Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
#1Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 6:05am
I go back and forth on how I feel about her- She's obviously a very talented actress with a quality voice, but her twangy, hyper-nasal way of singing irritates me and her cheerful, nice personality grates on me the same way one would dislike a morning person, lol. Her vocals are terrific on Millie and I used to enjoy her a lot on Anything Goes, but now her nasality ruins some of the songs for me. I like her a lot in Violet though- her acting through the songs/dialogue is great and her twangy vocals fit the character, so I don't mind them as much. Some people have told me they dislike her because she's a cookie cutter performer and she is second rate with a chorus girl's talents, not a leading ladies. Not sure I'd go that far, but I see why some would dislike her.
Your Thoughts?
Tiann Nerng Chong
Chorus Member Joined: 2/6/17
#3Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 6:42am
I've never seen her give a bad performance. And not liking someone because they seem happy and cheerful seems odd at best, and what the rest of this thread will say at worst.
#4Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 8:28am
I admit bias, but I agree with haterobics...I've never seen her give a less than great performance. She also seems to be getting better and better over time. Her work in VIOLET and SWEET CHARITY is some of her best work IMO.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#5Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 8:33am
Oh no a nice person lol
Joking aside, I do love her. She was the first Broadway star I've ever saw, putting her a special place in my heart and she has a great energy around her. I'm so happy for all of her successes and now her little girl
#6Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 8:36am
Also I met her after SWEET CHARITY and she could not have been more genuine and kind. Sorry if kindness isn't your thing.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#7Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 8:37am
Fell in love with her before the opening nu.ber of Millie was over. Still there.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#8Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 9:14am
I think the "twang" of her voice is what makes her have a unique sound. And quite frankly, if being able to sing, act, AND dance make for "chorus girl" talent, I'd be a very happy chorus girl. Reno Sweeney is a true triple threat leading lady, as is Charity Valentine.
In that vein, I have a special admiration for her because (like me) she is a "classic musical" mezzo, and I feel like you don't see many of them in the spotlight these days...
http://puccinischronicles.wordpress.com
Miss Jezebel DuPree2
Understudy Joined: 3/31/17
#10Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 9:19am
My first exposure to her, believe it or not, was Bunheads. It was impossible not to absolutely fall in love with her then. I have only ever seen her live in one concert which was frankly meh (it was in Des Moines and she was clearly sick), but I'm hoping to see her in most of my favorite musicals down the line (A Chorus Line, Gypsy, Follies) because I do love her. She dances better than she acts, she acts better than she sings, and she sings incredibly well.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#11Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 10:23am
She would be great in Mary Richards - The Musical. She has a Mary Tyler Moore Quality. Drowsy Chaperone was my favorite but I didn't particularly care for her in Anything Goes. While she is a triple threat I kinda agree that she's just meh. She's just missing something.
#12Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 10:41am
I totally get the annoyance factor of overly-chipper people, haha, but I don't really feel that with Sutton - she comes across as genuine to me. And occasionally she has a nasal note that doesn't sit well on my ears, but 95% of the time I think her voice is glorious. I also think she has impeccable comic timing and a genuine gift for acting, though she's so naturally down-to-earth and charming that I sometimes struggle with her in the darker/sexier roles (like Wild Party at City Center, even though I applaud her commitment to the role). One of the few people who I would probably go to see even if didn't care about the show. I think she's great.
#13Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 11:33am
And the point of this thread would be???
Cat Guy
Leading Actor Joined: 3/17/17
#14Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 11:39am
Soaring29 said: "I go back and forth on how I feel about her- She's obviously a very talented actress with a quality voice, but her twangy, hyper-nasal way of singing irritates me and her cheerful, nice personality grates on me the same way one would dislike a morning person, lol. Her vocals are terrific on Millie and I used to enjoy her a lot on Anything Goes, but now her nasality ruins some of the songs for me. I like her a lot in Violet though- her acting through the songs/dialogue is great and her twangy vocals fit the character, so I don't mind them as much. Some people have told me they dislike her because she's a cookie cutter performer and she is second rate with a chorus girl's talents, not a leading ladies. Not sure I'd go that far, but I see why some would dislike her.
Your Thoughts?
