I find her wildly overrated-totally affected and giving cookie cutter performances. It saddens me that people talk about her like she is the next great stage actress.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
While I don't think she's the next great stage actress (that title rests firmly in the hands of Nina Arianda), I think Rabe is very good and picks interesting projects. She does great work in As You Like It... particularly the epilogue, which feels so natural and off-the-cuff she seems to be ad-libbing it.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
She really is a making a star turn in this production. While I enjoyed the show over all did anyone else expect to see Brer Fox chase Brer Rabbit across the stage at any moment?