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Post by profquatermass on Aug 25, 2018 9:46:39 GMT
Interesting that everyone sees the expression 'greatest living stage actor' and immediately thinks Shakespeare and the classics. But Roger Allam and Alex Jennings have both excelled in those *and* musicals
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2018 9:53:32 GMT
I was thinking about Alex Jennings last night in bed actually (as you do). I saw him in Ghetto in the 80s and oh my word he was good. Charming and creepy and utterly wonderful.
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Post by profquatermass on Aug 25, 2018 9:56:30 GMT
I was thinking about Alex Jennings last night in bed actually (as you do). I saw him in Ghetto in the 80s and oh my word he was good. Charming and creepy and utterly wonderful. Oh he was brilliant in Ghetto. I wish that would be revived - it was really great |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 25, 2018 10:12:55 GMT
I really don't think that we can put Sher into contention for this.
His career has never broken through into mainstream success. His reliance on being directed by his husband in recent years has somewhat tarnished both their reputations.
He hasn't achieved significant TV or film exposure in a long time. He has received very few nominations/wins for leading theatre awards - since his successes in the 80s.
For me, he is someone who failed the live up to his earlier promise. His talent was there for all to see. But his most recent performances have, to my mind, been so mannered, so Acted as to seem very old school. His Falstaff was so ponderous, so over-produced vocally that he seemed to be in a different play to the rest of the cast - and yes, the character is an outsider - but he should still be an integrated part of the action.
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Post by indis on Aug 25, 2018 10:33:30 GMT
Tom Hiddleston - and i am running  lol |
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Post by da55id on Aug 25, 2018 12:10:58 GMT
Hell, I did mean Hello. But I have made another mistake! I didn't realise that Anthony Sher's non-appearance on tv or film was relevant to my elevation of him as a stage actor! Silly me! Thanks to a very clever person for putting me right!
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Post by kathryn on Aug 25, 2018 18:05:58 GMT
He hasn't achieved significant TV or film exposure in a long time. What’s that got to do with being a stage actor? |
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Post by kathryn on Aug 25, 2018 18:10:28 GMT
Tom Hiddleston - and i am running lol Hiddles is good, but I think he’s a little young for the title - he hasn’t had time to demonstrate his range. He has yet to do any contemporary plays (professionally at least) and has never originated a role. In 30 years he may be in contention - but that would require him to return to the stage more frequently than he has since he got his big Hollywood break. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 25, 2018 18:20:06 GMT
He hasn't achieved significant TV or film exposure in a long time. What’s that got to do with being a stage actor? It is about providing a full picture of his career - context if you like. The vast majority of names suggested so far have had a career of significant success on stage and on screen. Having a TV/film career does not mean you are automatically a strong stage performer (and vice versa) - but compared to people such as Jacobi, Lindsay, SRB and many others, Sher has not reached out to the broader public in the same way. I am not sure why my mention of TV/film work in one sentence out of nine has warranted such negativity. It is part of his career as an actor - just as it is for every other name mentioned. Indeed comment was made about Hopkins (the nominee who sparked this whole discussion) not having appeared on stage that much in recent years compared to his film/tv appearances over the same period. I stand by my opinion that Sher has failed to live up to the potential he showed in the early/mid 80s. Much as I admired him then, I just do not feel he is close to being one of the greatest living stage actors. |
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Post by kathryn on Aug 25, 2018 18:50:46 GMT
I feel like the parameters of the thread were pretty clear - the stage careers of English actors. Not having many stage performances to consider is a valid argument against someone being the greatest living English stage actor, because it is indicative of a lack of range. Not having many TV or film performances - while interesting in the context of a wider career - is off-topic. As are actors of other nationalities and dead actors.
You are, of course, entitled to stand by your opinion about Anthony Sher. But it was an odd comment to throw in there without acknowledging that it was off-topic.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 25, 2018 19:12:38 GMT
I didn't realise that we were required to flag O/T comments on this forum.
I am far from the only person to have not stuck precisely to your parameters - yet the only one to receive a slapped wrist.
One of the great things about this forum has been the free-flowing conversations that do frequently deviate considerably from the initial topic. That is the nature of conversations work. And long may that continue.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2018 19:25:05 GMT
Isn't Sher South African anyway?
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 25, 2018 19:33:13 GMT
Isn't Sher South African anyway? He is a British citizen - so I would think that would be close enough. |
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Post by kathryn on Aug 25, 2018 19:40:46 GMT
Dual nationality, British and South African, according to wiki. Not sure whether to disqualify him on a technicality (British is not necessarily the same as English, even though English is British) or not! oxfordsimon since when is a question a slap on the wrist? You got exactly the same amount of pushback for the comment as the Kevin Spacey discussion did, no-one was picking on you especially. It was just a bit of an odd thing to say in context. I’ve very much enjoyed the free-flowing and remarkably pleasant and good-natured discussion in this thread thus far. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2018 20:18:39 GMT
Diana Rigg has done an incredible body of work over the years. A lot of people forget that she was a fine dramatic actress pre Avengers and Bond girl era. And since Mother Love has done many great roles on both stage and screen.
To rank the theatrical dames and knights or those who should be is always hard or subjective. Some have a greater variety of work across different genres, some shine for example in what we are judging here the stage which I think is the purest form of acting.
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Post by lynette on Aug 25, 2018 23:37:27 GMT
Play nicely friends.