You start a thread just to trash a very talented performer? For what purpose? Jeez.
#15Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 11:45am
Exactly, Cat Guy.
She's been nominated 6 times for the Tony, won twice, and- along with her husband, just recently adopted a baby girl. In addition to that, she stars in the TV Land's #1 rated show "Younger."
You're right - that's just like so like annoying like.......
#16Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 11:50am
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us think we're soaring above it all."
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#17Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 11:57am
My first exposure to Sutton was in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. A musical I quickly fell in love with and one I would revisit several times during its run on Broadway. One thing that kept me seeing it was Sutton Foster. She was in the show, I believe, 2 years and she not only gave 150% each time, she added nuances that kept it fresh every time I saw her in the show. She never phoned it in. I'm lucky to have been able to say this to her.
I've also seen her in every musical she's done on Broadway since and that same performance commitment was there. Her Charity Hope Valentine in SWEET CHARITY was the consummate gift to her and to audiences. A true showcase for her on every level. Her sandwich scene is in the history books on sustaining an audience's attention and delivering an enormously comic payback. No one took a breath during it. Kudos Sutton.
#18Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 12:55pm
She is one of the great comic performers on Broadway. I agree with JudyDenmark--whatever show she's in, I go to see it.
UncleCharlie
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/26/16
#19Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 1:06pm
I heard she curses like a sailor, chews tobacco right out of the pouch and once killed someone in a bar fight in Tulsa cause they tried to push ahead of her in the line to use the restroom. She's my kind of gal.
#20Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 1:14pm
I don't think she's cookie cutter at all, and it's her triple threat focus and distinct voice that make her unique. Foster stands apart from all the bland soprano leading ladies on Broadway. I think only McDonald and O'Hara are equals among her generation.
Skimbleshanks2
Broadway Star Joined: 2/11/15
#21Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 1:18pm
She is a true talent -- anyone who says otherwise clearly didn't see ANYTHING GOES or VIOLET!
"See that poster on the wall? Rocky Marciano." - Andy Karl as Rocky in 'ROCKY'
#22Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 1:28pm
overrated. Just ok, nothing remarkable.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#23Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 1:59pm
I agree with the OP. I used to like a lot her but she has begun to irritate me more and more over the years. I don't absolutely hate her though, and I do think she is talented.
People are getting really caught up on this "happy and cheerful" comment. That wasn't really the main point of the OP's post. Also, forgive me if I'm putting words in your mouth, OP, but I'd guess that the comment comes from a sense that that the cheerfulness seems sort of fake, that it doesn't feel genuine. I sometimes get that sense from other actors, and it does occasionally bug me.
#24Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 4:50pm
Yes, overly chiper people bother me sometimes and Sutton is one of them, it doesn't come across as fake per se, but it kinda wears on you. You can't tell me that none of you go through life not being irritated by a person's personality/aura, knowing they haven't done anything to you personally, but you're irritated all the same. It's human nature.
The post is called "Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?"- The purpose isn't to trash her, but to share opinions. Some of those opinions may be critical, some not, but the the point of the post is not to outright trash her, but to express subjective feelings about her work, one way or the other. I've already stated that I enjoy some of her work and respect her as a performer with obvious talent. She just isn't my cup of tea for the reasons I stated in my first post and I go back and forth on if those reasons weigh more to me then the reasons for why I like her. I don't want to trash her at all and that is not the purpose of the thread.
And to be blunt, these boards are filled with all kinds of mixed to negative opinions about performers that are highly regarded- just because I published a post that goes right out and asks what you think of a performer doesn't make it any different from the many comments and posts that offer similar types of questions/opinions. It's a CHAT BOARD, for goodness sake. We should be allowed to do what we want.
#25Sutton Foster- Overall Thoughts?
Posted: 4/19/17 at 5:11pm
Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "I think the "twang" of her voice is what makes her have a unique sound. And quite frankly, if being able to sing, act, AND dance make for "chorus girl" talent, I'd be a very happy chorus girl. Reno Sweeney is a true triple threat leading lady, as is Charity Valentine.
In that vein, I have a special admiration for her because (like me) she is a "classic musical" mezzo, and I feel like you don't see many of them in the spotlight these days...
What do you mean by classic musical mezzo?
"
