had nothing to do with JCM's run... unless you mean the people who had that reaction are those who saw JCM at the Jane, then sure... probably some truth there.

 

 

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:21pm

I don't think he was a bad Hedwig at all; he clearly put in a lot of work into the role, and it paid off onstage. Plus, it's important to note that without him, this production very much would not have happened. He understood the role just fine, but being a performer that leans more towards comedy, NPH twisted things a tiny bit and decided to focus a bit more on the comedic side of the show than the serious one. Is this a bad thing? The beautiful thing about Hedwig is that it all boils down to each audience member's personal preferences. For some people NPH's choices worked, and for others, not so much.

Now, was NPH my favorite? No. I actually thought that Darren Criss did a better job, and JCM is...well, JCM, who is very hard to beat. (I haven't watched the others in their entirety yet, so I can't compare NPH to them fairly.) But again, it all boils down to preference, and NPH still did great in his own way.

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:21 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:21pm

He and his sugar boy are just overexposed. That is all. 

[Sunny11]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:21pm

I am 99.99% certain that NPH doesn't give a crap about some hate from anomalous posters on a  message board. He got everything that an actor could  possibly want from a job during Hedwig; many awards, seamless employment after his sitcom with  likely a great salary and an artistry challenging role which allowed him to showcase  a range that people may not have thought that he had before. 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:21 PM

[brdway411]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:24pm

I went to his book signing last year. Super nice young man. Overexposed maybe aliitle. But still a sweetheart. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:25pm

I seem to remember scrolling through the "Hedwig Previews" thread at the time, and seeing a LOT of support and love for his performance. I think there are lots of people out there who love him, and who appreciated his performance, but generally those people aren't the ones who keep bringing up their opinions over a year later. 

As someone who is not a huge fan of Hedwig as a show (though it's beginning to grow on me), I definitely enjoyed NPH's performance more than I did the musical itself. 

[tazber]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:26pm

He was fine. He couldn't hold a candle to JCM, but that doesn't "delegitimize" his performance (whatever the heck that even means).

 

 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:26 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:31pm

I also feel like adding, given the title of the thread:

 

I think his performance as Bobby in Company is very underrated. I've seen the video of Raúl, and a few other Bobbys (bootlegs, regionals, etc), and I think NPH might be my favorite. Among other reasons, I think the charm that he's brought to the role was essential to the character.

[DAME]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:33pm

tazber said: "I'm more curious why you're so defensive about this non-issue that you think it requires a new thread."

 

Probably one of the  same reasons you choose to answer.  

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:33 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:35pm

I saw him and I thought he did a fantastic job. I think it's quite unfair to compare any other actors to JCM due to the fact that he is the creator of the character.

 

This production would not have happened without Neil's involvement and I am sure that JCM is grateful to him for that.

 

I saw every HEDWIG on Broadway except for Andrew Rannells and I thought each one brought something interesting and different to the show and to the character. The only one who was sorely lacking in engaging me was Taye Diggs.

 

But back to Neil - there are a lot of people, especially gay men who are jealous of his success and the family he has built with his husband David Burtka. They just cannot stand that he is happy and successful.

 

Too bad for them.

 

 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:35 PM

[skies]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:40pm

CarlosAlberto said: "But back to Neil - there are a lot of people, especially gay men who are jealous of his success and the family he has built with his husband David Burtka. They just cannot stand that he is happy and successful.Too bad for them."

 

Why especially gay men?

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:40 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:42pm

 

 

 

"But back to Neil - there are a lot of people, especially gay men who are jealous of his success and the family he has built with his husband David Burtka. They just cannot stand that he is happy and successful. Too bad for them."

 

I see your point Carlos.  For me it kind of all crossed the line when there was a huge billboard here in LA with the two of them which was touting David as some celebrity we all should know and respect.  I can't remember what it was for now.. but I think a pic of it is in some other thread.  Around that same time that Architectural digest spread came out and it all had a air of pretentiousness.  ( at least for me) .   Then add to all that the epic failure that was the oscars and all yenta tongues went loose.  Oh and Davids early departure  from the broadway show ( after so publicly commenting that they were moving back to NYC so that David can resume his broadway career) and then posting pics on instagram of them vacationing making it obvious there was nothing wrong with him.... the whole thing felt kind of snotty to me.  It just didn't sit well.  Both Neil and David are super talented and I can't wait to see what is next.  But..

 

 

 

 

 

"

 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:42 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:44pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 But back to Neil - there are a lot of people, especially gay men who are jealous of his success and the family he has built with his husband David Burtka. They just cannot stand that he is happy and successful.

 

 

What, did you conduct a survey to arrive at that conclusion? No gay men I know are envious of his success. Everyone I know is super supportive of him and his husband.

 

 

I love HPH. He's charming, talented, and adorable.

 

I loved him in Hedwig.

 

I loved JCM as Hedwig more.

 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:44 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:46pm

skies said: "CarlosAlberto said: "But back to Neil - there are a lot of people, especially gay men who are jealous of his success and the family he has built with his husband David Burtka. They just cannot stand that he is happy and successful.Too bad for them."

 

Why especially gay men?

 

In my experience I have found them to be especially hard and critical of him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:46 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:48pm

Tazber: don't be ridiculous.  That is just the public persona I have of him.  I don't know him.

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:48 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:48pm

I thought he was fantastic in Hedwig and thoroughly enjoyed his performance. I thought JCM was on a different level and brought a far more rich and far deeper performance, but NPH's commitment to the role and the level of energy he put into it were astounding.

I also thought he was great in Company, and I generally like his persona and dedication to trying to be an old-school showman.

David Burtka seems like a swell guy, though as a performer I think he is mediocre.

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:52pm

I speak for myself that I appreciate Neil without particularly liking him or finding him all that worthy of the praise he's getting.

I will forever appreciate what he did for Hedwig and for bringing her story to the masses. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:52pm

I really, really loved Neil in COMPANY. I think he did a fantastic job in the role.

 

 

What's interesting about Neil is that he is in an enviable position that Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift, Anthony Perkins,et al were not in because of the times. He's able to be openly gay and live his life out loud and proud and still be accepted playing a straight man by the general public.

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:52 PM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:54pm

I saw Burtka in Shoulda and was genuinely surprised by how poor his performance was. I think the two of them are a beyond adorable couple, though, and their kids are ridiculously adorable.

 

To respond to some other comments, I thought Neil was brilliant in Company. I watch that DVD more often than I'd like to admit. 

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:55pm

I believe this one of the billboards in West Hollywood everyone at the time was rolling their eyes at.  It may not seem like much now.  But it was overkill at the time. 

Updated On: 8/24/15 at 01:55 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:57pm

So if we didn't care for him as Hedwig, but liked him in Company, can we be forgiven?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 1:59pm

SmokeyLady said: "I believe this one of the billboards in West Hollywood everyone at the time was rolling their eyes at.  It may not seem like much now.  But it was overkill at the time. 

 

People rolled their eyed over an ad for London Fog? SMDH.

 

Petty.

 

 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 2:00pm

Those ads don't bother me. If someone was paying me to pose in nice clothes for advertising, I'd certainly take it. Their names aren't even on it.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/24/15 at 2:01pm

haterobics said: "So if we didn't care for him as Hedwig, but liked him in Company, can we be forgiven?

 

There's nothing to forgive. You are entitled to your opinion.

 

"