SRB...def top 10. Not much of a tv or movie oeuvre but what there is, is v good. On stage, despite his 'form' he can be anything you like. Do we have an age limit here, I mean downwards? There are some pretty good young 'uns.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 26, 2018 7:31:39 GMT
No age limit! There are some very good young ‘uns - I think we tend to default to the older actors just because of the sheer amount of work they’ve done.
Among the younger generation, surely Rory Kinnear must be in contention?
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Post by theatreliker on Aug 26, 2018 10:35:24 GMT
My two cents is David Suchet.
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Post by Jan on Aug 26, 2018 11:01:15 GMT
McKellen. There's no doubt about it. The problem is his greatest years were before many people on the board here saw him. The single most extraordinary stage performance I've ever seen was him as Iago in the first half of Othello. I did not see him as Macbeth but that was apparently a sensation too.
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Post by profquatermass on Aug 26, 2018 11:27:20 GMT
I saw his Iago. It was very good but I've seen others just as good from actors who also excel at modern drama (whose performances I assume you haven't seen). Mckellen hasn't done much non-Shakespeare for the last 30 years (though he was an excellent Dame)
No love for Rylance on these boards? I'm not a great fan but I would have thought he'd get some votes
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Post by Jan on Aug 26, 2018 14:55:27 GMT
I saw his Iago. It was very good but I've seen others just as good from actors who also excel at modern drama (whose performances I assume you haven't seen). Mckellen hasn't done much non-Shakespeare for the last 30 years (though he was an excellent Dame) No love for Rylance on these boards? I'm not a great fan but I would have thought he'd get some votes Looking at the last 30 years of his career (when actually he has done very little Shakespeare work and more non-Shakespeare) is not valid. You have to look at his entire stage career. And the fact he has triumphed on Broadway too which very good stage actors like Derek Jacobi haven’t. He has a very wide range too which current favourite Simon Russell-Beale hasn‘t. Albert Finney anyone ? |
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Post by lynette on Aug 26, 2018 15:58:51 GMT
David Tennant and Rory Kinnear are moving up the ranks. Both good on stage, very good.
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Post by tmesis on Aug 26, 2018 16:21:08 GMT
No age limit! There are some very good young ‘uns - I think we tend to default to the older actors just because of the sheer amount of work they’ve done. Among the younger generation, surely Rory Kinnear must be in contention? I don't share your enthusiasm for Kinnear. I think he's overrated. I've seen him several times in a variety of parts and he always has the vocal delivery of a mildly exasperated geography teacher admonishing a class of recalcitrant fourteen year olds. |
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Post by NeilVHughes on Aug 26, 2018 16:32:28 GMT
Not sure whether classed as a young un, Maxine Peake rarely disappoints, intrigued to see how Billie Piper’s stage career progresses.
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Post by crowblack on Aug 26, 2018 16:40:25 GMT
Maxine Peake rarely disappoints Really good at the Manchester Royal Exchange - it's an in-the-round space that relies heavily on lighting and she has a face and physicality that works so well there. |
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Post by profquatermass on Aug 26, 2018 16:43:42 GMT
I saw his Iago. It was very good but I've seen others just as good from actors who also excel at modern drama (whose performances I assume you haven't seen). Mckellen hasn't done much non-Shakespeare for the last 30 years (though he was an excellent Dame) No love for Rylance on these boards? I'm not a great fan but I would have thought he'd get some votes Looking at the last 30 years of his career (when actually he has done very little Shakespeare work and more non-Shakespeare) is not valid. You have to look at his entire stage career. And the fact he has triumphed on Broadway too which very good stage actors like Derek Jacobi haven’t. He has a very wide range too which current favourite Simon Russell-Beale hasn‘t. Albert Finney anyone ? The Simon Russell Beale who has starred in Shakespeare, musicals, Chekhov, nineteenth century comedy, modern thrillers, Stoppard and even ballet? That Simon Russell Beale? |
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Post by peggs on Aug 26, 2018 19:09:57 GMT
This is an interesting thread. My stage exposure is only the last 12 years or so, so I've seen a limited range from which to take my pick so this board is always good for some views on performances I've missed. The names put forward so far as very strong contenders I think, the actor I have seen the most is SRB who I find somewhat mesmerising and regret missing his earlier stuff but if I had to pick one name i'd probably plump for Judi Dench, she has a capacity to consistently move me like one quite else.
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Post by altamont on Aug 26, 2018 20:48:37 GMT
Not obvious choices but a trio of fantastic older actors who'll never have the profile of many of those mentioned above, but always improve anything they're in
I'm thinking Michael Pennington, Oliver Ford Davies and William Gaunt
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Post by kathryn on Aug 26, 2018 21:05:17 GMT
Oliver Ford Davies has been amazing in everything I’ve seen him do - which is not nearly enough! I guess I missed a lot of wonderful stuff when he was younger - the first time I saw him was 2009 RSC Hamlet.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 21:26:23 GMT
OFD is a fine character actor and has played a huge amount of roles over the years likewise Michael Pennington. They may not be as high profile as some other names mentioned here but certainly deserve consideration.
A few people have said to me in recent years they feel Antony Sher has played his best roles and might be passed his peak despite him playing some of the most iconic stage roles available to an actor. His last great role was possibly Primo and he has said that his recent run as Lear might be his last major Shakespearean role. But he has given some great performances over the years and has excelled as an actor, writer, artist etc.
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lol 
